Letesenbet to Make Marathon Debut in Valencia
Athlete Letesenbet Gidey is set to make a marathon debut at the World Athletics Elite Platinum Label event in the Spanish City of Valencia on Sunday
Letesenbet and Tamirat Tola are among the mouth-watering line-up for the Valencia Marathon Trinidad Alfonso EDP, according to World Athletics.
Valencia has witnessed a number of world records in recent years – in the women’s 5000m and half marathon as well as the men’s 10km and 10,000m.
As per the WA, the organizers aim for the city to be the epicenter of the running world again this weekend.
Letesenbet will go for a record
Letesenbet will be making her marathon debut one year after smashing the world half-marathon record with a time of 1:02:52.
The 24-year-old is also the world record-holder for the 5000m and 10,000m on the track.
Her training sessions are said to have gone very well over the past few months, so a serious attack on Brigid Kosgei’s world record of 2:14:04 can’t be ruled out.
“I think I can do the world record,” Letesenbet told reporters on Friday. “I have competed twice in Valencia and I was lucky to set respective world records on both occasions so let’s hope on Sunday I can do it again”.
The Ethiopian star will be paced by a trio of male pacesetters, her compatriots Mebrahtu Werkineh and Getachew Niguse, plus Kenya’s Bernard Soi.
In addition to Letesenbet, the line-up includes more Ethiopian athletes – Sutume Kebede, Tigist Girma, and the defending champion in Valencia (PB 2:20:16) Etagegne Woldu.
Eyes on Tamirat in Men’s Race
The men’s event is also shaping up well as the cast includes 10 athletes who have run 2:05:30 or faster throughout their careers.
The list is topped by Ethiopia’s Getaneh Molla, who ran 2:03:34 in Dubai in 2019, closely followed by the reigning world marathon champion Tola (2:03:39).
The list also includes Tamirat Tola who kicked off his 2022 campaign with a 2:04:14 third-place finish in Tokyo in March and went on to claim the world title in Oregon in 2:05:36.
A total of 30,000 runners are set to take part in the event, 50% of them traveling from abroad and representing 124 countries.
– EM/WA
Featured Image: Featured Image: Letesenbet smashed the world record at the Valencia Half Marathon Trinidad Alfonso EDP in Oct last year, clocking 1:02:52 on her debut at the distance. (Photo © NN Running Team)
