Valencia Marathon 2025: Jepkosgei Smashes Course Record; Korir Wins Deepest Men's Race
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Race Day Report: Joyciline Jepkosgei Decimates Women’s Mark While John Korir Takes Deepest Men’s Race of the Season
The tradition of blazing speed continued on the sun-drenched streets of Valencia, where the World Athletics Platinum Label road race once again delivered on its promise of unparalleled competition and blistering times. While the audacious €1,000,000 bonus for breaking the outright World Records (2:00:35 / 2:09:56) remained out of reach, both the men’s and women’s races were historic displays of endurance and pace.
The Women’s Race: Jepkosgei Sets New Standard
In a duel of titans, Kenya’s Joyciline Jepkosgei, the 2019 New York Marathon champion, ran a sensational, tactical race to break the tape in 2:14:00.
This monumental time established a stunning new Course Record, slicing 58 seconds off the previous mark of 2:14:58 set by Amane Beriso in 2022. Jepkosgei's performance immediately positions her among the elite tier of female marathoners globally.
The women's race was historically fast down the line. Olympic Champion Peres Jepchirchir (KEN) finished a close second in 2:14:43, a result that was also faster than the previous course record, underscoring the fierce competition that drove the leading women to unprecedented speeds.
The Men’s Race: Korir Powers to Victory in a World-Class Field
The men’s elite race was dominated by powerful speed and deep competition. John Korir (KEN) ultimately secured the victory with a world-class time of 2:02:25. While he did not break Sisay Lemma's 2023 course record of 2:01:48, Korir’s time is an immediate world-leading performance for the season.
The field proved incredibly fast, with three European athletes making waves with sub-2:05 finishes. Germany's Amanal Petros claimed second place in 2:04:03, and Norway’s Awet Kibrab rounded out the podium in third with 2:04:25.
The extraordinary depth of the race was confirmed by the remaining top ten finishers. Suguru Osako (JPN) took fourth in 2:04:55, Gashau Ayale (ISR) was fifth in 2:05:30, and Justus Kangogo (KEN) finished sixth in 2:06:11. Great Britain's Alex Yee ran 2:06:38 for seventh, followed closely by Félix Bour (FRA) in 2:06:41, Filmon Tesfu (NED) in 2:06:42, and Gemechu Dida (ETH) completing the top ten in 2:06:45. The race saw nine men finish in under 2:07:00, solidifying Valencia’s claim as the deepest marathon course of the year.
The Million Euro Question
The elusive €1,000,000 bonus reserved for breaking the outright Men’s World Record (2:00:35) or Women’s World Record (2:09:56) remains untouched for another year. However, with Joyciline Jepkosgei running just four minutes shy of the women’s world record, and the men's winner only two minutes shy of the men's, the margin continues to shrink, promising yet another thrilling attempt on the fast Valencian streets next year.