Debutant Sawe takes on legend Kenenisa Bekele in star-studded Valencia Marathon

World Half Marathon champion Sebastian Sawe is set to lead a Kenyan quartet in the quest for the Valencia Marathon men's title on Sunday 1 December. 

Sawe, making his debut in the classic distance heads to the race with a half marathon personal best (PB) of 58:58 (although he has run 58:05 on a non-record eligible course at the Rome Ostia half marathon).

The world champion has completed nine half marathons, going under 60 minutes in all. 

Debutant Daniel Mateiko part of Valencia Marathon stellar cast

He will take on 58:26 runner Daniel Mateiko who achieved his half marathon best in Valencia back in 2021 but is yet to finish a full marathon, Mathew Kimeli, and Hillary Kipkoech, a pacesetter in 2023, whose half marathon PB of 59:22 was achieved here last year. 

The race is the fourth fastest marathon for men, thanks to the 2:01:48 achieved by Sisay Lemma last year and third for women, with the 2:14:58 achieved by Amane Beriso in 2022. Both will be in Valencia this year. 

Lemma will line up to defend his title but it is the inclusion of three-time Olympic and five-time world champion Kenenisa Bekele that puts a twist to the race. The Ethiopian, with a 2:01:41 PB, returns after finishing fourth in the last edition. 

Marc Roig, coach of the international elite of the event, said “Once again this year, the combination of established names with ambitious newcomers presents a great spectacle.

And having the record holders of the circuit, both male and female, generates even more fascination. Will they be able to lower their record even further? Or will it be the outsiders who will take the success?

As always, it is impossible to predict what will happen in Valencia.”