Sisay Lemma wins the Valencia Marathon (© Getty Images)
Ethiopia’s Sisay Lemma, the course record-holder at the Valencia Marathon Trinidad Alfonso Zurich, will return to the Spanish city on Sunday (1) to defend his title at the World Athletics Platinum Label road race.
It’s only in recent weeks, however, that the organisers were able to confirm that the race will go ahead. At the end of October, the province of Valencia was hit by extreme floods, claiming the lives of 229 people. The natural disaster lasted for more than two weeks, causing substantial damage in the area.
While the effects are still being felt in many parts of Valencia, the city has been able to recover enough for this weekend’s race to go ahead.
“These have been days of great pain, fear, uncertainty and anxiety for the city of Valencia and its entire province,” the organisers said in a statement two weeks ago. “But after every storm comes the sunrise.
“This marathon will be much more than a race. It will be a hug to this wounded city and a promise of recovery, a moment in which sport becomes hope and help for those who need it most. It will also be a symbol of support for every family that has suffered, for every street and every corner of Valencia that is in the process of reconstruction.”
The organisers also confirmed that all the proceeds from the sponsors, the organisation’s own funds and the runners will be donated to one or more projects for the reconstruction of the affected areas.
Lemma won in Valencia last year in 2:01:48, finishing 83 seconds ahead of his nearest challenger and moving to fourth on the world all-time list. He went on to take the Boston Marathon title earlier this year in 2:06:17, winning by 41 seconds.
But despite decisive victories in his last two marathons, Lemma may not have it all his own way on Sunday.
Three-time Olympic gold medallist and five-time world champion Kenenisa Bekele is also returning to Valencia. The Ethiopian, whose PB of 2:01:41 puts him one place ahead of Lemma on the world all-time list, finished fourth in Valencia last year in 2:04:19, then went on to take second place in London earlier this year in 2:04:15, his fastest time in five years.
Four months later, Bekele competed at the Olympic Games and placed 39th in 2:12:24, so he’ll no doubt be looking for some form of redemption to end his year on a high.
Three other Ethiopian men with sub-2:04 PBs will be in Valencia: Birhanu Legese, Guye Adola and Deresa Geleta.
Legese is a two-time Tokyo Marathon champion. He finished third in Valencia in 2020, clocking 2:03:16, while his most recent marathon outing was a third-place finish in Rotterdam earlier this year in 2:05:16.
Adola won the Berlin Marathon in 2021, but he hasn’t raced so far in 2024. He competed twice in 2023, finishing second in Paris (2:07:35) and third in Frankfurt (2:07:44).
Geleta has enjoyed a strong year, kicking off with a PB of 2:03:26 to win in Seville, then placing fifth at the Olympic Games, just 31 seconds shy of a medal.
Much of the focus will be on some of the athletes who’ll be making their marathon debuts in Valencia.
World half marathon champion Sabastian Sawe has contested nine half marathons to date, all of them comfortably inside 60 minutes and topped by his PB of 58:02. World half marathon silver medallist Daniel Mateiko is similarly consistent at the 13.1-mile distance, having bettered 59 minutes on seven occasions. Hillary Kipkoech, a 59:22 half marathon performer, was one of Lemma’s pacemakers in 2023, but this year is entered as a contender in his own right.
Following the recent withdrawal of course record-holder Amane Beriso, Megertu Alemu heads to Valencia as the fastest in the women’s field.
She clocked a PB of 2:16:34 to finish fourth in London earlier this year, but failed to finish the marathon at the Paris Olympics. The 27-year-old will be looking to recapture the form that carrier her to podium finishes in London in 2022 and in London and Chicago in 2023.
Hiwot Gebrekidan was third in Valencia last year, clocking a PB of 2:17:59, though she hasn’t contested a marathon since then. Fellow Ethiopian Tiruye Mesfin also set her PB in Valencia, clocking 2:18:47 in 2022. More recently, she finished ninth at this year’s Boston Marathon.
Stella Chesang set a Ugandan record of 2:20:23 on her marathon debut in Hamburg last year. She heads to Valencia looking to capitalise on her current good form and improve her national marathon record, having set a half marathon PB of 1:07:59 and finished eighth in the marathon at the Paris Olympics this year.
USA’s Sara Hall, the London runner-up in 2021, is also looking to end her year on a high after finishing 15th in Boston and 18th in Chicago this year.
Kenya’s Evaline Chirchir could be one to watch. She has completed just two marathons to date, her fastest being a 2:22:11 clocking in Daegu earlier this year. But her PBs for 10km (30:43) and the half marathon (1:06:01) suggest she’s capable of an even faster marathon time.
How to watch the Valencia Marathon Trinidad Alfonso Zurich
A live stream of the Valencia Marathon Trinidad Alfonso Zurich will be available to watch on Inside Track on Sunday 1 December.
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Elite field
Women
Megertu Alemu (ETH) 2:16:34
Hiwot Gebrekidan (ETH) 2:17:59
Tiruye Mesfin (ETH) 2:18:47
Stella Chesang (UGA) 2:20:23
Sara Hall (USA) 2:20:32
Majida Maayouf (ESP) 2:21:27
Evaline Chirchir (KEN) 2:22:11
Chimdesa Kumsa (ETH) 2:22:13
Isobel Batt-Doyle (AUS) 2:23:27
Malindi Elmore (CAN) 2:23:30
Sofia Assefa (ETH) 2:23:33
Fionnuala McCormack (IRL) 2:23:58
Jessica Stenson (AUS) 2:24:01
Gerda Steyn (RSA) 2:24:03
Laura Hottenrott (GER) 2:24:32
Camilla Richardsson (FIN) 2:24:38
Clara Evans (GBR) 2:25:04
Fatima Azzaharaa Ouhaddou (ESP) 2:25:30
Laura Luengo (ESP) 2:25:35
Susana Santos (POR) 2:25:35
Moira Stewartova (CZE) 2:25:36
Men
Kenenisa Bekele (ETH) 2:01:41
Sisay Lemma (ETH) 2:01:48
Birhanu Legese (ETH) 2:02:48
Deresa Geleta (ETH) 2:03:27
Guye Adola (ETH) 2:03:46
Tadesse Abraham (SUI) 2:05:01
Alphonce Simbu (TAN) 2:05:39
Sondre Moen (NOR) 2:05:48
Samwel Fitwi (GER) 2:06:27
Andamlak Belihu (ETH) 2:06:40
Maru Teferi (ISR) 2:06:43
Shokhrukh Davlyatov (UZB) 2:07:02
Richard Ringer (GER) 2:07:05
Zerei Kbrom (NOR) 2:07:10
Iliass Aouani (ITA) 2:07:16
Samuel Barata (POR) 2:07:35
Héctor Garibay (BOL) 2:07:44
Ibrahim Chakir Elosri (ESP) 2:07:48
Sabastian Sawe (KEN) debut
Daniel Mateiko (KEN) debut
Mathew Kimeli (KEN) debut
Hillary Kipkoech (KEN) debut
Carlos Mayo Nieto (ESP) debut
Pietro Riva (ITA) debut
Chimdessa Debele (ETH) debut
