Kenya’s stars chase glory in Valencia

Kenya will take center stage at the Valencia Marathon Trinidad Alfonso Zurich, a World Athletics Platinum Label race, on 7th December with an impressive lineup led by world champion Peres Jepchirchir and a strong cast of elite compatriots in both the women’s and men’s races.

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Jepchirchir, who last month added the world marathon title in Tokyo to her Olympic crown from Japan in 2021, headlines the women’s field. The Kenyan star has since won major marathons in New York, Boston, and London, clocking a personal best of 2:16:16 in London earlier this year. She also knows the Valencia streets well, having won there in 2020 with 2:17:16, her second-fastest career time.

She will be joined by fellow Kenyan Joyciline Jepkosgei, another world-class performer with a PB of 2:16:24. Jepkosgei finished third behind Jepchirchir in London in 2024 and was runner-up this year. The 2021 London and 2019 New York Marathon champion also placed second in Valencia in 2020, underlining her consistency at the elite level.

Jepchirchir and Jepkosgei will take on Ethiopia’s Amane Beriso, the 2023 world champion and Valencia course record holder with 2:14:58, alongside USA’s Keira D’Amato (2:19:12), Ethiopia’s Fikrte Wereta (2:21:32), Britain’s Charlotte Purdue (2:22:17), and Germany’s Gesa Krause, who will make her marathon debut after excelling in the steeplechase at the World Championships.

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The Kenyan presence continues to grow in the men’s field, where Hillary Kipkoech (2:04:45), Enock Onchari (2:05:20), Edward Cheserek (2:05:24), and Benard Biwott (2:05:25) will all line up against a stacked international cast. Rising stars Vinicent Nyageo and Patrick Mosin will make their marathon debuts, aiming to impress on the global stage.

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Across the border, Ethiopia’s Sisay Lemma, last year’s Valencia champion and course record holder with 2:01:48, the fourth-fastest time in history, will look to defend his title. Lemma will face compatriot Hailemaryam Kiros (2:04:35) and the German pair Samuel Fitwi (2:04:56) and Amanal Petros (2:04:58). Petros, the Tokyo 2025 world silver medallist, is among the form athletes in the field.

Elite field

Women:

Peres Jepchirchir (KEN) 2:16:16 • Joyciline Jepkosgei (KEN) 2:16:24 • Amane Beriso (ETH) 2:14:58 • 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

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Men:

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

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