April 21, (THEWILL)- At the 2024 London Marathon on Sunday, 27-year-old Kenyan Alexander Mutiso Munyao, edged out veteran Ethiopian Kenenisa Bekele to take first place. Munyao crossed the line in two hours and four minutes one second, with Britain’s Emile Cairess taking third place. The race was preceded by 30 seconds of applause for last year’s winner Kelvin Kiptum, who tragically passed away in February.
Despite being pushed all the way by the 41-year-old Bekele, Munyao timed his finish to perfection to ensure the London Marathon celebrated another Kenyan triumph on an emotional day in the British capital. Bekele, a triple Olympic track champion, came agonisingly close to his first London Marathon win.
Making their move in the latter stages, Bekele and Munyao surged clear of a group including world champion Tamirat Tola. However, Munyao’s youthful reserves proved decisive as he opened up a 14-second gap in the closing kilometres.
While Munyao and Bekele took the top two spots, it was an encouraging day for British distance running. Emile Cairess and Mahamed Mahamed secured third and fourth-place finishes respectively, boosting their prospects of qualifying for the Paris 2024 Olympics.
About the Author
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
