by Alfonz Juck
The Valencia Marathon is a place to race fast! And Joyciline Jepkosgei and Peres Jepchirchir ran very well! Now, we have a new World Leader!
Jepkosgei 2:14:00 WL/CR defeated Jepchirchir
VALENCIA (ESP): 31-year-old former London and New York champion Joyciline Jepkosgei clocked a world lead, course record and lifetime best of 2:14:00 (66:33/67:27) to win the women’s race at the Valencia Marathon (WA Platinum Label) and moving to fourth in the all-time lists. Reigning World champion Peres Jepchirchir paid the price for attempting a breakaway around 34km, but also delivered a superb performance and PB of 2:14:43. European half marathon champion Chloé Herbiet of Belgium finished third and led a group of new national record holders (2:20:38) ahead of Finland’s Alisa Vainio (2:20:48, in her third marathon in less than 3 months) and Commonwealth champion Jessica Stenson of Australia (2:21:24, also Oceanian record). Also worth to note, Meritxell Soler finishing tenth as the best Spaniard (2:23:49 PB), just ahead of Briton Natasha Wilson (2:24:21), Julia Mayer finishing 14th in a new Austrian record (2:26:09), and Slovenia’s Liza Šajn, 24th on her debut (2:29:33).
