Debutant Sabastian Sawe won the Valencia Trinidad Alfonso Zurich Marathon, organized by SD Correcaminos and the Valencia City Council, today with a time of 2:02:05. This also became the best time of the year, taking it from Tokyo (2:02:16).

Remember that Sabastian Sawe won the Copenhagen 2024 Half Marathon, beating Ugandan world record holder Jacob Kiplimo by four seconds in a thrilling finish. Sawe’s world-leading time of 58:05 was just four seconds shy of Kamworor’s 2019 race record, confirming his excellent form this season.

Only the late Kelvin Kiptum, who ran 2:01:53 at the 2022 Valencia Marathon, has run faster in his marathon debut. Kiptum broke the marathon world record a year later with a time of 2:00:35.

The 44th edition of the race, which has paid tribute from the very beginning to the victims and those affected by the flood on 29 October, has left in its sporting aspect results that, although they do not represent new records, consolidate him among the best in the world.

A total of 28,590 runners crossed the finish line on the boardwalk over the lake at the City of Arts and Sciences, which this year displayed the names of the 75 Valencian municipalities affected. This figure sets a new record for the event and, consequently, for a marathon held on Spanish soil—a title already held by the Valencia Marathon.

This record number of finishers means the event’s organizers will donate a total of €85,770 to rebuild sports infrastructures and support grassroots sports in the affected areas. To this amount, nearly €100,000 raised through the “Dorsal Cero” initiative and the “Valencia Runs X Valencia” campaign must be added, reaching a total of €189,622.

It was not until the last kilometers of the race that Sawe took the group’s lead and ended up winning his first marathon. Behind the Kenyan, Deresa Geleta came in second with 2:02:38, a personal best for the Ethiopian, and in third was Daniel Mateiko, who made his debut with a great 2:04:24.

Curiously, the Ethiopian Megertu Alemu won the women’s race of the 44th Valencia Marathon with a time of 2:16:49. Her brother-in-law, Deresa Geleta, finished second in the men’s race with a time of 2:02:38.

She was followed by Stella Chesang, second, with 2:18:26, and Tiruye Mesfin, third, with 2:18:35.

The first Spaniard was Ibrahim Chakir, with a time of 2:07:32; the second Dani Mateo, with 2:08:57; and the third, Andreu Blanes, 2:09:18, the first Valencian and record holder of the Valencian Community. Among the women, the first was again Majida Maayouf, who was 26 seconds away from her Spanish record of 2:21:43. After her, the second was Laura Luengo, with 2:22:31, and third Fatima Ouhaddou, with 2:24:05.

The Mexican Jesús Arturo ESPARZA, the first Latin American to cross the finish line of the Valencia Marathon with 2:11:04 position 25. In the women’s branch, the Ecuadorian Andrea Paola BONILLA position 23 with 2:34:49, followed by the Venezuelan Magaly GARCIA, aged 35, who achieved position 27 in the Valencia Marathon with 2:36:15. García achieved 2:32:32 in the 2024 Rotterdam Marathon and holds the national record for her country with 2:31:45 (2023).

New National Records for Several Countries

This race led many athletes to achieve new national records for their countries:

Switzerland: Tadesse Abraham – 2:04:40
Israel: Maru Teferi – 2:04:44
Germany: Samuel Fitwi – 2:04:56
Italy: Yohanes Chiapinelli – 2:05:24
Australia: Andy Buchanan – 2:06:22
Rwanda: Felicien Magare Muhitira – 2:06:54
Uruguay: Cristhian Zamora – 2:09:04
Indonesia: Robi Syianturi – 2:17:16
Uganda: Stella Chesang – 2:18:26
Czech Republic: Moira Stewartova – 2:23:44
Hungary: Nora Szabo – 2:25:52

Emotional tribute

Before the start, the organization wanted to thank all the runners by sending a message in several languages ​​to all those present. In addition, the Valencian Community anthem was played, and a moving minute of silence was observed. This tribute was repeated in each of the nine starting shots that were fired and which, on this occasion, were carried out by representatives of civil society and the security forces that have been and continue to work in the affected areas, specifically, a member of the volunteer group, Valencia Local Police, UME, National Police, Civil Guard, Valencia Firefighters, and Civil Protection.

Source: With information from Eva Navarro | Communication for the Valencia Marathon.

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