Africa-Press – Kenya. The 2024 London Marathon champion, Alexander Munyao, believes a strong showing at the Tokyo Marathon on March 1 will serve as the perfect catalyst for an explosive 2026 campaign. Munyao is among the headline acts unveiled by race organisers to spearhead the opening leg of the seven-race Abbott World Marathon Majors series.
The race will mark Munyao’s maiden appearance at the Tokyo Marathon, but the Kenyan arrives far from a stranger to Japanese roads, having built an impressive resume in various half marathons.
In 2022, Munyao clocked 59:56 to win the Gifu Half Marathon, edging out compatriots Benard Kimeli (59:57) and Emmanuel Maru (59:58). He raised the bar the following year, storming to victory at the Kagawa Marugame Half Marathon in 59:17, with Cleophas Meyan (59:18) and Andrew Lorot (59:54) completing the podium.
At the 2024 edition of the Kagawa race, Munyao settled for second in 59:37 before reclaiming his crown last year with a blistering 59:16. Speaking earlier, Munyao underlined his ambition to launch a memorable 2026 season, buoyed by the momentum gathered from a strong finish to his 2025 campaign.
“I hope 2026 will be an even better season. I am hopeful for the best,” Munyao said. “For me, 2025 has been a good season. I am happy with how it turned out.
”The 29-year-old kicked off his 2025 season in style with victory at the Kagawa Half Marathon before backing it up with a podium finish at the London Marathon, where he clocked 2:04:20 to finish behind Sabastian Sawe (2:02:27) and Jacob Kiplimo (2:03:37).
He then swapped the roads for the track, lining up at the 16th NITTAIDAI Challenge where he placed seventh in the 5,000m in 13:52.41. Munyao doubled up at the HOKUREN Distance Challenge, finishing third over 5,000m in 13:54.19 and second in the 10,000m in 28:00.26.
His return to the roads was emphatic, producing a commanding run at the Great North Run Half Marathon to claim the title in 1:00:52. Belgium’s Bashir Abdi (1:00:58) and Abel Kipchimba (1:01:01) trailed him to the line.
Munyao capped off the year on a high with a runner-up finish at the New York City Marathon, clocking 2:08:09 as Benson Kipruto edged him out in a dramatic finish decided by mere microseconds.
In Tokyo, Munyao faces a stern examination from last year’s runner-up, Timothy Kiplagat. At the 2025 race, Kiplagat stopped the clock in 2:02:55, finishing behind Kipruto’s winning time of 2:02:16, with Vincent Ngetich completing the podium in 2:04:00. Ngetich returns with renewed ambition this year, adding further firepower to an already stacked field as he looks to upgrade his finish.
The Kenyans, however, will have their work cut out against a formidable Ethiopian contingent led by 2024 Berlin Marathon champion Milkesa Mengesha and 2020 Olympic 10,000m gold medallist Selemon Barega, setting the stage for a mouth-watering duel on the streets of Tokyo.
