Lemma and Degefa lead Ethiopian supremacy at the 2023 Valencia Marathon

Justin Lagat wrote this piece on the Valencia Marathon, which happened on December 3, 2023. Valencia is one of the fastest marathons in the world. 

Fast times were recorded today, the 3rd of December, at the 2023 Trinidad Alfonso Valencia Marathon as Sisay Lemma and Worknesh Degefa made it a double victory for Ethiopians as they won the men’s and women’s races, respectively.

Lemma became the fourth fastest man in history after running 2:01:48 to win the men’s race ahead of Kenya’s Alexander Motiso (2:03:11) and countryman Dawit Wolde (2:03:48).

For a while, after the half-marathon point, Lemma appeared to be pushing the pacemaker to go faster as they began to break away from the rest of the leading pack. A single file formed behind them. But Kibiwott Kandie and Wolde would soon catch up with the two leaders.

The pacer dropped out at 30K, and Kandie immediately took charge of the race at the front, but the two Ethiopians, Lemma and Wolde, followed him closely. Perhaps not wanting to do the pacing work, the pace slowed down a bit before Wolde stepped to the front, sandwiching Kandie with his countryman.

“I like it in Valencia. I broke my PB. I tried to break the course record from the start of the race,” Lemma said after the race.

Fourth place went to Kenenisa Bekele, who happened to have been wearing a bib bearing the position he would finish in. The 41-year-old legendary long-distance runner showed that he is still a force to reckon with in the marathon after setting a new world record of 2:04:19 for the masters’ category.

Ethiopians dominated the women’s podium. Just like in the men’s race, the winner was not one of the pre-race favorites. Degefa won the race in 2:15:51 ahead of Almaz Ayana in 2:16:22 and Hiwot Gebrekidan in 2:17:59.

From the beginning,…