Jepchirchir, Mutiso crowned London Marathon champions

Olympic champion Peres Jepchirchir and Alexander Munyao Mutiso lived up to the expectations after coasting to victory in the London Marathon held on Sunday.

Jepchirchir unleashed a mighty kick in the closing stages to not only upset record holder Tigst Assefa of Ethiopia but also, broke Mary Keitany’s women’s-only record.

The 30-year-old clocked 2:16:16 to claim her first London Marathon victory that certainly guarantees her place in the Kenyan team for the Paris Olympic Games.

Assefa, who was the pre-race favourite timed 2:16:23 with the 2021 champion Joyciline Jepkosgei settling for bronze after stopping the clock after two hours, sixteen minutes, and 24 seconds.

Jepchirchir, who will be hoping to retain her Olympic title in Paris, beat the women's-only course record of 2:17:01 set by Keitany in 2017.

Despite losing the top honors to Jepchirchir, Assefa will be glad to have finished inside the previous women's-only record time.

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The duo who have amassed significant experience were part of the leading pack for the better part of the race but dropped off when the podium finishers led by Jepkosgei engaged in higher gear in the second half of the race.

Kosgei, who doubles up as the Olympic silver medalist and a two-time winner of the race finished fifth.

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In the men’s race, Mutiso fended off three-time Olympic track champion Kenenisa Bekele to secure his first win in London.

He clocked 2 hours 4 minutes 01 seconds, securing double glory for Kenya in the streets of London.