Seven athletes with times under the trial record will take part in the Valencia Marathon
The Valencia-Trinidad Alfonso EDP Marathon has presented the top athletes who will compete on Sunday the 19th at the Ciutat de les Arts i les Ciències [City of Arts and Sciences] in what is Spain’s best Marathon, ready to set new records in Valencia ‘The Running City’. There is also the 10-kilometre Valencia Trinidad Alfonso trial that will be held in parallel with the Marathon and in which runners will be battling to chalk up faster times.
The hot favourites for the 37th edition of the Valencia Marathon are already in the city. Paco Borao, President of SD Correcaminos [running club], which is jointly holding the trial together with Valencia City Council, welcomed the bevy of top international athletes. “Valencia is your home this weekend and we hope everything will work out fine”. Furthermore, Borao said that on the trial held on Sunday the 19th, “The aim in the Marathon is to repeat the event’s IAAF Gold Label and to win the IAAF Bronze Label for the 10-kilometre trial”.
With no fewer than seven athletes holding times under the record for the trial set by John Nzau Mwangangi in 2015, with a time of 2:06:13, Spain’s first Marathon to win the coveted IAAF Gold Label looks likely to chalk up excellent results. ‘Valencia — The Running City’, which set both Spanish and world records for women on the 22nd of October, is ready to see athletes of the calibre of Emmanuel Mutai (2:03:13), Sammy Kitwara (2:04:28), Bernard Koech (2:04:53), Evans Kiplagat Chebet (2:05:31), Eliud Kiptanui (2:05:21), Aberu Kuma Lema (2:05:56) and Deribe Robi Melka (2:05:58) chase new records in Sunday’s Marathon.
Rachid Ben Meziane, the selector of the top runners, thanked the Marathon Organisers for their support. “I am delighted to be here again. We are ready to set new records. We have a very strong team and we are chasing a time of 2:05”, he added.
Emmanuel Mutai, Sammy Kitwara, and Victor Kipchirchir have all said they are in top form to win the 37th edition of the Valencia Marathon. “The last few kilometres are decisive and will determine the trial results”, said Mutai. Kitwara stated “I have been preparing since May and I am in good form to beat my personal record in Valencia”. Victor Kipchirchir, winner of last year’s Valencia Marathon, took a very sporting attitude. “I will be happy whether I win or one of my mates does”, he said.
The Portuguese and Byelorussian athletes (Sara Isabel Fonseca Moreira and Volha Mazuronak, respectively) are the hot favourites to win among the women in the latest edition of Spain’s best Marathon. Mazuronak’s best time is 2:23:54 — almost a minute faster than the best time chalked up by Valary Jemeli Aiyabei in 2016 (2:24:48). Sara Isabel Fonseca Moreira, the representative of the women’s team at the presentation, said “Competing in Valencia is wonderful and I will run flat out to try to reach the Finishing Line first”.
Furthermore, thanks to the Personal Best programme, other fast runners drawn from 17 countries will compete in the 2017 Valencia Marathon on Sunday the 19th. These form a group of 35 runners (apart from the seven mentioned earlier) who stand a good chance of breaking the 2:20:00 barrier for men and the 2:45:00 barrier for women.
The 10-kilometre trial also welcomes its top runners
The Valencia Trinidad Alfonso 10-kilometre trial is also on the hunt for new records. This trial is being held in parallel with the Marathon. The aim is to boost competition and chalk up faster times in the race, with a view to winning the IAAF Bronze Label for this year’s event.
Manolo Ripollés, the man in charge of the Marathon and Half-Marathon in the Valencia Region said that “The FACV considers it an honour to make its own small contribution to the Valencia Marathon, which is not only Spain’s best Marathon but is also one of the top ones worldwide”. “I hope everyone has an enjoyable Marathon and that the runners beat their times”, he added.
Juan Antonio Chiqui Pérez and Marta Esteban, are the hot favourites in the 7th edition of the 10-kilometre trial, which will be held in parallel with the Marathon. They both looked forward to setting fast times in the event. “I am beginning my running career and Valencia is the best place in Spain to do so. My aim is to beat 0:28:00 in the 10,000 metres. It will not be easy but I am keen and want to try it”, said Chiqui.
Last but not least, the Valencia athlete Marta Esteban stated “I am going to do my utmost to get as close to my personal best in the 10,000 metres (0:33:15) as possible. The combination of a fast track and Valencia’s enthusiastic citizenry cheering us on makes me pretty sure that I can get close to my best time”.
