Kenyan duo Chepchirchir, Chelal to face off with Ethiopia’s Ayana in Valencia Marathon

In the upcoming Valencia Marathon Trinidad Alfonso, a distinguished World Athletics Elite Platinum Label event, Kenyan runners Celestine Chepchirchir and Jackline Chelal are poised for a compelling showdown with Ethiopia’s 2016 Olympic 10,000m champion, Almaz Ayana.

Chepchirchir, who recorded an impressive time of 2:20:10 in Seoul last year, and Jackline Chelal, the victor of the Seville Marathon with a Personal Best of 2:20:29, lead the contingent of Kenyan participants in this year’s race.

Chepchirchir vs Ayana

The Kenyan duo faces tough competition from Ayana, who made her marathon debut in Amsterdam last year with a remarkable time of 2:17:20, marking the fastest debut in history at that time.

This year, the 32-year-old athlete secured seventh place in London with a time of 2:20:44, following her victory in the Lisbon Half Marathon one month earlier, where she set a PB of 1:05:30.

Ayana will be joined by fellow Ethiopians Genzebe Dibaba, Worknesh Degefa, Hiwot Gebrekidan, and Bosena Mulatie.

Dibaba, a former 1500m star, displayed promise in her marathon debut in Amsterdam last year with a time of 2:18:05.

Despite facing challenges in London this year, she finished sixth (2:21:47) in Chicago at the beginning of October. Degefa, a 2:17:41 performer, returned strongly in October with a victory in the Trento Half Marathon in 1:07:48, following a break in 2021 and 2022 due to motherhood.

Gebrekidan achieved her PB of 2:19:10 at the Tokyo Marathon last year and secured eighth place in Boston earlier this year. Mulatie, a 22-year-old, will be making her marathon debut after setting a half marathon PB of 1:05:46.

Chepchirchir competitors

Other notable international participants include Poland’s European champion Aleksandra Lisowska, Spain’s Majida Maayouf (2:21:01), Croatia’s Bojana Bjeljac (2:23:39), Italy’s Sofiia Yaremchuk (2:24:02), and Ireland’s Fiounnala Mc Cormack.

Comienza la presentación de los Prácticos MSC en La Placeta🤩

The presentation of the Prácticos MSC begins at La Placeta 🤩#42KVslencia pic.twitter.com/NBsZ9WObFT

— Maratón Valencia (@maratonvalencia) December 1, 2023

Pacemakers from Ethiopia, Abebe Garedew, Kenya’s Titus Kemboi, and Spain’s Alejandro Jiménez, are tasked with reaching the halfway point in 1:07:30, aiming to set the leading women on a course to challenge Amane Beriso’s course record of 2:14:58 from last year.

The event is set to host 33,000 runners, with 57% traveling from abroad, representing a record 134 countries.