The Valencia Marathon promised to be one of the fastest in the world and it was. John Korir and Joyciline Jepkosgei won the 42.195 kilometer event this Sunday, December 7 after having both signed an incredible moment. However, none of them managed to break the world record and win the prize of one million euros promised by Juan Roig, president of Mercadona.
Kenyan runner John Korir authoritatively won the 45th edition of the Trinidad Alfonso Zurich Valencia Marathon with a time unofficial 2:02:24, third best world record of the year, in a race in which 36,000 athletes participated.
At kilometer 25, Korir, winner of the Boston marathon this year and last year in Chicago, picked up the pace as the “hares” fell back and took a few meters ahead of his four leading companions: Justus Kangogo, Hillary Kipkoech, Gemechu Dida and Sisay Lemma.
The African runner set a sustained pace, impossible for his pursuers to assimilate and which he knew how to manage. in the last 20 kilometers to achieve victory.
Jepkosgei signs the best global brand of the year
For her part, Kenyan Joyciline Jepkosgei won the 45th edition of the Trinidad Alfonso Zurich Valencia Marathon with a time unofficial 2:14:00, the best world record of the year.
The African runner beat Hawi Faysa’s time at the Chicago marathon by 14 seconds. best distance brand in 2025.
Jepkosgei won a hard-fought victory in which he had the big the help of your personal hare, who accompanied him until the penultimate kilometer of the race and who did fundamental work.
There was no price
Despite the incredible marks from both marathoners, there was no world record or prize. 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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