Alex Yee to compete over 10km in Valencia

The reigning Olympic and world individual triathlon champion will use the Valencia 10km as preparation for the London Marathon

Alex Yee will compete over 10km in Valencia this Sunday (January 12), marking a return to standalone road racing for the first time in five years.

The reigning Olympic and world individual triathlon champion, who boasts a 10,000m personal best on the track of 27:51.94, is one of many British entries for the Valencia 10km and will use it as preparation for the London Marathon.

Last month, Yee announced that he would make his marathon debut over 26.2 miles at this year’s edition in the British capital.

“London for me was a no-brainer,” Yee said. “It’s a place that has given me so much as a child and I remember racing the mini-marathon multiple times. It was one of my biggest and most exciting races of the year.

“With the London Marathon being such a big part of my life growing up, I’d love to come back and race well here. The marathon has always been an itch I’ve wanted to scratch and there wasn’t another place I wanted to start that journey.”

Safe to say, Yee has running pedigree, boasting a personal best of 13;26 over 5km. He also finished 14th for Great Britain over 10,000m at the 2018 European Championships in Berlin.

It will be therefore be fascinating to see what he can produce in the 10km over the weekend.

Strength in depth in the British field

Marc Scott and Jess Warner-Judd lead a number of British entries for Valencia.

The traditionally quick course in the Spanish city will see a large number of Brits attempting to lower their personal bests over 10km and climb up the domestic all-time rankings.

In the men’s field, Scott is the quickest Brit with a personal best of 28:03, which sees him place seventh on the UK all-time 10km list.

The 31-year-old ran 28:27 in the Wrexham 10km last season and will aim to be just the fifth Brit to go under the 28-minute barrier over the distance.

Zak Mahamed (Graham Smith)

Zak Mahamed, Ellis Cross and Rory Leonard, who were all part of the GB squad that secured team bronze in the senior race at last month’s European Cross Country Championships, are also down to compete in Valencia.

The British trio boast 10km personal bests of 28:10, 28:40 and 29:03 respectively.

Scott Beattie, who has a best of 13:32 over 5km, makes his 10km debut in Valencia.

Also watch out for Phil Sesemann, the GB Olympic marathon runner who has…