Mutiso Munyao salutes Kiptum for another Kenyan victory at London Marathon

On a day when the London Marathon commemorates last year’s winner Kelvin Kiptum, Alexander Mutiso Munyao secured another victory for Kenya.

The race started with applause for Kiptum, who died in a car crash in Kenya in February, while his compatriot and friend ran alone down the final straight in front of the Platinum Palace in his first Grand Slam. Impressive victory in the marathon.

Mutiso Munyao said he spoke to Kiptum after winning in London last year and that he always thinks of the world record holder when he races.

“He is always in my mind because he is a good friend of mine,” Mutiso Munho said. “It’s a great day for me.”

It was the Kenyan doubles that day, with Olympic champion Peres Jepchichir coming from behind in the women’s event to win the event and cement her status as favorite to retain her gold medal in Paris.

With about 400 meters (yards) left in the race, Jepchichir left world record holder Tigst Assefa and two other rivals behind and charged into the final stretch alone. She finished in 2 hours, 16 minutes and 16 seconds, with Assefa in second and Joyciline Jepkosgei in third.

Her time was more than four minutes slower than the world record set by Assefa in Berlin last year, but it was the fastest time in women’s marathon history, surpassing Marie Keitani’s 2:17:01 set in London in 2017. record. The London Elite Women’s field is about 30 minutes earlier than the Men’s Elite field.

For Jepchihir, though, the main goal is to show the Kenyan Olympic team selectors that she deserves to be on the team again in Paris.

“So I’m trying to work extra hard to (be) able to defend my title at the Olympics,” she said.

Mutiso Munyao lost the biggest loss of his career to 41-year-old Kenenisa Bekele on Sunday when he fell behind with about 3 kilometers remaining to the Ethiopian great. victory.

Mutiso Munyao and Bekele were battling for the win until the Kenyan made his move on the Thames run, quickly building a six-second gap and growing as he sprinted towards the finish , this gap is getting wider and wider.

“At 40 kilometers, when my friend Bekele fell behind, I was confident that I would win the race,” said 27-year-old Mutiso Munyao.

He finished in 2 hours, 4 minutes and 1 second, with Bekele 14 seconds behind. Britain’s Emile Cairess finished third in 2 minutes and 45 seconds.

Ethiopia’s former Olympic 10,000m and 5,000m champion Bekele was also the runner-up at the 2017 London Olympics but has never won a race.

Mutiso Munyao, a relative unknown in marathon circles, said he was unsure whether the win would be enough to qualify Kenya for the Olympics in Paris.

“I hope everything goes well,” he said. “If they choose me, I’m going to work hard.”