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Joshua Cheptegei poised for marathon debut in Valencia

Joshua Cheptegei poised for marathon debut in Valencia


World record-holder for 5000m and 10,000m tackles 26.2 miles for the primary time as Spanish highway race appears set to host some scorching performances

A big contingent of Brits are heading to the Valencia Marathon Trinidad Alfonso on Sunday (Dec 3) in quest of quick instances. They embrace Lily Partridge, Clara Evans, Sonia Samuels, Jonny Mellor, Phil Sesemann and Mahamed Mahamed. Most of the eye, although, will probably be on Joshua Cheptegei.

The Ugandan is making his debut on the distance after a monitor profession that has seen him win three world 10,000m titles, the Olympic 5000m gold and break world information at 5000m and 10,000m.

He has a effective historical past in Valencia, too, together with his world 10km highway document being set within the Spanish metropolis in 2019 adopted by his still-standing world 10,000m mark of 26:11.00 there in 2020.

Cheptegei was first drawn to the marathon as a 15-year-old boy when he noticed fellow Ugandan Stephen Kiprotich race to Olympic gold over 26.2 miles in London. Since then Cheptegei has sought recommendation from Kiprotich – and likewise fellow NN Running athlete Eliud Kipchoge.

Joshua Cheptegei (Getty)

Cheptegei says: “I’m not actually looking at running fast times because it is still a new distance for me and I’m still learning also in training. I want to learn… and the best for me would be seeing myself being on the podium.”

The 27-year-old, who has been coaching at altitude in Kapchorwa within the build-up to the race, added: “The monitor has taught me to be affected person when chasing my targets. I’ll strategy the marathon in the identical regards. If you aren’t affected person within the marathon, it means you will be unable to achieve your vacation spot and targets.

“I want to approach this marathon with a lot of respect as it is something new for me. I want to approach it in a new dimension. All of us are built differently, what is important for me is to just enjoy the race and see what happens after 35 kilometres.”

Valencia is renonwed for producing quick instances and final 12 months’s races have been received by Kelvin Kiptum in 2:01:53 and Amane Beriso in 2:14:58 with Kiptum happening to interrupt the world document this 12 months in Chicago. 

Cheptegei received’t have all of it his personal means on Sunday both. Rivals embrace Kenenisa Bekele (PB 2:01:41), Gabriel Geay of Tanzania (2:03:00), Alexander Mutiso of Kenya (2:03:29), Getaneh Molla of Ethiopia (2:03:34), Sisay Lemma of Ethiopia (2:03:36), Leul Gebresilase of Ethiopia (2:04:02), Chalu Deso of Ethiopia (2:04:53), Dawit Wolde of Ethiopia (2:04:27), Daniel do Nascimento of Brazil (2:04:51), Chalu Deso of Ethiopia (2:04:53) and Titus Kipruto of Kenya (2:04:54).

Like Cheptegei, Bekele has held world information at 5000m and 10,000m and his marathon greatest is 2:01:41 from 2019. But can the Ethiopian legend nonetheless be a pressure on the age of 41?

Lemma, in the meantime, received the London Marathon in 2021 and will probably be a menace if he can return to that form of type. Watch out too for Kibiwott Kandie, who set a world half-marathon document of 57:32 in Valencia three years in the past after which beat a top-class subject in the identical race in 57:40 in October this 12 months. Kandie has run a marathon previously however it was an underpar 2:13:43 in New York City in 2021.

The ladies’s line-up is not any much less spectacular and led by Tsegay Gemechu of Ethiopia (PB 2:16:56), Almaz Ayana of Ethiopia (2:17:20), Worknesh Degefa of Ethiopia (2:17:41), Joan Chelimo Melly of Romania (2:18:04) Genzebe Dibaba of Ethiopia (2:18:05) and Hiwot Gebrekidan of Ethiopia (2:19:10). Bosena Mulatie of Ethiopia, in the meantime, makes her marathon debut after a 65:46 half-marathon in 2022.

Marc Roig from the Valencia Marathon says:“In a pre-Olympic year, the Valencia Marathon represents the strongest event in the world. Dozens of athletes are looking to book their ticket to Paris 2024, with more than a dozen seeking national records and both the men’s and women’s front-runners going for course records. Valencia is, once again, the ciudad del running.”

For the Brits in Valencia, Mellor and Sesemann will probably be attacking their respective PBs of two:10:03 and a couple of:10:23, whereas Mahamed is making his marathon debut after a 61:16 half-marathon greatest in September.

Partridge will hope to get again to her greatest – her PB of two:29:24 was set in 2018 – following damage issues and foot surgical procedure. After effective latest type aged 44, it is going to be fascinating to see what Samuels can do too, whereas Lauren Heyes steps as much as the marathon after a cross-country and monitor profession that noticed her run 32:26.26 for 10,000m.

READ MORE: Lily Partridge’s coaching routine

Further British entries embrace: Naomi Mitchell, Rachel McGuinness, Anna Bracegirdle, Emily Kearney, Kate Drew, Kirsty Longley, Andy Heyes, Dan Nash, Alex Milne, Adam Bowden, Ian Leitch, James Hoad, Matt Dickinson, Ollie Lockley, Ewan Cameron and Thomas Cornthwaite.

The Valencia Marathon Trinidad Alfonso begins at 8:15am native time on Sunday and for UK viewers will probably be reside on the BBC pink button.

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