Defending Valencia Marathon champions John Korir and Joyciline Jepkosgei will return on December 6 seeking to retain their titles against a star-studded field led by Ethiopia’s Yomif Kejelcha and Fotyen Tesfay.
Korir, who stormed to victory in last year’s edition in 2:02:24, will headline the men’s race after an impressive start to his 2026 season. The 29-year-old opened his campaign by winning the Sirikwa Classic Cross Country Tour men’s 10km title in 29:44 before producing a dominant performance at the Boston Marathon on April 20, where he shattered the course record and clocked a personal best of 2:01:52.
Last year, Germany’s Amanal Petros finished second in Valencia in 2:04:03, while Norway’s Awet Nftalem Kibrab completed the podium in 2:04:24. Korir, however, faces a stern challenge from Kejelcha, who will be making only his second marathon appearance after an eye-catching debut over the distance.
The Ethiopian became only the second man in history to break the two-hour barrier in a marathon when he clocked 1:59:41 at the London Marathon on April 26, finishing behind world record holder Sebastian Sawe, who won in 1:59:30.
Despite his limited marathon experience, Kejelcha has enjoyed remarkable success on the Valencia roads. He set the half marathon world record on the course in 2024 after running 57:30, although the mark was later broken by Uganda’s Jacob Kiplimo, who clocked 57:20 in Lisbon earlier this year. Kejelcha also won the Valencia Half Marathon in 2025 (58:02) and 2019 (59:05).
Adding further depth to the elite men’s field is 2024 London Marathon champion Alexander Munyao, who boasts strong memories of Valencia after setting his personal best of 2:03:11 there in 2023 while finishing second. He also secured a podium finish in 2022 with a time of 2:03:29.
Who will be in the 2026 Valencia Marathon women’s race?
In the women’s race, defending champion Jepkosgei returns determined to defend the crown she won last year in a lifetime best of 2:14:00. Peres Jepchirchir finished second in 2:14:43, while Belgium’s Chloe Herbiet placed third in 2:20:38.
Jepkosgei heads into the race after opening her season with a third-place finish at the London Marathon, where she clocked 2:15:55. She will be joined by fellow Kenyan Lilian Kasait, who will be making only the second marathon appearance of her career after a dream debut victory at the Daegu Marathon on February 22 in 2:19:35.
Kasait also has experience on the Valencia course, having finished third at the 2024 Valencia Half Marathon in 1:03:32. The Kenyan duo will, however, come up against Ethiopia’s Fotyen Tesfay, currently the fastest woman in the world over the marathon distance this year.
Tesfay spectacularly announced herself by winning the Barcelona Marathon on March 15 in a world-leading 2:10:51 during her maiden marathon appearance. She also has proven form in Valencia, having finished runner-up at the Valencia Half Marathon in both 2024 (1:03:21) and 2025 (1:05:10).
Valencia Marathon elite athlete selector Marc Roig admitted that predicting this year’s winners is nearly impossible because of the quality assembled in both fields.
“Both the men’s and women’s champions from 2025 are returning this year, but with Yomif and Fotyen now confirmed, defending those titles will be an immense challenge. Once again, predicting a winner in Valencia is completely impossible, and that’s exactly the way we like it,” Roig said.
