Valencia Marathon announces the names of the first athletes taking part in its ambitious ‘Elite Edition’

The Valencia Marathon Trinidad Alfonso EDP is organising an Elite Edition marathon and half marathon to be held on 6 December 2020 and it can now confirm the names of the first male and female athletes who will seek to achieve the most ambitious sporting goal possible by trying to set new race records.  

In the case of the marathon, the goal will be to beat the current times set in Valencia and get as close as possible to the current men’s and women’s world records. The Ethiopians Birhanu Legese (2h02:48, third best time in marathon history) and Kinde Atanaw (2h:03:51), winner last year and current record holder for the Valencian course, are two of the athletes who will try to achieve this feat. In addition, the winner of the Boston and Chicago marathons, Lawrence Cherono (2h04:06), the European record holder Kaan Kigen Özbilen (2h04:16) and the World Champion Lelisa Desisa (2h04:45), will be among the Platinum and Gold athletes who will meet in Valencia Ciudad del Running on 6 December. The athletes will also include several world champions at the distance and winners of different majors in recent years, as well as other debutantes at 42,195 m with a great desire to achieve a good time, such as Jemal Yimer. 

In terms of women athletes, after a 2019 in which four athletes finished in under 2h19 at the last marathon in Valencia, the list of female starters will include the Ethiopians Ruti Aga (2h18:34), Birhane Dibaba (2h18:35), Zeineba Yimer (2h19:28), Tigist Girma (2h19:52) and Mare Dibaba (2h19:52), all with times under 2 hours 20 minutes. The American Jordan Hasay (2h20:57) and the debutante Fancy Chemutai are other big names, in addition to Joyciline Jepkosgei (2h22:38), who won in New York in her premiere at 42.195 kilometres, and she already knows what it is to win in Valencia, where she achieved the world record in a half marathon in 2017. Joan Chelimo (1h05:04 – Half Marathon) and Peres Jepchichir (current half marathon – only women – world record 1h05:16) will also be in the front line.

Thanks to the Trinidad Alfonso Foundation and the sponsors for their support

This Elite Edition, which is organised by SD Correcaminos and Valencia City Council, will be possible thanks to the financial support of the entrepreneur Juan Roig through the Trinidad Alfonso Foundation, which he presides over. The foundation, which is the main partner for both races, is promoting this high-level double event as one of the strategic events included in the #EActíVateSport programme that it has launched to promote the reactivation of sports events in Valencia. In addition, the loyalty shown by the sponsors and collaborators in the Valencia Marathon and Half-Marathon in 2020 will also help to ensure that this event takes place. The organisers will create a health bubble around the race and take stringent safety measures to ensure a great sports event with minimal health risk. The race will have its own medical app, which will be supported by an external consultant to collect all the data and ensure, if necessary, the traceability of the movements made by the athletes and other people involved in organising the race.