Fast times at Valencia marathon: Dereje sizzles 2:18:30, debutante Alayew 2:03:53

Ethiopians Roza Dereje and Kinde Atanaw Alayew produced impressive victories at the Maraton Valencia Trinidad Alfonso, a World Athletics Gold Label road race, in the eastern Spanish city today

In the women’s race Dereje clocked 2:18:30 to move up to No. 8 on the all-time world list while pulling the next three finishers under 2:19, the first time four women have broken that barrier in the same race.

In the men’s contest the 26-year-old Alayew clocked 2:03:53 in his debut over the distance to finish 38 seconds inside the previous Spanish all-comers record set at this race last year.

Leading results:

MEN –

1. Kinde Atanaw Alayew (ETH) 2:03:51
2. Kaan Kigen Ozbilen (TUR) 2:04:16
3. Guye Adola (ETH) 2:04:42
4. Abebe Degefa (ETH) 2:04:51
5. Philemon Kacheran(KEN) 2:06:04

WOMEN –

1. Roza Dereje (ETH) 2:18:30
2. Azmera Abreha (ETH) 2:18:33
3. Birhane Dibaba (ETH) 2:18:46
4. Vivian Cheruiyot (KEN) 2:18:51
5. Zeineba Yimer (ETH) 2:19:27

Read more at World Athletics