Kenyan runners win the men’s and women’s London Marathon races

LONDON (AP) — Alexander Mutiso Munyao delivered one other victory to Kenya on the day the London Marathon commemorated last yr’s champion Kelvin Kiptum.

The race that began with A a period of applause for Kiptumwho died in a automotive accident in Kenya in February, ended together with his compatriot and friend running alone on the final stretch before Buckinhgam Palace to assert a powerful victory in his first major marathon.

Mutiso Munyao said he spoke to Kiptum after his victory in London last yr and that the world record holder all the time thinks about the world record when he competes.

“I think about him every time because he was a great friend of mine,” Mutiso Munyao said. “It was a good day for me.”

Kenya had a double that day, with Olympic champion Peres Jepchirchir pulling away late to win the women’s race and cement her status as favorite to defend gold in Paris.

With about 400 meters to go, Jepchirchir left world record holder Tigst Assefa and two other rivals behind to sprint through the final stage alone. She reached the finish line in 2 hours, 16 minutes and 16 seconds, with Assefa second and Joyciline Jepkosgei third.

Her time was greater than 4 minutes slower than Assefa’s world record set last yr in Berlin, however it was the fastest ever in the women’s-only marathon, beating the 2:17:01 set by Mary Keitany in London in 2017. The elite women’s competition in London began roughly half-hour before the elite men.

But for Jepchirchir, the predominant goal was to point out Kenya’s Olympic team selectors that she needs to be on the team again in Paris.

“That’s why I tried to work very hard to (be able to) defend my title at the Olympics,” she said.

Mutiso Munyao denied 41-year-old Kenenisa Bekele his first London Marathon victory, pulling away from the great Ethiopian with about three kilometers to go on Sunday to assert his biggest profession win.

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Mutiso Munyao and Bekele were locked in a back-and-forth battle for the win until the Kenyan made his move, sprinting along the Thames, quickly constructing a six-second lead that only grew as he neared the finish line.

“At 40 kilometers, when my friend Bekele was left (behind), I had confidence that I could win this race,” said 27-year-old Mutiso Munyao.

He reached the finish line in 2 hours, 4 minutes and 1 second, and Bekele was 14 seconds behind. Emile Caires from Great Britain was third, 2:45 behind.

Bekele, a former Ethiopian Olympic champion in the 10,000 and 5,000 meters, was also runner-up in London in 2017 but never won the race.

Mutiso Munyao is comparatively unknown in marathon circles and said he wasn’t sure if this victory can be enough to get the Kenyan Olympic team to Paris.

“I hope for the best,” he said. “If they choose me, I will go and work for it.”