Star-Studded Elite Fields Set for Record-Chasing Valencia Marathon

The Valencia Marathon Trinidad Alfonso, a World Athletics Platinum Label race scheduled for Sunday, November 7, once again brings together one of the strongest elite fields in global road running. Reigning world marathon champion Peres Jepchirchir, course record-holder Amane Beriso, and former Valencia champion Sisay Lemma headline a deep and competitive line-up for the 2025 edition.

Women’s Race Preview

Olympic and world marathon champion Peres Jepchirchir returns to Valencia, the site of one of her career-best performances, looking to add another major victory to her resume. The Kenyan star won the Olympic marathon in Tokyo in 2021 and claimed world gold in Tokyo again in 2025. She has amassed an impressive list of major wins — New York (2021), Boston (2022), and London (2024) — and will now target a second victory in Valencia after her 2:17:16 triumph in 2020.

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• View Valencia Marathon 2025 Official Results

She will face Ethiopian powerhouse Amane Beriso, the 2022 Valencia champion and course record-holder with her 2:14:58 personal best. The 2023 world champion owns one of the fastest times in history and has remained consistently competitive at major races, including top-five finishes at the Tokyo Marathon (3rd in 2024), the Paris Olympic Games (5th in 2024), and Boston (2025).

Another major contender is Joyciline Jepkosgei, one of the most versatile and proven marathoners in the field. The Kenyan recorded a lifetime best of 2:16:24 when finishing third in London in 2024 and added another podium finish there in 2025 (2:18:44). She has past victories in London (2021) and New York (2019), and was runner-up in Valencia in 2020. Earlier this year she won the Barcelona Half Marathon in a swift 1:04:13, setting up her return to Spain in strong form.

The depth continues with Keira D’Amato (2:19:12 Houston 2022 winner), Fikrte Wereta (2:21:32 Seoul 2024 champion), and Charlotte Purdue (2:22:17 PB, Berlin 2023). Two-time European steeplechase champion Gesa Felicitas Krause also joins the field, making her marathon debut just months after finishing seventh in the 3000m steeplechase at the World Championships in Tokyo. Krause targets a sub-2:30 performance in her first attempt at the distance.

In total, 16 women in the field hold personal bests under 2:25:00, ensuring a race of exceptional depth and likely world-class pacing from the start.

Men’s Race Preview

The men’s field is equally formidable, with seven runners boasting personal bests under 2:05. Leading the charge is Ethiopia’s Sisay Lemma, who returns to Valencia as the course record-holder. His stunning 2:01:48 win in 2023 made him the fourth-fastest marathoner of all time. After a disappointing DNF in Boston earlier this year, Lemma is eager to re-establish his dominance. His résumé includes wins at two World Marathon Majors: London in 2021 and Boston in 2024.

Challenging him is Kenya’s John Korir, one of the most successful marathoners of the last two seasons. Korir won Chicago in 2024 (2:02:44) and followed with victory in Boston in 2025 (2:04:45). He also owns a 2:05:01 performance from Chicago in 2022 and enters Valencia as one of Lemma’s strongest rivals.

The field features further proven performers:

• Hailemaryam Kiros (ETH) – Sydney Marathon champion (2:06:06) and 2:04:35 performer from Berlin 2024.
• Hillary Kipkoech (KEN) – 2:04:45 PB set in Valencia 2024.
• Samuel Fitwi (GER) – 2:04:56 PB, also set in Valencia 2024.
• Amanal Petros (GER) – One of Europe's top marathoners, eighth in London this year (2:06:30) and silver medallist at the World Championships in Tokyo. PB: 2:04:58.
• Stephan Kissa (UGA) – 2:04:48 PB in Hamburg (2022).
• A strong contingent of sub-2:06 athletes adds further intrigue:
• Yohei Ikeda (JPN) – 2:05:12 in Berlin 2024; 2:06:48 this year in Tokyo.
• Enock Onchari (KEN) – 2:05:20 PB set in Barcelona in 2025.
• Edward Cheserek (KEN) – 2:05:24 PB from Valencia 2024.
• Suguru Osako (JPN) – Former Japanese record-holder, 2:05:29 in Tokyo 2020.

From the European side, Spain’s Tariku Novales leads the home hopes with his national-record 2:05:48 set in Valencia in 2023. Frenchman Nicolas Navarro, who clocked 2:05:53 in Valencia in 2023, and Italy’s Yeman Crippa, European 10,000m champion (2022) and half marathon champion (2024), also bolster the continental challenge. Crippa returns to Spain after setting his marathon PB of 2:06:06 in Seville in 2024.

Two exciting debutants round out the headline names:

• Vincent Nyageo (KEN) – 59:33 half marathon PB in Seville.
• Patrick Mosin (KEN) – A blistering 58:44 half marathon in Málaga, signaling enormous marathon potential.

Men’s Elite Field

Women’s Elite Field