Ruth Chepngetich set to light up Madrid on New Year's Eve

World marathon record holder Ruth Chepngetich is the star act in this year's Nationale-Nederlanden San Silvestre Vallecana 10k set for 31 December in Madrid. 

The Kenyan is out to challenge compatriot Brigid Kosgei's course record of 29:54. The former world record holder became the first athlete to break the 30-minute barrier at the Vallecana and her time has stood the test.  

At the Chicago Marathon, Chepngetich lowered the world marathon record by almost 2 minutes (2:09:56), in a feat that left the athletics world speechless. 

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After this heroic feat, Chepngetich arrives as the great female star with the desire to achieve the victory that eluded her in her last appearance back in 2020, when she was defeated by Yalemzerf Yehualaw and challenge Kosgei's record. 

However, the three-time Chicago champion goes to the race with a 10k personal best (PB) time of 30:29, which leaves her with a herculean task. Many expectations are that she will blow her PB up in Madrid. 

Her toughest challenge is expected to come from Ethiopian Adawork Aberta. The NN Running Team, athlete will seek to follow in the footsteps of other compatriots and team members who have triumphed in Vallecana, such as Yehualaw . 

The 28-year-old athlete's best result is a seventh place in the Seville Marathon with 2:23:39 and has a personal best in 10K of 32:27. 

On her part, Mexican of Kenyan origin, Risper Besabwa , sixth in the 2023 Pan American Games in the marathon, will seek to improve on her 10k 31:43 PB achieved in New Orleans (United States). The international quota for the event is completed by Turks Emine Hartun Mechaal and Tugva GuvençYenigum , who was fifth in 2022 at the European Championships in the 3,000-meter steeplechase.

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