Top international talent to showcase their world-class speed at the Valencia Half Marathon

For several months, the Valencia Half Marathon Trinidad Alfonso Zurich has been working tirelessly to assemble a truly world-class field of athletes for this year’s event, due to take place on 26 October 2025. With the second-fastest time in history (57:30) and the women’s world record (01:02:51) set here in 2021, the organisation is aiming to maintain the race’s reputation as being one of the fastest in the world and secure some of the best times of the 2025 race calendar.

Ethiopian star Yomif Kejelcha, the reigning champion and course record holder, returns to the City of Running with a view to breaking more records and reinforcing his reputation as one of the finest performers in international athletics. He’ll face strong competition in this year’s race from Kenyan runners Patrick Mosin (58:44) and Gideon Kiprotich (58:49), as well as Burundi-born, Spain-based Rodrigue Kwizera, who holds a PB of 58:54—each boasting sub-59 minute times.

Other strong contenders include Samwel Mailu, Alex Matata and Hillary Kipkoech, as well as debutants Merhawi Mebrahtu, Adriaan Wildschutt, Samuel Tefera and Getnet Wale. This collection of athletes highlights the incredible depth of African talent in 2025. European hopes will likely rest on Swede Andreas Almgren (59:23), who holds the continental records in the 10K and 5000m categories and is looking to place highly.

In the women’s category, the spotlight will be on the showdown between Kenya’s Agnes Jebet Ngetich (01:03:04)—national half marathon record holder and world 10K record holder (set in Valencia in 2024)—and Ethiopia’s Fotyen Tesfay (01:03:21). Other African contenders include Kenya’s Gladys Chepkurui, Jesca Chelangat, Veronica Loleo and Gladys Kwamboka, as well as Ethiopia’s Mulat Tekle. In October’s event, they’ll come up against international challengers including Emma Hurley of the U.S. and Sarah Lahti of Sweden.

According to Marc Roig, the international elite selector, this initial list of runners—which is set to expand, with further announcements due to be made in the coming weeks—“proves that Valencia is the world’s most attractive half marathon. The 2024 winners are set to compete once again, and both have expressed their desire to improve their times. But we’re not just focused on the winners’ times. In 2024, six men completed the race in under 59 minutes, while five women crossed the finish line in under 1 hour and 6 minutes. The bar has been set, and we’re looking to beat these times in this year’s edition.”

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