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Ethiopia’s Sisay Lemma captures Valencia Marathon course record

Kenenisa Bekele broke the masters marathon record with a 2:04:19 (fourth-place) finish)

Sisay Lemma Photo by: Kevin Morris
December 3, 2023
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Ethiopia’s Sisay Lemma is now the fourth-fastest marathoner of all time, after winning Sunday’s Valencia Marathon in 2:01:48 and setting a new course record. Lemma broke now-world-record holder Kelvin Kiptum’s record of 2:01:53, set last year, and was one of many Ethiopian athletes to run exceptionally well in the Spanish city; his compatriot, 2019 Boston Marathon champion Worknesh Degefa led an Ethiopian triple on the women’s side, taking the seventh-all-time fastest spot in 2:15:51.

Men’s race

Kenya’s Alexander Munyao followed Lemme in 2:03:11, and Dawit Wolde of Ethiopia ran 2:03:48 to round out the podium. 41-year-old Kenenisa Bekele (also of Ethiopia) succeeded in his goal of setting a new world masters record, running 2:04:19 to capture fourth place.

Uganda’s Joshua Cheptegei, world record holder in both the 5,000m and 10,000m, struggled in his long-awaited marathon debut, running to 37th place and finishing in 2:08. Ahead of his debut, fans and others, including former world record holder Eliud Kipchoge. had speculated Cheptegei had the potential to break the world record set by Kelvin Kiptum at the Chicago Marathon earlier this year (2:00:35).

Lemm, who won the 2021 London Marathon, headed a lead pack that included Cheptegei and Kenyan national half-marathon champ Kibiwott Kandie. The group hit the halfway mark in 60:35, with Bekele running alone, just behind the leaders. By 30K, Cheptegei appeared to be suffering and fell back; Kandie clocked a debut time of 2:04:48 for sixth place. Lemma shot clear of the group in the final 7 km, charging to the finish more than a minute ahead of Munyao.

Canada’s Olympian Trevor Hofbauer stopped for a period of time with stomach issues, but eventually finished; Patrice Labonté of Quebec did not start.

Kelvin Kiptum smashes world record at Chicago Marathon

Top men

Sisay Lemma (ETH) 2:01:48.
Alexander Mutiso (KEN) 2:03:11.
Dawit Wolde (ETH) 2:03:48.
Kenenisa Bekele (ETH) 2:04:19.
Gabriel Geay (ETH) 2:04:33.
Kibiwott Kandie (KEN) 2:04:48.
Chalu Deso (ETH) 2:05:14.
Mohamed Esa Huseydin (ETH) 2:05:40

Women’s race

In a blistering race that saw 30 women running under the Olympic qualifying standard of 2:37:00, Degefa battled with second-place compatriot Almaz Ayana until the final 8 km, speeding ahead to finish with a 30-second lead. Ayana clocked 2:16:22 for a one-minute PB, and third-place Hiwot Gebrekidan (also of Ethiopia) also ran a 71-second PB of 2:17:59.

The women’s lead pack hit the 5K mark in 16 minutes, reaching the halfway point in 67:29, in a pace that threatened last year’s course record of 2:14:58, set by compatriot Amane Beriso. Degefa and Ayana pulled ahead, with Degefa shaking off Ayana and establishing a strong lead by the 40K mark.

Favourite-to-win Tsehay Gemechu, also of Ethiopia, was provisionally suspended by the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) earlier this week for an unspecified doping violation.

Top women

Worknesh Degefa (ETH) 2:15:51
Almaz Ayana (ETH) 2:16:22
Hiwot Gebrekidan (ETH) 2:17:59
Celestine Chepchirchir (KEN) 2:20:46
Majida Maayouf (ESP) 2:21:27
Sultan Haydar (TUR) 2:21:27
Desi Mokonin (BRN) 2:22:29
Genevieve Gregson (AUS) 2:23:08
Sofiia Yaremchuk (ITA) 2:23:16
Isobel Batt-Doyle (AUS) 2:23:27

For full results of the 2023 Valencia Marathon, head here.

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