Joyciline Jepkosgei wins Valencia Marathon with 4th fastest time in women’s history
By Kenneth Mwenda, December 7, 2025Joyciline Jepkosgei produced one of the strongest runs of her career as she won the Valencia Marathon on Sunday, December 7, 2025, in a course-record time of 2:14:00.
The Kenyan, 31, moved to fourth on the all-time list with the performance, which also stood as a world-leading mark for the season.
Jepkosgei controlled the women’s race from early on and held off compatriot and world champion Peres Jepchirchir in the final stages. Jepchirchir crossed the line in 2:14:43, also a personal best, to secure second place.
Belgium’s Chloe Herbiet completed the podium after running 2:20:38, another career-best mark.
Sunday’s win capped a busy and consistent year for Jepkosgei, who competed in seven races across different distances. She opened her season in February at the Barcelona Half Marathon, winning in 1:04:13. In April, she finished second at the London Marathon, where she clocked 2:18:44.
Her most recent outing before Valencia was a 10 km race in Romania, where she placed fifth in 30:41.
Big payouts for Kenyans
The performance in Valencia not only delivered her the title but also earned her significant prize money. The event is known for its strong financial rewards, and Jepkosgei earned the full winner’s purse of Ksh12.9 million for finishing under the set time threshold.
She also secured an extra Ksh5 million for breaking the course record that had stood since 2022.
Jepchirchir also earned a substantial payout for her second-place finish, taking home Ksh7.8 million after meeting the required time standard. Their combined winnings contributed to a strong day for Kenyan athletes in Valencia.
The men’s race added to Kenya’s success. John Korir delivered a brilliant run to win in 2:02:24, the eighth fastest time in history. He opened a large gap after the 30km mark and maintained it to the finish. Germany’s Amanal Petros placed second in 2:04:03, while Awet Kibrab of Norway came in third with 2:04:25.
Korir’s win also placed him among the best performers of the year and continued his recovery from the Chicago Marathon, where he did not finish. His victory followed his Boston Marathon title in April.