The reigning Marathon world champion from Oregon 2022, Ethiopian Tamirat Tola, entered Valencia as a heavy favorite, thanks to a personal best of 2:03:39 that suggested another spectacular performance. Yet Kelvin Kiptum, a Kenyan making his mark, surged from the shadows and seized the Valencia title with a record-breaking run that ended at 2:01:53. This startling clocking not only eclipsed Evans Chebet’s 2:03:00 set during the 2020 Elite Edition but also underscored Valencia’s emergence as a stage where rapid progress and historic feats can collide in a single race, even when pandemic disruptions linger in memory.
With the race dynamic shifting at kilometer 23, as many as fifteen athletes trailed the trio of early pace setters, the contest gradually narrowed. The pivotal moment arrived around kilometer 29 when Tola surged forward alongside two rivals, signaling a decisive break from the pack. Kenyan debutant Kelvin Kiptum and Tanzanian Gabriel Geay pushed the pace relentlessly, smashing the test clock by advancing the 30th kilometer in a blistering 8 seconds shy of the world standard, a warning shot that this would be more than a standard performance.
Only 23 years old, Kiptum had already shown promise by finishing strong in Valencia’s half marathon events, clocking 58:42 in 2020 and 59:02 in 2021. Those results hinted at a rare combination of stamina and speed needed for the marathon, and as the race unfolded, he found himself steering the competition with an almost fearless rhythm. His ascent came with a sense of inevitability, as the field around him began to concede ground and the crowd watched a young runner craft a narrative that could redefine how the event is perceived on the global stage.
Beyond the official times and records, the Valencia achievement carried significance for the sport. Kiptum not only claimed a historic finish but did so with an unofficial mark that positioned him among the fastest marathon performers of all time. The feat placed him alongside a short list of legends who have left an indelible mark on the craft, with Bekele and Kipchoge occupying the rarefied space at the top of the all-time lists. Valencia celebrated a pioneering moment for its course, underscoring how it can serve as a launching pad for new speed and a catalyst for career-defining moments.