Cherono to headline Valencia Marathon
More than 100 athletes from 43 different countries will race to achieve the Olympic qualifying time (2h11:30 for men and 2h29:30 for women).
Kiprono Ericson and Amos Abuga
Boston Marathon champion Lawrence Cherono will headline the elite athletes for the Valencia Marathon set for December 6.
Organisers of the 40th edition of the Valencia Marathon Trinidad Alfonso EDP have announced a definitive list of the 218 athletes
More than 100 athletes from 43 countries will race to achieve the Olympic qualifying time (2h11:30 for men and 2h29:30 for women).
Many of them seeking a place in the Olympics are members of the MyBest42 programme, which began in 2015 under the name Road To Rio in preparation for the Rio de Janeiro Olympics, which aims to attract as many sub-elite athletes as possible.
Due to the speed of the Valencia circuit and the suspension of marathons around the world, this year’s edition is one of the few options for achieving a validated qualifying time for participation in the Olympics.
In addition, the top 10 finishers, both men and women, will obtain – provided they are selected by their federations -- direct Olympic classification thanks to the World Athletics regulations for Platinum Label races.
This is the first year the Valencia Marathon is being run after being awarded this label and it is one of only 13 races worldwide with this distinction. In total, there are 21 athletes with times under 2h07:00 and 35 with times under 2:10:00.
Three other athletes will also use the event to ensure their presence at the Paralympic Games, also to be held next summer.
Cherono, the Chicago Marathon champion, had been named in Team Kenya’s marathon squad for the Summer Games.
Cherono, who shifted his training base to Iten from Kaptagat in Elgeyo Marakwet after the camp was closed in compliance with the Kenyan government’s coronavirus guidelines, has been training in anticipation for a chance to compete before the year ends.
In the women category, Kenya’s New York Marathon champion Joyciline Jepkosgei will be joined by compatriots world half marathon record holder (women only) Peres Jepchirchir, Joan Chelimo and debutante Fancy Chemutai..
Jepchirchir attained a brand new world record in the half marathon in women-only races in the world championships in Gdynia, Poland on 17 October.
In total, there will be 28 women with registered times below 2:30:00.
