Valencia Trinidad Alfonso EDP marathon and half marathon produced unprecedented performance, that has never  been witnessed in world of athletics.

The results were punctuated with a world record, world lead, National records, personal best, to debutant records. Indeed it was a line-up never seen before  in both races.

Yet again it was a bottle of supremacy; Nike versus Adidas, Kenyans versus Ethiopia, and finally the dual between  Kibiwott Kandie and Jacob Kiplimo.

The 40th edition of Valencia marathon will be epitomized well in half marathon, where four athletes dipped inside previous world record of 58:01  held by Geoffry Kamworor. Rhonex Kipruto and Jacob Kiplimo were main protagonist until 17km when World half marathon silver medalist Kibiwott Kandie threw down  the gauntlet and never relented until the end.

Kibiwott stopped the clock in scintillating time of 57:32, it was mind boggling he had obliterated the world record by 29 seconds. Jacob Kiplimo came second with new personal best of 57: 37,  whereas Rhonex Kipruto closed the podium in a massive 57:49 making him the fastest debutant ever in half marathon history. Alexander Mutiso came fourth in 59:59 well inside the previous world record.

Equally superlative was the men marathon, little known Evans Chebet of Kenya stamped authority  in a world lead  of  2:03:00 . The time is also  the new course record and huge improvement in his personal best. Lawrence Cherono 2:03:04 (KEN ) and Birhanu Legese 2:03:16 ( ETH ) closed the podium.World championship bronze medalist Amos Kipruto finished fourth with a new personal best of 2:03:30.

Reuben Kiprop who did most of the work after pacemakers finished fifth in 2:04:12, he was followed by twice world champion Abel Kirui  who made a significant come back  posting precisely  2:05:05 the same time he posted eleven years ago.

In women marathon Peres Jepchirchir of Kenya continued with her winning streak of being unbeaten this year, her time of 2:17:16 was course record and personal best. Runners up for the race was favourite Joyciline Jepkosgei with new personal best of 2:18:40,  the third place (2:19:52) went to Helalia Johannes of Namibia  who  defied the odds by denying well established athletes from Kenya and Ethiopia to the podium.

Track superstar Genzebe Dibaba of Ethiopia won half marathon in a time of 1:05:18. Sheila Chepkurui  1:05:39 (KEN) and Senbere Teferi 1:05:51 (ETH) came second and third respectively.

Valencia marathon has set the precedence by organizing one of the most successful race despite the covid 19 pandemic which saw most of the races canceled.