Valencia Marathon 2026: Kejelcha, Tesfay and the Spanish elite

The 2026 Valencia Marathon will bring together on Sunday 6 December two of the fastest distance runners in history, Ethiopia’s Yomif Kejelcha and his compatriot Fotyen Tesfay, along with almost the entire Spanish elite. Kejelcha arrives with 1:59:41, the second-fastest marathon ever, and Tesfay with 2:10:52, also the second-fastest in history in the women’s race. Behind them, Ibrahim Chakir and Laura Luengo lead a Spanish squad that selector José Antonio Redolat describes as a very good line-up, with the best Spanish marathoners of the moment.

Five weeks before the race, with all 36,000 places sold out and a waiting list, Valencia once again presents a field built to run fast on a course that is already synonymous with records. The start will be at 8:15 next to the City of Arts and Sciences, where the finish line will also be.

Kejelcha, from track star to marathon challenge

Yomif Kejelcha ran his first marathon last April in London and did it in 1:59:41, behind Sabastian Sawe, who ran the first official sub-two-hour marathon there. Rarely has a debutant left such a calling card. The Ethiopian, who once broke the half marathon world record in Valencia and was for years one of the best track runners in the world, returns to a city whose roads he knows well for his second outing over the distance.

He will not be alone. Kenya’s John Korir defends the title he won last year in 2:02:24, and his compatriot Alexander Mutiso, with 2:03:11, arrives after coming within a whisker of victory in New York in 2025, where he lost by three hundredths of a second. The list is completed by Ethiopians Dawit Wolde (2:03:48), Nibret Melak (2:04:00) and Leul Gebreselassie (2:04:02), winner in Valencia in 2018, and Norway’s Awet Kibrab (2:04:24). Seven men under 2:04:30: the kind of depth that allows anything.

Marc Roig, head of the international elite field, summed it up when presenting the line-up: victory is once again unpredictable, which is just how the organisers like it. The benchmark everyone will have in mind is the course record, held by Ethiopia’s Sisay Lemma since 2023 with 2:01:48.

Tesfay and Jepkosgei duel for the women’s crown

In the women’s race, Fotyen Tesfay starts as the big favourite with her 2:10:52, although she will face the defending champion, Kenya’s Joyciline Jepkosgei, who won in 2025 in 2:14:00, the best time of her career. The field also includes America’s Emily Sisson (2:18:29) and Finland’s Alisa Vainio (2:20:39), both national record holders, Kenyans Lilian Kasait (2:19:35) and Winnie Jepkosgei, who makes her debut over the distance, and Ethiopia’s Aberu Ayana (2:20:20).

The organisers left the door open to new names before the race, as is usual in Valencia, which tends to complete its field in the final weeks with athletes looking for a fast time after the big autumn marathons.

Chakir and the best Spanish generation

The Spanish list is among the strongest the race has ever seen. Ibrahim Chakir, first Spaniard home in 2025 in 2:07:21, returns to defend that position and improve his time, and he will have Yago Rojo (2:07:47), who aims to get close to 2:06, and Daniel Mateo (2:08:22) nearby. Jorge González (2:08:34), Valencian Andreu Blanes (2:09:18), Chakib Lachgar (2:09:55) and Jesús Ángel Olmos (2:10:16) complete a group that could run together for many kilometres at personal-best pace.

The biggest spotlight, however, will be on a debut. Adel Mechaal, a multiple European medallist on the track and in cross country, steps up to the marathon, as does Jesús Ramos. The list is completed by Iraitz Arróspide, Abdennasser Oukhelfen, Cristian Martínez, Miguel Benítez, Josep Gómez, Albert Ollé and Roberto Alaiz.

Luengo in top form

On the women’s side, Valencia will have four of the six fastest Spanish women in history on the same start line. Laura Luengo (2:22:31) returns to the big races after an injury and at a sweet moment: on 25 October she broke the Spanish half marathon record at the Valencia Half Marathon with 1:08:28. Alongside her will be Meritxell Soler (2:23:49), Fatima Ouhaddou (2:24:05) and Ester Navarrete (2:24:31).

The women’s list also includes Ikram Rharsalla (2:28:37), María Lázaro (2:35:52) and Yésica Mas (2:36:54), plus another debut of great interest: steeplechaser Irene Sánchez-Escribano, who swaps the water jump and barriers for 42 kilometres.

A course that keeps breaking records

Valencia has built its reputation on a flat course with few tight corners and December temperatures that usually cooperate. We explain it in detail in why the Valencia Marathon is so fast, and the latest proof came just over a week ago, when the Half Marathon produced a Spanish men’s record of 58:03 and a women’s record on the same morning.

With this field, 6 December promises another of those mornings when the city stops to look at the clock. All the practical information about the race is in our Valencia Marathon 2026 guide, and if you are coming from elsewhere, our guide to where to stay for the Valencia Marathon has areas and real prices measured for that weekend.