6 Kenyans to battle with Cheptegei, Bekele in Valencia Marathon

Six Kenyan athletes are set to compete against Uganda's Joshua Cheptegei and the legendary Kenenisa Bekele in the Valencia Marathon Trinidad Alfonso, a World Athletics Elite Platinum Label event scheduled for Sunday.

Among the Kenyan contenders, Kibiwott Kandie and Alexander Mutiso are considered favourites.

Cheptegei competitors

Kandie, a three-time winner of the Valencia Half Marathon, showcased excellent form recently by finishing in 57:40, just nine seconds shy of his own world record. Mutiso made an impressive marathon debut in Valencia last year, securing third place in 2:03:29.

Titus Kipruto, with a personal best of 2:04:54, and Mohamed Esa Huseydin, along with debutantes Stephen Kiprop and Stanley Kurgat, complete the strong Kenyan representation in the race.

Olympic 5000m champion Joshua Cheptegei will make his marathon debut, attracting considerable attention. Cheptegei, a world record holder in the 5000m and 10,000m, has fond memories of Valencia, where he set world records for the 10km and 10,000m.

Bekele vs Cheptegei

Kenenisa Bekele, a legendary Ethiopian athlete, leads a strong Ethiopian contingent. Bekele, ranked third on the world all-time list, aims for a comeback after failing to finish the London Marathon earlier this year. This event marks his first-ever clash with Cheptegei, who broke Bekele's world records on the track.

The Ethiopian lineup includes Leul Gebreselassie, Sisay Lemma, Dawit Wolde, and Chalu Deso. Notable among them is Leul Gebreselassie, the 2018 winner and current world bronze medallist.

Other international contenders to watch include Tanzania's Gabriel Geay and Brazil's Daniel Do Nascimento. Geay finished as the runner-up in Valencia last year with a PB of 2:03:00.

The race will also feature French duo Morhad Amdouni and Nico Navarro, Germany's European champion Richard Ringer, and Spain's Tariku Novales.

A trio of pacemakers, Charles Matata, Hillary Kipkoech, and Bernard Ngeno, will set a steady 2:54 pace to challenge the course record of 2:01:53 set last year by world record-holder Kelvin Kiptum.

Men
Kenenisa Bekele (ETH) 2:01:41
Gabriel Geay (TAN) 2:03:00
Alexander Mutiso (KEN) 2:03:29
Getaneh Molla (ETH) 2:03:34
Sisay Lemma (ETH) 2:03:36
Leul Gebreselassie (ETH) 2:04:02
Dawit Wolde (ETH) 2:04:27
Daniel do Nascimento (BRA) 2:04:51
Chalu Deso (ETH) 2:04:53
Titus Kipruto (KEN) 2:04:54
Mohamed Esa Huseydin (KEN) 2:05:05
Morhad Amdouni (FRA) 2:05:22
Goitom Kifle (ERI) 2:05:28
Gashau Ayale (ISR) 2:05:33
Abdisa Tola (ETH) 2:05:42
Oqbe Kibrom (ERI) 2:05:51
Nico Navarro (FRA) 2:06:45
Isaac Mpofu (ZIM) 2:06:48
Tariku Novales (ESP) 2:07:18
Girmaw Amare (ISR) 2:07:28
Haimro Alame (ISR) 2:07:45
Godadaw Belachew (ISR) 2:07:54
Richard Ringer (GER) 2:08:08
Daniel Mateo (ESP) 2:08:22
Derseh Kindie (ETH) 2:08:23
Khalid Choukoud (NED) 2:08:36
Mehdi Frere (FRA) 2:08:55
Yago Rojo (ESP) 2:08:56
Kibiwott Kandie (KEN) 2:13:43
Joshua Cheptegei (UGA) debut
Stephen Kiprop (KEN) debut
Stanley Kurgat (KEN) debut