By Chris Chavez
November 18, 2024
Race organizers for the Valencia Marathon have announced the elite fields for the 2024 edition of the race on Dec. 1.
The field is headlined by 2024 Boston Marathon champion Sisay Lemma returning from injury after withdrawing from the Paris Olympics. He will be challenged by his compatriot and all-time great Kenenisa Bekele, who finished second in April’s London Marathon and 39th at the Paris Olympics at 42 years old.
Kenya’s Sebastian Sawe, who boasts a half marathon personal best of 58:05, and Daniel Mateiko, who has also run 58:17 for the half, are the most intriguing debutants.
On the women’s side, 2023 World champion Amane Beriso headlines the field with her 2:14:58 personal best from the 2022 Valencia Marathon, which puts her at No. 6 on the all-time list. Her fellow countrywomen Megertu Alemu (2:16:34) and Hiwot Gebrekidan (2:17:59) are the only two other women under 2:18.
American Sara Hall will be running her fourth marathon of the year. Biya Simbassa, who has a personal best of 2:10:34 and was 11th at the U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials in February, is heading to Spain for his third career marathon.
Here’s a list of the notable men who are running…
Kevin Morris / @KevMoFoto
Men’s Elite Field
🇪🇹 Kenenisa Bekele – 2:01:41
🇪🇹 Sisay Lemma – 2:01:48
🇪🇹 Birhanu Legese – 2:02:48
🇪🇹 Deresa Geleta – 2:03:27
🇪🇹 Guye Adola – 2:03:46
🇮🇱 Gashau Ayale – 2:04:53
🇨🇭 Tadesse Abraham – 2:05:01
🇹🇿 Alphonce Simbu – 2:05:39
🇳🇴 Sondre Moen – 2:05:48
🇩🇪 Samwel Fitwi – 2:06:27
🇪🇹 Andamlak Belihu – 2:06:40
🇮🇱 Maru Teferi – 2:06:43
🇺🇿 Shokhrukh Davlyatov – 2:07:02
🇩🇪 Richard Ringer – 2:07:05
🇳🇴 Zerei Kbrom – 2:07:10
🇮🇹 Iliass Aouani – 2:07:16
🇵🇹 Samuel Barata – 2:07:35
🇧🇴 Héctor Garibay – 2:07:44
🇪🇸 Ibrahim Chakir – 2:07:48
🇲🇦 Mohamed El Talhaoui – 2:08:03
🇨🇳 Peiyou Feng – 2:08:07
🇪🇸 Dani Mateo – 2:08:22
🇧🇪 Lahsene Bouchikhi – 2:08:36
🇫🇷 Abderrazak Charik – 2:08:37
🇦🇺 Andy Buchanan – 2:08:58
🇳🇴 Weldu Negash Gebretsadik – 2:09:14
🇧🇮 Therence Bizoza – 2:09:18
🇫🇷 Yohan Durand – 2:09:21
🇲🇦 Mohamed Chaaboud – 2:09:21
🇩🇪 Simon Boch – 2:09:25
🇮🇱 Yimer Getahun – 2:09:27
🇮🇱 Bukayawe Malede – 2:09:28
🇫🇷 Emmanuel Roudolff – 2:09:34
🇮🇹 Yohanes Chiappinelli – 2:09:46
🇮🇪 Stephen Scullion – 2:09:49
🇧🇷 Paulo Paula – 2:09:50
🇦🇹 Peter Herzog – 2:10:06
🇳🇱 Bart van Nunen – 2:10:16
🇷🇼 Felicien Muhitira – 2:10:17
🇧🇪 Dieter Kersten – 2:10:22
🇵🇱 Arkadiusz Gardielewski – 2:10:31
🇳🇱 Bjorn Koreman – 2:10:32
🇺🇸 Abbabiya Simbassa – 2:10:34
🇲🇦 Hicham Sigueni – 2:10:37
🇩🇪 Johannes Motschmann – 2:10:39
🇲🇽 Patricio Castillo – 2:10:40
🇪🇸 Jorge Blanco Alvarez – 2:10:49
