This Sunday’s Valencia Marathon was a total success. The 42,195 km event has managed to become one of the largest and most notable in the world, among other things because it is one of the fastest, along with Boston and Berlin. Additionally, the test provides an added incentive for professional runners: They would win a million euros if they managed to beat the world record, just as Mercadona president Juan Roig promised.
The Marathon, beyond the victory of Joyciline Jepkosgei, with the best world record of the year 2025 (2:14:00) which makes her the fourth fastest woman in history, and the good time of John Korir (2:02:24), the eighth fastest man, It was once again the scene of nine national records for elite athletes.
The most notable was Amanal Petros, who, in addition to taking second place on the podium in Valencia, He set the German national record with a time of 2:04:03. Third-place finisher Awet Kibrab of Norway set a time of 2:04:24 on his debut over the distance to take his country’s new best mark. Another strong performance was that of Japan’s Suguru Osako, who set the Japanese national record in 2:04:55 after his fourth place in Valencia.
In addition, female athletes achieved six other Belgian national records, Finland, Australia, Austria, Nepal and Chad. Among them, the Belgian athlete Chloé Herbiet stands out, who with her 2:20:38, in addition to becoming the new best national record of her country, won her third place in the race.
Finland also has a new national record thanks to 2:20:48 signed by Alisa Vainio. Jessica Stenson (2:21:24) set the new Australian national record, snatching the previous one also set in Valencia. The same thing happened with Austria, where Julia Mayer lowered her own national record achieved in this marathon last Sunday to 2:26:09.
Other more discreet marks, but also records in their countries, were those of Shrestha Santoshi for Nepal (2:40:23) and Bibiro Ali Taher for Chad (2:46:41).) which complete these nine national records achieved during the 2025 Valencia Marathon.
Furthermore, the British Alex Yee, Olympic triathlon champion in Paris, achieved another notable performance, with a mark of 2:06:38 in his second experience at the marathon distance, to climb to seventh position in the ranking. A triathlete record which makes him the second best Briton of all time over the distance, surpassed only by the legendary Mo Farah.
Regarding the Spanish participation, although it was not the year to repeat a new national record (the men’s and women’s records had already been achieved in Valencia), up to eight athletes (six boys and two girls) managed to cross the finish line below. of the minimum score for the next European Championship in Birmingham this summerdespite the previous injury of Yago Rojo and the bad luck of Tariku Novales during the test, who had to withdraw.
There was no price
Despite the great successes, there were no world records or prizes. Juan Roig, president of Mercadona and Trinidad Alfonso Foundation which organizes and sponsors the Valencia Marathon, reiterated in this edition the promise it made in 2023: will give one million euros to the athlete who breaks the world record of the marathon in this event.
This promise refers for both categories, men and women. The men’s marathon record is held by Kelvin Kiptum, with an incredible time of 2:00:35, achieved at the Chicago Marathon in 2023. Sadly, Kiptum died in a car accident in February 2024.
For its part, the world record for the women’s marathon is held by Ruth Chepngetich, who achieved it in October 2024 in 2:09:56. However, he is suspended for doping, even if for the moment, the record still stands. In this case, the record would go to Ethiopian Tigst Assefa, who recorded a time of 2:11:53 during the 2023 Berlin Marathon.
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