- Munyao won his first ever marathon in London
- He beat Ethiopian great Kenenisa Bekele
- He has been named in Kenya’s provisional list for the Olympic Games
Kenyan marathoner Alexander Munyao hopes his performance at the London Marathon can put up a case for him to be included in Kenya’s final team for the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris.
Munyao won his first ever major marathon title in London, edging out Ethiopian great Kenenisa Bekele to clock 2:04:01 and ensure the title won by the late Kevin Kiptum last year, remained draped in the Kenyan flag.
Munyao has been included in Kenya’s preliminary list of five marathoners for the Olympic Games that also includes defending champion Eliud Kipchoge, Vincent Ngetich, Timothy Kiplagat and Benson Kipruto.
“When they consider me, I am okay with it. I hope for the best. If they select me, I will go and work for it. That is my dream and I believe the dream of every athlete in the world. My target when I go to the Olympics will be to make the podium. When I do so, I will be very happy and my Kenyan people will be happy too,” an excited Munyao said after returning home from London.
He was delighted with his performance in London, not just the overall victory but also how he executed his race in a very competitive field.
Kiptum’s record not a target
Kiptum wins London Marathon. PHOTO/World Athletics
The late Kiptum’s world (2:00:35) and course (2:01:25) records were not being targeted by the elite men, but a lead pack of 12 nevertheless set off as a respectable pace, going through 5km in 14:35 and 10km in 29:03.
They remained together through 15km (58:20) with the likes of Munyao, Bekele, 2022 world champion Tamirat Tola and 2021 Chicago winner Seifu Tura all in the lead pack.
They reached half way in 1:01:29 with 10 men still running together, more than 80 seconds ahead of Britain’s Emile Cairess, who was running alone in 13th place.
France’s Hassan Chahdi soon drifted off the lead pack, and eight men were in the pack at the 30km point (1:27:20).
With 1:30 on the clock, big changes started to happen. The lead pack was down to five men: Munyao, Bekele, Tola, Ethiopia’s Dawit Wolde and compatriot Milkesa Mengesha.
Less than 10 minutes later, Tola and Wolde had dropped back, leaving Bekele, Munyao and Mengesha as the lead trio. Mengesha lasted five more minutes before he, too, succumbed to the pace, unable to stick with Munyao and the 41-year-old Bekele.
Just before the clock ticked over to 1:55, Munyao finally dropped multiple world and Olympic gold medallist Bekele, who was visibly struggling to match the Kenyan’s pace.
Kenyan Munyao maintains lead to the finish line
Alexander Munyao reacts after winning the London Marathon. PHOTO/World Athletics
Munyao maintained his lead to the finish, eventually winning in 2:04:01 to Bekele’s 2:04:15, the fastest time ever by an athlete over the age of 40.
With several of the leading contenders dropping out in the closing stages, Cairess came through to take third place in 2:06:46 ahead of fellow Briton Mahamed Mahamed, who clocked 2:07:05, both setting huge PBs.
Munyao admitted that he had been afraid of Ethiopia’s Bekele, who has also recorded good times and results in London, and holds the third fastest marathon time in history.
“There was a little fear because I know him. He’s a great man but I said to myself, I had to be confident until the last minute,” he said.
Meanwhile, Munyao dedicated his victory to the defending champion Kiptum, who tragically passed away in February after an accident with his coach Gervais Hakizimana.
“He was in my thoughts throughout the race because he was my friend. I ran with him at the Valencia Marathon in 2022 and then he came here and won the London Marathon. May he rest in peace,” Munyao said.
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