🇸🇪 Archie Casteel – 2:10:49
🇨🇳 Yongzheng Huang – 2:10:49
🇲🇦 Jakoub Labquira – 2:10:50
🇪🇸 Alejandro Jiménez – 2:10:54
🇲🇽 Juan Luis Barrios – 2:10:55
🇩🇰 Thijs Nijhuis – 2:10:57
🇪🇸 Iraitz Arrospide – 2:10:59
🇺🇾 Christian Zamora – 2:11:02
🇺🇾 Nicolás Cuestas – 2:11:03
🇰🇪 Edward Cheserek – 2:11:07
🇵🇱 Kamil Jastrzebski – 2:11:09
🇮🇱 Necho Tayachew – 2:11:21
🇳🇱 Richard Douma – 2:11:21
🇸🇪 Linus Rosdahl – 2:11:30
🇲🇦 Mohamed El Ghazouany – 2:11:48
🇦🇺 Thomas do Canto – 2:11:51
🇲🇽 Hesiquio Flores – 2:11:57
🇲🇦 Ahmed Elhassouni – 2:12:12
🇮🇹 René Cunéaz – 2:12:48
🇦🇹 Mario Bauernfeind – 2:12:49
🇨🇭 Patrik Wageli – 2:12:58
🇫🇷 Jason Pointeau – 2:13:00
🇿🇦 Adam Lipschitz – 2:13:01
🇧🇪 Joris Keppens – 2:13:18
🇫🇷 Alexis Godefroy – 2:13:32
🇧🇪 Pierre Denays – 2:13:34
🇰🇪 Sebastian Sawe – Debut
🇰🇪 Daniel Mateiko – Debut
🇰🇪 Matthew Kimeli – Debut
🇺🇸Dillon Maggard – Debut
Kevin Morris / @KevMoFoto
Here’s a list of the notable women who are running…
🇪🇹 Amane Beriso – 2:14:58
🇪🇹 Megertu Alemu – 2:16:34
🇪🇹 Hiwot Gebrekidan – 2:17:59
🇪🇹 Tiruye Mesfin – 2:18:47
🇺🇬 Stella Chesang – 2:20:23
🇺🇸 Sara Hall – 2:20:32
🇪🇸 Majida Maayouf – 2:21:27
🇰🇪 Evaline Chirchir – 2:22:11
🇪🇹 Chimdesa Kumsa – 2:22:13
🇦🇺 Isobel Batt-Doyle – 2:23:27
🇨🇦 Malindi Elmore – 2:23:30
🇪🇹 Sofia Assefa – 2:23:33
🇮🇪 Fionnuala McCormack – 2:23:58
🇦🇺 Jessica Stenson – 2:24:01
🇿🇦 Gerda Steyn – 2:24:03
🇩🇪 Laura Hottenrott – 2:24:32
🇫🇮 Camilla Richardsson – 2:24:38
🇪🇸 Kaoutar Boulaid – 2:25:03
🇬🇧 Clara Evans – 2:25:04
🇪🇸 Fatima Azzaharaa Ouhaddou – 2:25:30
🇪🇸 Laura Luengo – 2:25:35
🇵🇹 Susana Santos – 2:25:35
🇨🇿 Moira Stewartova – 2:25:36
🇲🇺 Marie Perrier – 2:26:19
🇨🇿 Tereza Hrochová – 2:26:38
🇰🇿 Zhanna Mamazhanova – 2:26:42
🇵🇱 Aleksandra Brzezinska – 2:27:20
🇵🇹 Solange Jesus – 2:27:30
🇪🇨 Paola Bonilla – 2:27:38
🇭🇺 Nora Szabo – 2:28:25
🇺🇸 Jane Bareikis – 2:29:00
🇬🇧 Becky Briggs – 2:29:06
🇬🇧 Alice Wright – 2:29:08
🇺🇸 Roberta Groner – 2:29:09
🇺🇸 Molly Gravill – 2:29:45
🇵🇱 Monika Jackiewicz – 2:29:51
Event organizers announced the race will move forward as scheduled despite severe flooding and more than 200 deaths in the Valencia province. In a statement, organizers announced fundraising plans to aid the city and those affected by the recent storms and flooding.
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Chris Chavez
Chris Chavez launched CITIUS MAG in 2016 as a passion project while working full-time for Sports Illustrated. He covered the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro and grew his humble blog into a multi-pronged media company. He completed all six World Marathon Majors and is an aspiring sub-five-minute miler.
