•The 2025 World Championship entry standard is set at 2:06:30 in the men’s event and 2:23:30 in the women’s race with the qualification period running from November 5, 2023, to May 4, 2025.
• “My personal best at the moment is 2:03. I want to lower that time before the World championships to increase my chances of securing a slot in team Kenya again.” Munyao revealed.
Image: HANDOUT
London Marathon champion Alexander Munyao is determined to lower his time as he seeks to secure a spot on Kenya’s marathon team for the 2025 Tokyo World Championships.
The 2025 World Championship entry standard is set at 2:06:30 in the men’s event and 2:23:30 in the women’s race with the qualification period running from November 5, 2023, to May 4, 2025.
Munyao currently holds a personal best of 2:03:11 set in December last year at the Valencia Marathon, where he placed second behind Ethiopia’s Sisay Lemma who clocked 2:01:48.
The 27-year-old also clocked 2:04:01 earlier in April during his triumph at the London Marathon.
The two posted times put Munyao within the World Championships bracket but he believes an even lower time will improve his chances of making Team Kenya again.
“My personal best at the moment is 2:03. I want to lower that time before the World championships to increase my chances of securing a slot in team Kenya again,” Munyao revealed.
He emphasised that Athletics Kenya (AK) considers various factors when selecting athletes for the national team.
“AK looks at both the time and consistency of an athlete in races when picking the team,” he noted.
To achieve his goal, Munyao plans to compete in several marathons between February and May next year, targeting a time of 2:02 or even 2:01.
“I’m aiming for a couple of marathons early next year and I’m targeting a 2:02 or sub-2:02 finish in those races,” he added.
The 2023 Kagawa International Half Marathon champion believes his familiarity with Japan’s terrain and climate will give him an edge at the World Championships.
“I’m accustomed to the Japanese climate and terrain. Having the World Championships there will work in my favour and I’m confident I can fight for a medal,” he said.
Currently, Munyao is contracted to Japan’s ND Software, where he represents the company’s sports club (NDS Athletics Club) in Japanese track and field meets.
The 27-year-old made his maiden Olympic appearance in Paris but missed out on the podium after finishing in position 21 with a time of 2:10:31.
Ethiopia’s Tamirat Tola set a course record time of 2:06:26 to bag the Olympic crown ahead of Belgium’s Bashir Abdi (2:06:47) and Benson Kipruto (2:07:00).
Reflecting on his Olympic experience, Munyao acknowledged the lessons learned, particularly the importance of strategy and handling pressure.
“The course in Paris was not easy. My target was to make it to the medal bracket but unfortunately, I could not. I made a slight mistake at the 20km mark, where I missed the water stands and had to go back. That took a lot of energy from me because I had to push myself to chase the leading group.”
“This was my first Olympic appearance and I can say I have picked up a lot from my participation in Paris especially in terms of race strategy and dealing with pressure,” he said.
Munyao is set to return to Japan in mid-September to prepare for the Ekiden race in November.
“I will be leaving for Japan in mid-next month to prepare for the Ekiden race which will be in November. The race will be instrumental in my preparations for next year’s marathons,” he said.
The Ekiden race is a Japanese long-distance running multi-stage relay race most held on roads.