Running News Daily

The top 5 male Marathon runners in 2024

Kenya has 3 in the top 5 marathoners, list

In the world of marathon running, Kenya continues to produce elite athletes who dominate the global stage. As we approach the 2024 Paris Olympics, let's delve into the top five marathoners who are making headlines with their exceptional performances.

1. Benson Kipruto - 2:02:16

At the forefront is Benson Kipruto, whose recent victory at the 2024 Tokyo Marathon not only set a world-leading time but also established a new personal best. Known for his resilience and strategic prowess, Kipruto's triumph over Eliud Kipchoge in Tokyo solidified his status as a formidable contender for the gold medal in Paris. His impressive track record includes wins at prestigious events like the Boston Marathon (2021) and the Chicago Marathon (2022), highlighting his consistency at the highest level of competition.

2. Timothy Kiplagat - 2:02:55

Timothy Kiplagat emerges as another standout performer, narrowly missing out on Kenya's Olympic team but securing his spot as the reserve athlete. His remarkable second-place finish at the 2024 Tokyo Marathon, where he outpaced Eliud Kipchoge, showcased his ability to excel under pressure and set a new personal best time. With the potential to join the Olympic squad if circumstances permit, Kiplagat remains a key figure to watch in Kenya's marathon scene.

3. Deresa Geleta - 2:03:27

Deresa Geleta represents Ethiopia but deserves mention for his exceptional performance at the 2024 Zurich Maraton de Sevilla, where he set a course record. As part of Ethiopia's Olympic team alongside legends like Kenenisa Bekele, Geleta's prowess in long-distance running underscores East Africa's dominance in the sport.

4. Morhad Amdouni - 2:03:47

Morhad Amdouni, a prominent figure in French athletics, secured second place at the 2024 Seville Marathon and will represent his country at the upcoming Olympics. His training stints in Kenya highlight the allure of Kenyan terrain for honing marathon skills, reflecting the global appeal of East African training camps.

5. Alexander Munyao - 2:04:01

Alexander Munyao rounds off the top five with his impressive performance at the London Marathon, where he triumphed over Bekele in a thrilling finish. With a strong track record in European half marathons and marathons, Munyao's ability to compete at the highest level underscores Kenya's deep talent pool in long-distance running.

Munyao to exploit underdog status in hunt for Olympic title

London Marathon champion Alexander Munyao says he will exploit his underdog status in the hunt for the men’s marathon title at the Paris Olympic Games.

Two-time Olympic Marathon champion Eliud Kipchoge and Ethiopian great Kenenisa Bekele are front runners.

The duo have won numerous championships and major marathons while Munyao only has last month's  London Marathon title to boast of. 

Tokyo Marathon champion Benson Kipruto will be the other Kenyan athlete in the race. But undaunted by the challenge, Munyao is determined to pull off a surprise in the French capital.

“I’m targeting nothing less than gold in Paris. I know Kipchoge will be chasing his third Olympic title and Kipruto is an equally serious contender but I’m ready for the challenge,” Munyao stated.

 The London Marathon London Marathon champion envisions a Kenyan sweep on the podium and expects the trio to push each other to victory. 

“A Kenya 1-2-3 finish is very possible. We’ll be pushing each other hard, and I believe Kenya will dominate in Paris,” he added.

Beyond winning gold, Munyao is keen to lower his personal best (PB). “I aim to reduce my PB to 2:01 or 2:02,” he added.

The 27-year-old  boasts a PB of 2:03:11 set in December 2023 during the Valencia Marathon, where he placed second.

Last week, the Ethiopian Athletics Federation announced its three male representatives for Paris, headlined by three-time Olympic track champion Bekele. He will team up with Valencia Marathon champion Sisay Lemma and Beijing Marathon champion Deresa Geleta.

Despite acknowledging the strength of the Ethiopian team, Munyao views his Kenyan compatriots as his main rivals.

“Ethiopia have a strong team no doubt but I don't see them posing any threat to us. I have run with Bekele and Lemma before and I know their techniques. However, I haven't run with Kipchoge or Kipruto before and that makes them more competitive unlike the Ethiopians,” he noted.

During his triumph in London last month, Munyao beat Bekele to the title, clocking 2:04:01 with Bekele, who was the pre-race favorite, settling for second place in 2:04:15.

At the 2023 Prague Marathon, Munyao clinched the title in 2:05:09, beating Lemma to second place in 2:06:51. Looking ahead to Paris, Munyao plans to stay with the leading pack and make his decisive move close to the finish. 

