Six with sub 2:20 in Valencia...

Six with sub 2:20

Peres Jepchirchir, photo by Dan Vernon / World Athletics

VALENCIA (ESP): Peres Jepchirchir, who set a women-only world record, when she regained her world half title last month, looks set to improve on her 2:23:50 PB in her biggest marathon to date as main name in women marathon field. Ruti Aga ran 2:18:34 in finishing second in Berlin in 2018, so is quickest on the women's side. Birhane Dibaba is next fastest with her 2:18:35, with which she was second in Tokyo this year and which puts her as world No.2. Degitu Azimeraw, who won in Amsterdam last year in 2:19:26 and Zeineba Yimer, who was fourth at last year's Worlds are next quickest. Six women in the field have run below 2:20, including 2015 world champion Mare Dibaba, competing for the first time since finishing second in Berlin last year. Meskerem Assefa and Tigist Girma are also among the quickest. Helalia Johannes, who won world bronze last year, boosts the field. Jordan Hassay, who is looking to make up for her Olympic trial disappointment last spring, is fastest non-African to line up. Former world half-marathon record-holder Joyciline Jepkosgei competes again after sixth in the World Half. Joan Chelimo, who has clocked 65:04, will be looking to make her mark at this distance. Several of the best Europeans are in the field, including Melat Kejeta, who set a continental mark in placing runner-up at the World Half. Valeria Straneo, who ran 2:23 in 2012 and won world silver the year afterwards, plus Carla Salome Rocha, Sara Moreira and Eva Vrabcova are among the others. The field includes 28 sub-2:30 athletes.