Valencia Marathon Participants Promised Millions if They Break Kelvin Kiptum’s Record
- The organisers of the 2024 Valencia marathon have announced hefty paychecks for anyone who breaks the world records
- This year's edition will take place on December 1, with last year's winner, Sisay Lemma, looking for back-to-back triumphs
- Kelvin Kiptum's record of 2:00:35 is the time the participants will look to lower to get the staggering cash reward
The 2024 Valencia marathon will take place this weekend as runners return to one of the fastest courses in the world.
It is in Valencia that the late Kelvin Kiptum introduced himself to the world by running the fastest-ever time clocked by a debutant after he used 2:01:53 in 2022.
Source: Getty Images
Valencia Marathon 2024 start list
This year, 2023 champion Sisay Lemma will headline the stacked list. The Ethiopian will be looking to win a second marathon this year after winning in Boston in March.
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His time of 2:01:48 to win in Valencia last year is the sixth-fastest time in history, making him an overwhelming favourite on Sunday.
Kenenisa Bekele will also be part of the start list. Bekele is the third-fastest marathoner in history. The 42-year-old finished a distant 39th at the 2024 Paris Olympics, and redemption will be on his mind.
Others include world half marathon champion Sebastian Sawe and two-time Tokyo marathon winner Birhanu Legese.
The organisers have made the race sweeter by introducing a raft of monetary awards if certain records are broken.
Valencia Marathon 2024 prize money
Athletes who break the course record of 2:01:48 (men's) and 2:14:58 (women's) will win €30,000 (approximately 4 million Kenya shillings).
Meanwhile, athletes who break the men's and women's marathon world records will get a whooping €1,000,000 (approximately 135 million Kenya shillings).
What is the men's marathon world record?
The late Kiptum is the current world record holder. He clocked 2:00:35 to win the 2023 Chicago Marathon.
The website indicates that the women's time the participants need to beat is 2:11:53 despite Ruth Chepng'etich lowering it to 2:09:56 last month in Chicago. Chepng'etich's record is, however, yet to be ratified by World Athletics.
The 2:11:53 mentioned therein is the former world record set by Ethiopian Tigst Assefa. Evaline Chirchir is the only Kenyan registered in the women's race.
Kelvin Kiptum sets new world record
Briefly News earlier reported that one year later, Kiptum's achievements are still mentioned in almost every sports circle, but it is the heart-wrenching memory that he is no longer with us that is too much to bear.
It is gut-wrenching that he only had less than four months to revel in his new title as the fastest marathoner in history. It is even more painful how Kiptum untimely lost his life in a grisly road accident near Kaptagat just when his star had started to shine.
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Source: TUKO.co.ke
