Ngetich announces marathon debut in Valencia

World half marathon champion Agnes Ngetich will make ‌her marathon debut in Valencia on December 6, race organisers announced today.

The 10km world record holder has a history of competing in the city, where she previously won the 10km and half marathon multiple times.

She will join an already loaded field on both the men’s and women’s sides, including half-marathon world-record holder Yomif Kejelcha of Ethiopia and Ethiopian national marathon record holder Fotyen Tesfay.

Tesfay ran the fastest ever women’s marathon debut when she clocked 2:10:51 to win the Barcelona Marathon in March, achieving an Ethiopian record and the second-quickest performance in history.

In a thrilling clash, she will now take on Ngetich, the world 10km record-holder who claimed world cross-country and half marathon titles earlier this year.

It was in Valencia that Ngetich set her world 10km record, clocking 28:46 in 2024. She also set her national half marathon record of 1:03:04 and 5km best of 14:13 in the Spanish city – both performances placing her second on the respective world all-time lists.

Ngetich last raced at the Tokyo Legacy Half Marathon, which she won in 1:04:23, in October, while Tesfay won the Buenos Aires Half Marathon in 1:03:57 in August.

Tesfay’s participation in Valencia was announced earlier this year, when Yomif Kejelcha was named for the men’s race. Kejelcha will run his second marathon after his sensational 1:59:41 debut in London in April.

Last year’s Valencia Marathon champions – Jepkosgei and John Korir – both return to defend their titles. Jepkosgei ran 2:14:00 when winning her title last year.