By IEA SPORTS CORRESPONDENT

The London marathon 2024 has just concluded and Kenyans elite runners once again gave Kenyans a reason to celebrate. Alexander Mutiso Munyao sustained his speed against a great opponent Kenenisa Bekele to win the men's race in 2.04:01. 

Olympic Champion Peres Jepchirchir won the women's only world-record in 2.16:16. World recorder holder Tigst Assefa, Megertu Alemu of Ethiopia and Kenya's Joyciline Jepkosgei beat their previous record of 1.17:01 which was set by Kenya's Mary Keitany in 2017. 

Other winners include:

Wheelchair women: Catherine Debrunner (Switzerland) 1:38:54

Wheelchair men: Marcel Hug (Switzerland) 1:28:35

London marathon race involves runners running for 26.2 miles which is 42'2 km distance. It involves 50,000 people whom away from the elite runners are running to raise funds fir charity. 

DAR ES SALAAM, Jan. 26 (Xinhua) -- Tanzania and Cote d'Ivoire on Thursday signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to cooperate in sports development, a statement by the Tanzanian Ministry of Culture, Arts and Sports said on Friday.

The statement said the MoU was signed between Tanzanian Minister of Culture, Arts and Sports Damas Ndumbaro and Ivorian Minister of Sports Adje Silas Metch in Yamoussoukro, the political capital of Cote d'Ivoire.

Ndumbaro is in Cote d'Ivoire for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) finals, which started on Jan. 13 and is scheduled to end on Feb. 11, where Tanzania's national football team -- Taifa Stars -- was knocked out of group stages on Wednesday.

According to the statement, the MoU also aims to identify and develop young talents in various sports, including football.

Ndumbaro thanked Cote d'Ivoire for hosting the 2023 AFCON finals, saying Tanzania, which will co-host the 2027 AFCON finals with Kenya and Uganda, has learned a lot from the ongoing AFCON finals in the western African country. - Xinhua

Kenyan athletes clinched crowns in the 45th Istanbul Marathon, the world’s only intercontinental run, on Sunday.

Beatrice Cheptoo was victorious in the women's category and Panuel Mkungo came first in the men's category.

Cheptoo took first place with 2 hours, 27 minutes and 9 seconds on the 42-kilometer track.

In women's category, the runner-up and third-place contender were also both Kenyan athletes. Veronicah Njeri Maina came second as she clocked 2 hours, 27 minutes and 24 seconds, while Valentina Mateiko came third when she completed the race in 2 hours, 32 minutes and 15 seconds.

In men's category, Mkungo won the race with 2 hours, 10 minutes and 35 seconds.

Like in women's category, Kenyan athletes also shined in men's as the runner-up and third-place contender were also both Kenyans.

Benard Cheruiyot Sang came second with 2 hours, 12 minutes, and 41 seconds, while James Kiplagat came third with 2 hours, 12 minutes, and 44 seconds.

The marathon, which is sponsored by Türkiye's Is Bank, kicked off at 9 a.m. (0600GMT) on the Anatolian side of Istanbul, approximately 250 meters (820 feet) before the July 15 Martyrs Bridge toll booths.

Istanbul Marathon, which is the world's only intercontinental run, and is in the "Gold Label" category of the World Athletics Association, was held for the 45th time in its history. - Mucahit Huseyin Erogul, Anadolu Agency