Kenya’s Sabastian Sawe dazzled in his marathon debut as he ran the fifth-fastest time ever to win the Valencia Marathon, while Ethiopia’s Megertu Alemu took the women’s race.
The 28-year-old Sawe triumphed in 2 hours, 2 minutes, 5 seconds, crossing the line 33 seconds ahead of Deresa Geleta of Ethiopia, with compatriot Daniel Mateiko rounding out the podium in 2:04:24.
Kelvin Kiptum holds the world record for the fastest marathon with a time of 2:00:35 set in Chicago last year. He is followed by Eliud Kipchoge, Kenenisa Bekele, Sisay Lemma and now Sawe.
“I am so excited and happy to win here. It is a great moment for me,” said Sawe, who won the half marathon title at the inaugural World Road Running Championships in Riga, Latvia, last year.
Alemu won the women’s race with a personal best of 2:16:49.
Ugandan Stella Chesang was second in 2:18:26 and Ethiopian Tiruye Mesfin third in 2:18:35.
Before the race began, a moment of silence was held for the 220 people who died in the recent floods in the Valencia region. Race organizers pledged to donate 3 euros for every participant who crossed the finishing line, while the 35,000 runners taking part were encouraged to contribute to a flood recovery fund.
