In Summary
- Jepchirchir won in 2:16:16, breaking Mary Keitany’s women’s only record
- Mutiso and Jepchirchir will take home Ksh7,215,844 each for their wins
- Jepchirchir will also pocket an extra £100,000 (Ksh16,399,645) for lowering Mary Keitany’s women’s-only world record.
Kenya’s Alexander Munyao and Olympic champion Peres Jepchirchir won the men’s and women’s London Marathon 2024 on Sunday (21 April).
Jepchirchir won in 2:16:16, breaking Mary Keitany’s women’s only record of 2:17:01 set at the 2017 London Marathon by 45 seconds.
Jepchirchir said afterwards, “I’m feeling grateful. I’m so happy. I was not expecting that. I knew that we were going to break the record but I was not expecting it to be me. When I was at 40km, I said, ‘Let’s relax. And then 41km I would accelerate or wait until 600m.’
“It means a lot to me because last year I was expecting to win. Unfortunately, I didn’t win but I was happy too. This year I’m so so happy.”
Meanwhile Alexander Munyao took victory in the 2024 London Marathon leaving track great Kenenisa Bekele trailing in his wake.
“I’m happy for winning the race today which is my fastest ever marathon,” said Munyao. “At 40km I got some pressure from Bekele but I had a lot of confidence because I trained for this race. After 40km I thought I had enough energy to win. That’s why I kicked and I knew I would win.”
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Both Athletes to Pocket Millions
All winners in the elite races of the 2024 London Marathon receive £44,000 (Ksh7,215,844), with the runner-up earning £23,700 (Ksh3,935,914) and third-place taking home £17,800 (Ksh2,951,936).
That means Mutiso and Jepchirchir will take home Ksh7,215,844 each for their wins while Joyciline Jepkosgei, who finished third in the women’s race, pocket Ksh2,951,936.
Jepchirchir will also pocket an extra £100,000 (Ksh16,399,645) for lowering Mary Keitany’s women’s-only world record of 2:17:01 after running 2:16:16, bringing her total for the two-hour job to Ksh23,615,489.
