Joyciline Jepkosgei makes history at the Valencia Marathon The Kenyan athlete achieved the world's fastest time for women this year, a new record for the event and the fourth fastest time ever, after an epic battle with the Olympic champion 87 The Valencia Marathon Trinidad Alfonso Zurich dazzled the world once again. Once again, it was the fastest marathon of the year, this time in the women's category. Joyciline Jepkosgei flew through the Ciudad del Running to cross the finish line in 2 hours and 14 minutes, a time that also makes her the fastest woman ever to run the race here and the fourth fastest in history over this distance. It came after an epic race against her compatriot Peres Jepchirchir, the Olympic and world champion who started as favourite and had beaten Jepkosgei on the last three occasions they had competed against each other. But the most recent winner of the Valencia Marathon ran in stealth mode. Silently, and out of the shadow of the big favourite, she quickly took the lead and pulled ahead of a group formed by both Kenyans and Ethiopians, Amane Berisso and Fikrte Wereta. By kilometre 15, it had already become clear: the women's crown at the Valencia Marathon was going to be decided between Jepkosgei and Jepchirchir. The outcome was guaranteed. The former, on the shoulder of the latter counted on the invaluable help of her pacer, who would ultimately prove decisive in the final sprint. Approaching the kilometre-20 mark, the pace was already record-breaking and the gap between them and the chasing pack was growing. The key moment came in the final stretch. Jepchirchir passed her pacemaker and wanted to follow in the wake of her rival's pacer. At 34 kilometres, the Olympic champion's strategy involved a feint attack that almost tipped the balance back in her favour. However, her advantage was short lived. The offensive gained her a few metres, but it was not enough to force the challenger to give up. Pushed on by her pacemaker, Jepkosgei rejoined the fight and, with three kilometres to go, made her final assault to finally overtake her rival and go down in history. That was how Valencia witnessed the fourth fastest woman ever in a marathon and saw its own women's record smashed. Berisso's record dated back to 2022, 58 seconds slower than Jepkosgei's in 2025. The previous best time this year for women was set back in October: Hawi Feysa clocked a time of 2:14:57 in Chicago, which looked set to be the standout performance of 2025. Little did she know that, in the Valencia Marathon, all records are up for grabs. So much so that, even though Jepchirchir ended up relinquishing her throne, she clocked the secondfastest time this year (2:14:43), well ahead of third-placed Belgian Chloé Herbiet (2:20:38). The resurrection of John Korir No records were broken in the men's race, but another iconic image made its mark on the world of running. Three months earlier, John Korir had been in the spotlight, also in Chicago, for collapsing in his attempt to break the world record. He was going at a record-breaking pace, in fact, when he withdrew 10 kilometres from the finish line. The Kenyan made up for that kind of ‘bluff’ –if those 32 kilometres during which he invoked the legend of Kiptum can be described as such– and found resurrection in our Valencian paradise. He managed to do it: he was conservative at first, but aggressive in the second half of the race, and that was when he left his most talented opponents behind. Sisay Lemma, the reigning king in Valencia, fell behind after succumbing earlier than expected. Korir crossed the finish line in 2:02:24, although he did not beat the record that Lemma still holds on this course, nor was it the best men's time in
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