Memorable day for Kenyans in Valencia Marathon as personal bests fall

Kenyan marathoner Joyciline Jepkosgei moved to fourth on the world all-time list as Kenyans dominated the 2025 Valencia Marathon Trinidad Alfonso on Sunday, 7 December.

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Jepkosgei, returning to the place where she set the second of her world half marathon records eight years ago, put up an impressive performance as she clocked a new personal best, winning in a time of 2:14.00.

The 31-year-old, who broke away from the leading pack with three kilometers remaining, on top of that smashed the race course record by almost a minute, surpassing the previous time of 2:14.58, held by Ethiopia's Amane Beriso.

Fellow Kenyan Peres Jepchirchir came second, clocking 2:14.43 to become the sixth fastest women's marathon runner in history.

The pair, who dominated the pre-race talks, exchanged blows late in the race, with Jepkosgei responding to Jepchirchir's decision to break way at the 34 kilometer mark to take a win she did not see coming.

"I cannot believe I have won here," Jepkosgei, a two-time major marathon winner told World Athletics after the race. "Definitely Valencia brings me good luck, as I set a world half marathon record here some years ago. I am delighted to have bettered my PB by such a large amount.”

Chloe Herbiet, who ran a four-minute PB of 2:20.38, won a tight battle for third place, in turn breaking the long-standing Belgian record of 2:23.06.

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Korir lives to promise

Elsewhere in the men's race, Kenya's John Korir delivered a win he had promised earlier last week as he took victory in a new personal best time of 2:02.24.

Korir, who was a late entrant into the race, obliterated the field to claim a dominant win, which despite falling agonizingly short of the world-leading mark of the year, meant he moved eighth on the world all-time list.

Korir downplays record pursuit, prioritises victory in Sunday’s Valencia Marathon

Seeking to rewrite his wrongs of a DNF at the Chicago marathon in October, 29-year-old Korir took control of the race just after the 25 kilometer mark, separating himself from the rest of the pack, to record the third quickest time of the year.

His time, despite improving his personal best by 20 seconds, missed Sabastian Sawe's world lead of 2:02.16 set in Berlin by just eight seconds, and was way off Sisay Lemma's course record of 2:01.48.

Still, it was a morale-boosting win as he said post-race.

“I am over the moon as I got the win and also a career best,” Korir said. “After my DNF in Chicago I believed in myself and soon set the goal of building up for Valencia. My main target today was the win but I knew that would likely lead me to a very fast time, so I cannot ask for more.”

Germany’s world silver medalist Amanal Petros finished like a train to secure the runner-up place and regain the German record in a time of 2:04.03 effort, with Norwegian Awet Kibrab taking a surprise third place in a national record time of 2:04.24.