L. MathekaSawe, Kandie face tough opposition in chase for Valencia half marathon glory
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Reading Time: 3min | Sat. 21.10.23. | 13:05
Expectations are high as the event has witnessed two world records in recent years from and Letesenbet Gidey
Newly minted world half road-running champions Sabastian Sawe, is the favourite at the Valencia Half Marathon Trinidad Alfonso when the World Athletics Elite Label road race gets under way on Sunday 22 October.
The event has witnessed two world records in recent years, first with Kibiwott Kandie’s 57:32 clocking in 2020 and then with Letesenbet Gidey’s 1:02:52 the following year, so there’s always a certain level of expectation for fast times in the Spanish city.
Sawe, who won the half marathon at the World Road Running Championships in Riga earlier this month in 59:10, leads a strong men’s line-up. The Kenyan is reportedly in the form of his life and is undefeated on the roads this year. His target for this weekend will be to maintain that winning streak while also improving on his personal best (PB) of 58:02.
His fiercest opposition might come from fellow Kenyan Kandie, the defending champion. After breaking the world record in Valencia (which was later beaten by Jacob Kiplimo), Kandie returned to Valencia in 2022 and won in 58:10. Earlier this year, he finished ahead of Sawe at the World Cross Country Championships in Bathurst and has since enjoyed a solid season on the track and roads.
"I have had little time between Riga and now to recover but my body feels good, the weather is perfect and I am ready for action tomorrow. Last year I finished in sixth place on my debut in this course and that experience will come in handy tomorrow. I know the course better and I have also gained a bit more experience since then, having run in Berlin and Riga this year, and that gives me confidence going into the race," the Kapsabet-based Sawe told Mozzart Sport.
Gebrhiwet and fellow Ethiopian Yomif Kejelcha, who took silver behind Gebrhiwet in the 5km at the World Road Running Championships in Riga, will also be on the start line.
Both men enjoyed a strong track campaign this year, setting 5000m PBs of 12:41.73 (Kejelcha) and 12:42.18 (Gebrhiwet), but they also have good pedigree on the roads. Kejelcha won the Valencia Half in 2019 in a PB of 58:32, while Gebrhiwet has a best for the distance of 58:55.
Three other men with sub-59-minute PBs are also in the field. Kenya’s Matthew Kimeli clocked 58:43 in Valencia in 2021 and is fresh from a 10-mile win in Zaandam last month. Stephen Kiprop set his PB of 58:42 when winning the Ras Al-Khaimah Half Marathon, but he hasn’t competed since that year.
Ethiopia’s 2021 world U20 3000m champion Tadese Worku made a promising half marathon debut in Valencia last year in 58:47 and heads to Spain off the back of a 27:35 10km victory in Prague.
Olympic 10,000m champion Selemon Barega should also be in contention. The Ethiopian has contested just one half marathon to date, clocking 1:00:39 at the Great North Run, which is a course not eligible for records or PBs.
Spain's Carlos Mayo (1:00:06 in Valencia in 2020) and Italy's Pietro Riva (1:00:30 in Valencia last year) are also entered.
Three pacemakers will set off at a pace to help the field achieve a finishing time in the region of 58 minutes, which would be enough to improve on the world-leading mark of 58:36.
Additional reporting by World Athletics.
