The Silverback in Spain
It may not be an official World Marathon Major, but you would be forgiven for thinking it was when you look at the calibre of international athletes it attracts. Thanks to last year’s performances from Kelvin Kiptum and Amane Beriso, the Valencia Marathon is the third fastest marathon in the world on both the men’s and women’s sides. The 2023 edition once again boasts two exceptionally deep fields, headlined by Joshua “Silverback” Cheptegei, who is taking to the streets of the Spanish city for his highly anticipated marathon debut.
Elite Men
Tomorrow morning in Valencia, Uganda’s Joshua Cheptegei will run his first ever marathon. As Jonathon Gault of Letsrun.com so eloquently put it, “this is what we would refer to as a big f—ing deal.”
Over the course of his relatively young career, Cheptegei has set four world records (two of which he ran in Valencia), won an Olympic title, a World Cross Country title, and picked up three World Championships on the track. He is the greatest male long-distance runner of this generation, and his decision to venture to the roads in search of marathon glory has many in the running community understandably excited.
The ever-humble Ugandan spoke with the media about his upcoming debut: “I’m not actually looking to run fast the first time. For me, I want to learn…the marathon is something new for me and I'm fully aware there is a lot to learn,” he explained, showing perhaps more wisdom than some of his peers.
Cheptegei will not be the only runner in Valencia who has held the 5000 and 10,000m world records. Kenenisa Bekele will line up against the man who took those records from him but is unlikely to challenge for the title. The Ethiopian is all but universally considered to be the greatest distance runner of all time, but at 41 years of age is very much in the twilight of his career.
Bekele will be donning a new uniform this weekend: after more than two decades with Nike, he has partnered with Chinese running company, Anta, and has assured fans he intends to be competitive on Sunday.
“I’m not going just for participation. I will use my maximum effort to do anything possible…I will try my best."
His decision to race in Spain is tied closely to his goal to run at the Olympics next year. The Ethiopian Athletics Federation (EAF) is anticipated to announce its provisional marathon teams for Paris 2024 based on athletes' performances by the end of the year. However, owing to a marathon career characterised by injury, Bekele has not been selected for a national team since 2012. It would take an almighty performance on Sunday to put him on the EAF’s radar.
An athlete more likely to challenge Cheptegei is half-marathon specialist Kibiwott Kandie. On paper, he is the slowest elite athlete in the field, with ‘only’ a 2:13:43 to his name from his 2021 debut in New York. However, if there is one thing Kandie knows how to do, it is run fast in Valencia. His three previous outings at the annual Valencia Half Marathon have seen him set a 57:32 world record in 2020, a 58:10 victory last year, and a 57:40 win just two months ago. While he may not have a marathon personal best befitting of his talent, if he can translate his half-marathon speed to the full 42.2km distance, he will be very difficult to beat.
Other athletes vying for a spot on the podium include Alexander Mutiso, who also has an affinity for this city. The Kenyan finished third last year in 2:03:29 and broke 58 minutes at the Valencia Half Marathon in 2020.
Tanzania’s Gabriel Geay, who finished 2nd in the Boston Marathon in April, will return to Valencia in the hopes of upgrading his silver from last year. He will be joined by 2021 London Marathon champion Sisay Lemma and World Athletics Championships silver medallist Leul Gebresilase, who has finished on the podium in four of his last five marathons.
A dark horse in the form of Daniel Do Nascimento will also toe the start line. The Brazilian is the fastest non-African marathon runner of all time and has been training with newly crowned world record holder Kelvin Kiptum. Do Nascimento’s extremely aggressive racing style has the potential to apply pressure on the leaders from the start, putting those with less experience over the marathon distance in a particularly vulnerable position.
Elite Women
While the women’s race has not attracted quite as strong a field as the men’s, there are still some notable entrants sure to provide an exciting battle. Furthermore, the Ethiopian contingent is particularly dominant this year, and the results from this race will undoubtedly influence the team selected for next year’s Olympics.
Tsehay Gemechu, who set her personal best of 2:16:56 in Tokyo earlier this year, was set to be the fastest seed on Sunday. However, after being suspended on Thursday by the Athletics Integrity Unit for doping, an opportunity has opened up for the rest of the field.
As a result, Ethiopia’s Almaz Ayana will start in Valencia with the quickest personal best. The former 10,000m world record holder and Olympic champion ran 2:17:20 to win her debut marathon in Amsterdam last year – the fastest debut in history at the time.
Ayana will line up alongside compatriots Genzebe Dibaba, Worknesh Degefa, and Bosena Mulatie.
