Kenya’s Sebastian Sawe went fifth in the all-time list after winning Sunday’s Valencia Marathon in 2:02:05 on his debut in the event.
Only compatriots Kelvin Kiptum and Eliud Kipchoge, and the Ethiopian pair of Kenenisa Bekele and Sisay Lemma, have gone faster than Sawe, the world half-marathon champion in 2023.
Ethiopia’s Megertu Alemu took almost two minutes off her personal best to claim the women’s title in 2:16:49.
The marathon went ahead in Valencia just a month after floods swept through the Spanish city.
The disaster left 230 people dead, flooding having also washed away roads and destroyed homes and businesses.
By AFP
