2024 London Marathon winner, Alexander Mutiso Munyao, has been named in the Kenyan marathon team for this year’s Olympic Games in Paris.
The 27-year-old was a relative unknown in marathon circles despite running 2hrs 03mins 11secs in Valencia in 2023 but he grabbed the headlines last month when he claimed his first major win in London in a time of 2:04:01, ahead of Ethiopian legend, Kenenisa Bekele.
After winning the marathon in London, Munyao admitted he was not sure if he had done enough to merit selection but he was named alongside double Olympic gold medallist, Eliud Kipchoge and the 2024 Tokyo marathon champion, Benson Kipruto to represent Kenya at the Olympics.
Meanwhile, Kipchoge, 39, will be eyeing a historic Olympic marathon hat-trick after struggling in March to a 10th-place finish in Tokyo behind Kipruto. Kipchoge while speaking to AAN revealed that he plans to prepare and plan well for the race by putting all his heart, mind and thoughts on the Olympics. “When we step onto the streets of Paris, it won’t be as individuals but as a formidable team united by our shared pursuit of greatness.”
Kenya’s world record holder, Late Kelvin Kiptum, who would have been a certainty for Paris, died in a car accident in February 2024. On the women’s side, defending Olympic champion, Peres Jepchirchir, who also won the London Marathon in April will lead Chicago and Boston marathon champion, Helen Obiri and former world record holder Brigid Kosgei in the road race.