Dibaba, who finished second to Ayana in Amsterdam last year in what was also her debut, is in the unusual position of having already started in two marathons this year. Traditionally, elite marathoners only race twice a year – in an autumn and a spring race – due to the physical demands of the marathon. Perhaps trying to secure her spot in next year’s Olympic team, Dibaba will start in her third marathon of the year just two months after finishing eighth in Chicago.
Degefa is a name we have not heard for quite some time. The Ethiopian used to be one of the world’s top female marathon runners: her 2:17:41 performance at the 2019 Dubai Marathon placed her at number four on the all-time list, and she followed that up with wins in Boston and Dubai the following year. Degefa then took a break from the sport and had two children, and up until October had not raced in more than three years. She re-entered the professional running world with a convincing 1:07:48 win at the Trento Half Marathon two months ago and will be one to watch as she runs her first marathon since January 2020.
Lastly, Bosena Mulatie will make her marathon debut at just 22 years of age. The Ethiopian has placed in the top 10 in all three half marathons she has raced this season and boasts a 1:05:46 personal best over the distance.
Ethiopia's Abebe Garedew, Kenya's Titus Kemboi, and Spain's Alejandro Jiménez have been enlisted as pacemakers and told to reach halfway in 1:07:30, which will put the leading athletes on schedule to threaten Amane Beriso's course record of 2:14:58.
The 2023 Valencia Marathon will start at 8:15 am local time on Sunday the 3rd of December.
The full list of elite entrants is as follows:
Men
Kenenisa Bekele (ETH) 2:01:41
Gabriel Geay (TAN) 2:03:00
Alexander Mutiso (KEN) 2:03:29
Getaneh Molla (ETH) 2:03:34
Sisay Lemma (ETH) 2:03:36
Leul Gebreselassie (ETH) 2:04:02
Dawit Wolde (ETH) 2:04:27
Daniel do Nascimento (BRA) 2:04:51
Chalu Deso (ETH) 2:04:53
Titus Kipruto (KEN) 2:04:54
Mohamed Esa Huseydin (KEN) 2:05:05
Morhad Amdouni (FRA) 2:05:22
Goitom Kifle (ERI) 2:05:28
Gashau Ayale (ISR) 2:05:33
Abdisa Tola (ETH) 2:05:42
Oqbe Kibrom (ERI) 2:05:51
Nico Navarro (FRA) 2:06:45
Isaac Mpofu (ZIM) 2:06:48
Tariku Novales (ESP) 2:07:18
Girmaw Amare (ISR) 2:07:28
Haimro Alame (ISR) 2:07:45
Godadaw Belachew (ISR) 2:07:54
Richard Ringer (GER) 2:08:08
Daniel Mateo (ESP) 2:08:22
Derseh Kindie (ETH) 2:08:23
Khalid Choukoud (NED) 2:08:36
Mehdi Frere (FRA) 2:08:55
Yago Rojo (ESP) 2:08:56
Kibiwott Kandie (KEN) 2:13:43
Joshua Cheptegei (UGA) debut
Stephen Kiprop (KEN) debut
Stanley Kurgat (KEN) debut
Women
Almaz Ayana (ETH) 2:17:20
Worknesh Degefa (ETH) 2:17:41
Joan Chelimo Melly (ROM) 2:18:04
Genzebe Dibaba (ETH) 2:18:05
Hiwot Gebrekidan (ETH) 2:19:10
Celestine Chepchirchir (KEN) 2:20:10
Jackline Chelal (KEN) 2:20:29
Dolshi Tesfu (ERI) 2:20:40
Desi Mokonin (BRN) 2:20:47
Majida Maayouf (ESP) 2:21:01
Lisa Weightman (AUS) 2:23:15
Bojana Bjeljac (CRO) 2:23:39
Melat Kejeta (GER) 2:23:57
Fionnuala McCormack (IRL) 2:23:58
Sofiia Yaremchuk (ITA) 2:24:02
Sultan Haydar (TUR) 2:24:44
Eloise Wellings (AUS) 2:25:10
Gerda Steyn (RSA) 2:25:28
Aleksandra Lisowska (POL) 2:26:08
Irvette van Zyl (RSA) 2:26:11
Marta Galimany (ESP) 2:26:14
Fabienne Schlumpf (SUI) 2:26:14
Carolina Wikstrom (SWE) 2:26:14
Mekdes Woldu (FRA) 2:26:34
Fatima Azaharaa Ouhaddou (ESP) 2:26:44
Risper Gesabwa (MEX) 2:26:55
Bosena Mulatie (ETH) debut