London Marathon champion Alexander Munyao has revealed the lessons learned from his disappointing performance at the Paris Olympics and outlined his ambitions to secure a top spot in the upcoming 2025 Tokyo World Championships.
Despite being a formidable competitor with a personal best of 2:03:11 set at last year’s Valencia Marathon, Munyao faced unexpected challenges in Paris that impacted his race strategy.
The 27-year-old marathoner’s Olympic journey took a downturn midway through the race due to a critical error.
“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,” Munyao explained as per The Star.
This setback in hydration strategy at a crucial juncture of the race taught Munyao valuable lessons about race preparation and handling pressure.
Reflecting on his first Olympic appearance, he acknowledged the intense learning curve.
“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 shared.
Looking ahead, Munyao is determined to refine his approach as he targets a historic performance at the World Championships in Tokyo.
With the entry standard set at 2:06:30 for men, Munyao’s personal best already positions him well within the qualifying bracket.
However, the 27-year-old believes that improving his time will boost 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,” he revealed.
Athletics Kenya (AK) considers several factors, including consistency and performance in international races, when selecting athletes for the national team.
Munyao plans to compete in several marathons between February and May next year, aiming for times around 2:02 or even under, to solidify his selection.
“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,” Munyao added, indicating his strategy to meet and surpass the rigorous standards set by AK.
Additionally, Munyao’s affiliation with Japan’s ND Software and his experience in Japanese races, like his victory at the 2023 Kagawa International Half Marathon, give him a unique advantage.
Familiar with the Japanese climate and terrain, he is confident that these factors will work in his favor 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.”
