Alexander Mutiso to warm up for London Marathon with Marugame Half Marathon

Reigning London Marathon champion Alexander Mutiso Munyao, poised to defend his title on Sunday 27 April, is set to headline this year’s Kagawa Marugame International Half Marathon set for Sunday 2 February.

With a personal best (PB) of 57:59 in the half marathon set at the 2020 Valencia Half Marathon, the seventh fastest time ever, Mutiso will look to make up for last year’s shortcomings, having finished second in 59:37, five seconds behind compatriot Richard Etir.

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Mutiso had clocked 59:17 the previous year, setting the course record in Japan’s first Elite Label status half marathon. As he looks to reclaim his title, he faces stiff competition from, among others, compatriots Bedan Karoki (58:42), Cleophas Kandie (59:18), and Emmanuel Maru (59:43).

Karoki, the 2016 World Half Marathon silver medalist, who made a great debut over the distance in winning the EDP Half Marathon of Lisbon in 59:58 more than a decade ago (2014) is back on the road since 20 October 2024 when he placed second at the Tokyo Legacy Half Marathon in 60:38.

The race also pits Mutiso against Kandie, the man he defeated by a mere second in his 2023 winning run. The duo clashed again in Tokyo last October where the latter placed sixth in a race won by Amos Kurgat in a course record of 59:52. Another sub-60 runner, Maru, whose PB was achieved in Barcelona last February, adds to the depth.

For Olympian Mutiso, the race is part of his preparations before he clashes with Olympic champion Tamirat Tola in London, a field that also has debutant, world cross-country champion Jacob Kiplimo, world half marathon champion Sabastian Sawe, and 2024 Tokyo Marathon runner-up Timothy Kiplagat.

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The line-up in London also includes New York City Marathon champion Abdi Nageeye of the Netherlands, Olympic fourth-place finisher Emile Cairess of Great Britain, German record-holder Amanal Petros, Norway’s Sondre Moen, Australian record-holder Andrew Buchanan, Italy’s European half marathon champion Yeman Crippa and Olympic triathlon champion Alex Yee.