Kendagor sets a great record in Valencia, a city that encouraged and lived the Marathon
Valencia Trinidad Alfonso Marathon organized by the club Sociedad Deportiva Correcaminos and the Valencia City Hall beat the wind. The city of running took the street to encourage runners. It has been an unprecedented display which has placed a fan in every meter of the itinerary. In the sports section, the Kenyan Jacob Kendagor, who was among the favourites in men category, signed a record of 02h 08m 39s, the fourth-fastest in the 34 years of history of Valencia Marathon. In women, Namibian, Beata Naigambo has won the victory with a time of 2h 30m 53s, another high record, also the fourth in history.
Thus, the Valencian race consolidates its position in the calendar of international marathons as an unmissable event and a favourable circuit to achieve reference sports records.
The wind slowed the elite bunch that was running fast in the first kilometers. After passing the half marathon with a time of one hour and three minutes, unfavorable wind came, and the fatigue in the legs was becoming severe. Still, the mood of the fans who, in the early hours of the morning, settled every corner of the circuit make runners go like lightning and registered the fourth fastest time in the history of the event. It was a very good record of a city which encouraged all their athletes, from the first to the last one.
Regarding national participation, Xavier Garcia Insa, Ronhill Team runner, with 2h 26m 52s, was the first male national athlete, while the Spanish Bea Molina, from Goya Brazil, finished as the first woman to cross the finish line of the Valencia Trinidad Alfonso Marathon with a time of 2h 52m 38s.
A very fast race that turns Valencian into the circuit with the best altimetry for popular and elite runners. Indeed 6,609 athletes, almost half of the applicants, completed the race in less than 4 hours.
10k Valencia Trinidad Alfonso
10k Valencia Trinidad Alfonso was a perfect prelude to the big show of the Valencia Marathon. The race, which started parallel with the 42K, received the first applause in the finish line and run swiftly through the streets of the city. 8,000 runners broke the record of participation in the event.
Yusuf Biwot managed to finish the race in less than 30 minutes. The second best record in the history of this race with 29m13s. Biwot shared the podium with the local athlete Hassane Ahouchar and Fredrik Uhborm.
In women category, Salima Charki, of Nerja Atletismo, crossed the finish line in 33m48s to win. She shared the podium with the national athlete Vanessa Veiga and British Emily Collinge.
Statements
Paco Borao, President of SD Correcaminos gave his valuation after the race: “In the last few kilometers the wind was not in our favor, some runners have complained of the hot weather, in fact the favourite, Felix Keny, had to quit the race. Even though no runner has taken advantage, they had achieved a record under two hours and ten minutes, which is a great record at international level. The most important thing was that the city has thrown itself into the event. Everybody on the streets has cheered and in some places it has been awesome.”
Jacob Kendagor, winner of the 34 Edition Valencia Trinidad Alfonso Marathon: “Valencia circuit is perfect; the strong wind at the last kilometer didn’t help. I won’t forget that the city of Valencia has been my first victory in marathon”.
€ 11,523 allocated to community service Obra Social Sant Joan de Déu
One of the solidarity actions carried out by Valencia Marathon has been the contribution of the Trinidad Alfonso Foundation with one euro per each runner who reached the finish line. This way of rewarding the effort has served to raise € 11,523 for the community service Sant Joan de Déu, a solidary entity in the race for this edition of 2014. This solidary contribution joins the one offered by runners in their registration for the event, and the collection of parallel activities such as Mini Marathon and Cultural Day, Impuls Valencia, also organized by the Trinidad Alfonso Foundation. It has been the highest amount of donations in the history of the event.
One of the keys to athletic success and participation of Valencia Trinidad Alfonso Marathon, with more than 13,000 runners registered, has been the involvement and participation of the public. In every corner of the marathon circuit the support given by the public has help to outpace the race one more year and encourage the runners to run faster.
More than 70 activities organized throughout the race, so that citizens are part of the party and encourage runners, have been combined with the encouragements of spontaneous fans, who have cheered the runners up along the itinerary.
New in this edition has been the importance given to the Fallas due to the competition Animation Running Fallero. Fallas have filled with colours, animation and brightness the event, with choreography, costumes and lively songs.
Finally, the initiative Recycle at your Pace has livened up runners with the liveliest songs they have previously chosen on the internet or through their vote in Expodeporte; a real running disco.
