Jeruto, Simiu bag Valencia wins

Norah Jeruto and Daniel Simiu secured a Kenyan double at the 10K Valencia Ibercaja a World Athletics Label Road Race, held on Sunday 9 January in the Spanish coastal city. 

Two years ago Kenya’s Rhonex Kipruto set the current men’s world record with his impressive 26:24 performance. This year, organisers had hoped to match that feat in the women’s event but a windy race day hampered athletes performances. 

Jeruto had claimed podium places on her three previous appearances in Valencia but the 26-year-old had never been the victor. The 2011 world U18 2000m steeplechase champion confirmed her role of hot favourite and dominated the race from the gun.

Jeruto ran home in 30:35, three seconds ahead of Norway’s European cross country champion Karoline Bjerkeli Grovdal, whose 30:38 was her second-quickest ever time behind the 30:32 run she achieved in 2020, while Gladys Chepkurui completed a classy podium in 30:48.

Previously, she had recorded times of 29:51 in January 2020 and 30:08 in October 2021. She boasts the world’s third-quickest 3000m steeplechase time in history with a stunning 8:53.65 clocking to her credit and confirmed her top shape by winning the Italica cross country meeting on 21 November against some top competition.

Race organisers were looking to improve the 29:38 mark achieved by Bahrain’s Kalkidan Gezahegne in Geneva last October. Gezahegne's performance is awaiting ratification as the women's world 10km record set in a mixed race, with the current ratified mark the 29:43 run by Joyciline Jepkosgei in 2017.

In the men's race, Simiu clocked a PB of 26:58 to move to seventh on the world all-time list. In the absence of an official pacemaker, it was Ethiopia’s Chimdessa Debele Gudeta who took full command of the race, with only Simiu for company. 

The leading duo went through the half way point in a promising 13:30, perfectly on schedule for the targeted time. By then, Jacob Krop was in third place, five seconds off the leaders, but also five seconds clear of fellow Kenyan Boniface Kibiwott. 

Simiu opened a gap on Gudeta in the sixth kilometre, which grew over the following kilometres. Despite his lead, he managed to maintain his 2:42 pace to reach the 9km checkpoint in 24:16, with a seven-second advantage over Gudeta.

The 2020 San Silvestre Vallecana winner covered the closing kilometre like a man on a mission to finally cross the finish line in a huge lifetime best of 26:58.

Runner-up Gudeta also improved his career best to 27:10 and Krop was third in a PB of 27:23.

Leading results

Women

1 Norah Jeruto (KEN) 30:35

2 Karoline Bjerkeli Grovdal (NOR) 30:38

3 Gladys Chepkurui (KEN) 30:48

4 Anchinalu Dessie Genaneh (ETH) 31:01

5 Meraf Bahta (SWE) 31:22

6 Ftaw Zeray Bezabh (ETH) 32:07

7 Aratz Rodriguez (ESP) 32:19

8 Diana Chesang (KEN) 32:24

9 Meritxell Soler (ESP) 32:34

10 Mahlet Mulugeta Alemu (ETH) 32:45

Men

1 Daniel Simiu Ebenyo (KEN) 26:58

2 Chimdessa Debele Gudeta (ETH) 27:10

3 Jacob Krop (KEN) 27:23

4 Boniface Kibiwott (KEN) 27:44

5 Emile Cairess (GBR) 27:44

6 Peter Maru (UGA) 27:58

7 Kelvin Kibiwott (KEN) 28:01

8 Carlos Mayo (ESP) 28:11

9 Samuel Barata (POR) 28:12

10 Mohammed Benyettou (FRA) 28:13

Additional reporting by World Athletics