• ATHLETICS

• Sportsbeat Correspondent 6 months ago

World champion Jepchirchir and Kipkoech to lead Kenyan charge at Valencia Marathon

Kenya’s long-distance stars Peres Jepchirchir and Hillary Kipkoech will headline a strong Kenyan line-up at this year’s Valencia Marathon Trinidad Alfonso Zurich set for December 7, as the World Athletics Platinum Label race once again draws some of the world’s finest runners.

The reigning world and Olympic champion Peres Jepchirchir returns to the streets of Valencia where she last triumphed in 2020, as she seeks to extend her dominance in women’s marathon running.

Fresh from her world title win in Tokyo last month, Jepchirchir will line up against Ethiopia’s course record-holder Amane Beriso, setting up a thrilling battle between two world champions.

Jepchirchir, who clocked her personal best of 2:16:16 at the London Marathon earlier this year, has enjoyed a glittering run of victories since her Olympic gold in 2021.

She has won major marathons in New York, Boston, and London, cementing her place as one of the most successful Kenyan marathoners of all time.

“I’m happy to be returning to Valencia. It’s a special city for me because it’s where I first realized my potential to compete at the highest level,” Jepchirchir said in a statement shared by race organizers. “The competition will be tough, but I’m motivated to end my season on a high.”

Her biggest challenger will be Ethiopia’s Amane Beriso, who won the 2023 World Championships and holds the Valencia course record of 2:14:58, which also stands as her personal best.

The Ethiopian will be out to reclaim her crown in Spain after finishing fifth at both the Paris Olympics and this year’s Boston Marathon.

Also in the women’s field is another Kenyan star, Joyciline Jepkosgei, who has been in brilliant form this year. She clocked 2:16:24 to finish third in the 2024 London Marathon and was the runner-up this year.

A past winner of both the London (2021) and New York (2019) Marathons, Jepkosgei will be seeking to make it a Kenyan sweep in Valencia, where she previously finished second in 2020.

The women’s elite list also features several international stars including the USA’s Keira D’Amato (PB 2:19:12), Great Britain’s Charlotte Purdue (2:22:17), and Germany’s Gesa Krause, who will make her marathon debut just months after finishing seventh in the 3000m steeplechase at the World Championships.

In the men’s race, Kenya will once again be well represented with Hillary Kipkoech leading the charge against Ethiopia’s defending champion Sisay Lemma, who ran a stunning 2:01:48 to set the course record last year — the fourth-fastest time in history.

Kipkoech, who clocked a personal best of 2:04:45 in Valencia last year, is determined to improve his performance and challenge for the top spot. “Valencia is a fast course, and I know what it takes to compete with the best. My goal is to run a personal best and hopefully win for Kenya,” said Kipkoech.

Joining him in the Kenyan men’s contingent are Enock Onchari (2:05:20), Edward Cheserek (2:05:24), Benard Biwott (2:05:25), and debutants Vincent Nyageo and Patrick Mosin, both looking to make their mark in the competitive field.

Ethiopia’s Hailemaryam Kiros, Germany’s Amanal Petros, and Samuel Fitwi are also among the top contenders. Petros, who won silver at the 2025 World Championships in Tokyo, is coming off a strong season and will be aiming to challenge Lemma for the title.

For Kenya, the Valencia Marathon is more than just another race — it represents an opportunity to reaffirm the country’s long-held dominance in marathon running.

With Jepchirchir chasing another victory and Kipkoech eyeing a breakthrough, Kenyan fans will be hoping for a strong finish to the year on Spanish soil.

Elite field

Women
Amane Beriso (ETH) 2:14:58
Peres Jepchirchir (KEN) 2:16:16
Joyciline Jepkosgei (KEN) 2:16:24
Keira D’Amato (USA) 2:19:12
Fikrte Wereta (ETH) 2:21:32
Charlotte Purdue (GBR) 2:22:17
Glenrose Xaba (RSA) 2:22:22
Jessica Stenson (AUS) 2:22:56
Isobel Batt-Doyle (AUS) 2:22:59
Genevieve Gregson (AUS) 2:23:08
Mekdes Woldu (FRA) 2:23:13
Emma Bates (USA) 2:23:18
Rose Harvey (GBR) 2:23:21
Lindsay Flanagan (USA) 2:23:31
Giovanna Epis (ITA) 2:23:46
Meline Rollin (FRA) 2:24:12
Fabienne Schlump (SUI) 2:24:30
Gesa Krause (GER) debut

Men
Sisay Lemma (ETH) 2:01:48
Hailemaryam Kiros (ETH) 2:04:35
Hillary Kipkoech (KEN) 2:04:45
Samuel Fitwi (GER) 2:04:56
Amanal Petros (GER) 2:04:58
Yohei Ikeda (JPN) 2:05:12
Enock Onchari (KEN) 2:05:20
Edward Cheserek (KEN) 2:05:24
Benard Biwott (KEN) 2:05:25
Suguru Osako (JPN) 2:05:29
Nico Navarro (FRA) 2:05:53
Andy Buchanan (AUS) 2:06:22
Clayton Young (USA) 2:08:00
Vinicent Nyageo (KEN) debut
Patrick Mosin (KEN) debut