44th London Marathon

London and Berlin marathons undoubtedly have the two fastest race courses in the world. Haile Gebrselassie won three Berlin marathons, while Paula Radcliffe of the United Kingdom established the then world record of 2:15:25 in the London Marathon. Eliud Kipchoge of Kenya set a world record of 2:01:39 in Berlin until Kelvin Kiptum broke it in the Chicago Marathon, almost breaking the sub2 barrier by clocking 2:00:39.  In the recently concluded London Marathon, reigning Olympic champion Jepchirchir of  Kenya broke the women’s only world marathon record when she won in 2:16:16 to eclipse Mary Keitany’s old mark of 2:17:07 set in 2017.  Women’s only world records can be achieved in races where only women compete, hence why Tgist Assefa’s world record of 2:11:53,  which was registered in the mixed-sex 2023 Berlin Marathon, still stands as a separate mark. Tgist Asefa of Ethiopia came in second in 2:16:23 while Jocilien Jepkosgei of Kenya, the 2021 LondonMarathon winner, settled for third in 2:16:24.  Megertu Alemu of Ethiopia wound up fourth in 2:16 :34. Former record holder  Brigid Kosgei pocketed fifth in 2:19:02. The rest of the top ten: 6th Sheila Chipkirui (Kenya 2:19:31), 7th Tgist Ketema (Ethiopia-2:19:12), 8th Yalemserf Yehualaw (Ethiopia-2:23:26), 9th Ruth Chepnegitch (Kenya-2:24:36), and Tsige Haileslase (Ethiopia-2:25:03).  If you noticed, the Kenyans and the Ethiopians split the top ten.

Men’s Race

Alexander Mutiso Munyao pulled away from Ethiopian distance great Kenenisa Bekele to win the men’s race in 2:04:01.  Bekele came up short in 2:04:15, Emile Cairess of the United Kingdom was third in 2:06:46 while compatriot Mahamed Mahamed settled for fourth in 2:07:05. Munyao, 27, was pushed by Bekele until a couple of kilometers to break away from the veteran Bekele.  Munyao holds a personal best of 57:59 in the half marathon held in Valencia in 2020.  The rest of the top ten are: 6th Henok Tesfay (Morocco -2:09:22), 7th Hedrick Pleiffer (Germany- 2:20:00), 8th Kinde Atanaw (Ethiopia 2:10:03), 9th, JohannesMotschmann( Germany-2:10:29), and 10thBrian Shrader(U.S.A- 2:20:50).

NOTES:  Congratulations to our Cebuano runners Amale Jopson, Nica and Andrew Ong for finishing this year’s London Marathon!