“My strategy will be simple! I have to stay with the leading pack and make my move a few kilometres to the finish as was the case in London,” Munyao noted.

However, Munyao tempered expectations for a new world record in Paris, citing the challenging nature of the course.

“I have not run the Paris course before but from what I have heard from athletes, it is a tough course. Breaking a world record there will not be easy. What will be important for us athletes is a medal,” he added.

Munyao resumed full training last week at Ngong Hills under the guidance of his coach Peter Muteti, running 30km daily.

“I resumed full training for the Olympics last week at Ngong Hills. I do 30km daily runs, 20km in the morning with light 10km runs in the evening,” he added.

Alexander Munyao Wins Men’s Race at the 2024 London Marathon

The 27-year-old broke away from Kenenisa Bekele, who finished second in a new masters world record.

For the second time in the past week, the men’s winner at a World Marathon Majors crossed the line in survival mode. Six days ago, it was Sisay Lemma holding on to win Boston. This morning, it was Alexander Munyao in London. The Kenyan survived a strong move in the 18th mile to win in 2:04:01.

Kenenisa Bekele, arguably the greatest male distance runner in history, placed second in 2:04:15, four seconds faster than the masters world record he set in Valencia last December. The 41-year-old Ethiopian superstar was, surprisingly, largely responsible for the 4:35 18th mile that broke up what had been a nine-man pack.

By 35K (21.7 miles), the race was down to Munyao and Bekele. The two shared the lead more because of doing the best job of recovering after the earlier push than because they were speeding up. Munyao then got half a step on Bekele early in the 22nd mile, and broke him for good over the next mile.

Once they were dropped by Munyao and Bekele, the other earlier members of the lead pack that hit halfway in 61:29 suffered significantly. Tamirat Tola of Ethiopia, the 2022 world champion who broke the New York City course record last November, had looked eager to take over after the final pacer exited the course a little before 30K. Instead, Tola lost more than 20 seconds to the leaders before 35K, and dropped out before 40K.

The severe disintegration of the lead pack led to third and fourth place going to British runners who had been paced more moderately early on. Emile Cairess finished third in a personal best of 2:06:16 after being in 13th place at halfway (62:50). Mahamed Mahamed placed fourth in 2:07:05, also a personal best. Both men are now likely to be named to the British team for the Olympic Marathon, which will be held on August 10.

Munyao and Bekele were also running in part to secure spots on their Olympic teams. Munyao’s win, combined with his 2:03:13 PR and runner-up finish in Valencia in December, makes a good case. Bekele’s bid is even stronger. With Tola’s poor showing and Bekele’s second strong marathon in a row, will Ethiopian selectors recognize that a three-time Olympic and 19-time world champion deserves to toe the line in Paris?

Brian Shrader, the lone U.S. elite entrant, placed tenth in 2:10:50.

Commonwealth 10,000m bronze medalist, Rodgers Kwemoi, will be seeking a win at the Ras Al Khaimah

Kwemoi, will be seeking a win at the Ras Al Khaimah (RAK) Half Marathon to make up for the pain of missing out on victory at last Sunday's Discovery Kenya Cross Country Championships in Eldoret.

The former world junior 10,000m champion finished third behind winner Nicholas Kimeli and Africa Games' 5,000m champion Robert Kiprop.

“This is part of my speed and endurance build-up ahead of for RAK but I have to run well at the national championships cum trials first. My preparations have been good and that is why I had to run well in this race,” the Mount Elgon-born athlete said. 

However, it will be a tall order for Kwemoi in the United Arab Emirates as he will have to upstage a star-studded roster in the men's category including world Half Marathon record holder, Kibiwott Kandie, world half marathon champion Jacob Kiplimo from Uganda and former world record holder Geoffrey Kamworor.

Others hoping to start off the year in style include former world half marathon silver medalist Bedan Karoki, RAK silver medalist Alexander Munyao, Stephen Kiprop and New York Marathon champion Shura Kitata of Ethiopia.  

Kwemoi will also be chasing an Olympics slot in 10,000m and is optimistic he can end the country's dry spell in the long distance race since the 1968 Mexico City Olympic Games.

“I want to run 10,000 m as I focus on the Olympics. I want to bring the 10,000m Olympic gold after Kenya having the dry spell over the medal,” Kwemoi said.