Running News Daily

Aregawi and Kiplimo take top spots, Garcia surprises Chepngetich in Madrid

Ethiopia’s Olympic 10,000m silver medalist Berihu Aregawi and Spain’s European 5000m bronze medalist Marta Garcia claimed respective victories at the San Silvestre Vallecana, a World Athletics Gold Label road race, in Madrid on Tuesday (31) evening.

While Aregawi and Uganda’s two-time world cross country champion Jacob Kiplimo crossed the finish line together without fighting for the win, Garcia became a surprise victor as she clearly defeated Kenya’s world marathon record-holder Chepngetich.

The men's race had been billed as a mouth-watering showdown between Aregawi and Kiplimo, both on the hunt for a second victory following their victories in 2018 (Kiplimo) and 2023 (Aregawi).

The race started with opening kilometers in the 2:40/2:42 region, taking advantage of the early downhill section. By then the lead group featured six athletes: Kiplimo, Aregawi, his fellow Ethiopian Nibret Kinde, France’s Felix Bour and the Spanish duo of Adel Mechaal and last year’s runner-up Aaron Las Heras.

It was shortly before the third kilometer when the Tokyo Olympic 10,000m bronze medalist Kiplimo and Aregawi broke away from the rest of the leading pack with incredible ease to go through that point in 8:01. Kiplimo took on most of the pacing duties but Aregawi remained very close to him throughout. That duo reached halfway in a brisk 13:07 following a frantic 5:06 2km split which suggested the course record of 26:41 was in jeopardy. Way back, Kinde travelled alone in third, 13 seconds in arrears, with Mechaal and Bour another three seconds adrift.

Over the second half of the race the leading pair maintained their blistering rhythm, covering the following kilometers at 2:36 pace to clock 20:58 by the eighth kilometer checkpoint, always with Kiplimo at the helm and Aregawi just behind.

When it became clear that a course record was on the cards, the large crowd assembled got ready for a thrilling sprint finish between the two distance stars. But once inside the Rayo Vallecano stadium, they looked at each other and decided not to battle for the win, instead crossing the finish line virtually even, the victory eventually going to Aregawi in 26:32, the same time as recorded by Kiplimo.

Their performances are not valid for record or ranking purposes since they had the benefit of a downhill circuit – 705m of altitude at the start, a lowest point of 610m at the eighth kilometer and an uphill final two kilometers to conclude at 650m.

The fight for the final podium place proved thrilling as the 34-year-old Mechaal overtook Kinde and Bour inside the closing 400m to take third in 27:39 to Bour’s 27:42 and Kinde’s 27:44.

Garcia prevails over Chepngetich

Held jointly with the men’s race, the women’s contest witnessed an early lead by the overwhelming pre-race favorite Chepngetich. The Kenyan ace had declared on the eve of the event that her target was to erase her compatriot Brigid Kosgei’s course record of 29:54 set in 2018. Yet the 30-year-old never traveled at that kind of rhythm, covering the early stages in around three minute kilometer pace.

The 2019 world marathon champion led by the third kilometer, reached in 9:09, but the in-form Spaniard Garcia – fresh from another win two days before in her native Leon – always seemed a serious threat as she only ran three seconds behind. Chepngetich went through the halfway mark in 15:06 to Garcia’s 15:08, while Paris Olympic 1500m finalist Agueda Marques and Carolina Robles traveled in third and fourth, 12 seconds behind their fellow Spaniard.

It was shortly after reaching the sixth kilometer when Garcia, on the eve of her 27th birthday, managed to catch Chepngetich. The pair shared the lead for one kilometer before the Kenyan could not follow Garcia’s pace. Despite slightly easing her pace over the flat kilometers before facing the uphill section, Garcia managed to build a sizeable advantage over the Kenyan to cover the closing stages being loudly cheered by the home crowd, about to enjoy the first Spanish win since 2008.

At the tape, Garcia was timed at 31:19 to Chepngetich’s 31:32, the world marathon record-holder holding off the late challenge provided by Marques, who was third thanks to a 31:34 performance.

“It’s my first time competing in this circuit and I’m impressed,” said Garcia, who recently completed a four-week training stint in South Africa.

“I didn’t feel tiredness over the closing kilometers because the spectators cheered a lot, it’s amazing. I’ll now focus on the short track season over 3000m.”

Leading results

Women

1 Marta Garcia (ESP) 31:19

2 Ruth Chepngetich (KEN) 31:32

3 Agueda Marques (ESP) 31:34

4 Carolina Robles (ESP) 31:58

5 Carla Gallardo (ESP) 32:10

6 Adawork Aberta (ETH) 32:16

7 Laura Priego (ESP) 32:20

8 Fatima Ouhaddou (ESP) 32:22

9 Risper Gesabwa (MEX) 32:35

10 Tugba Yenigun (TUR) 32:42

Men

1 Berihu Aregawi (ETH) 26:32

2 Jacob Kiplimo (UGA) 26:32

3 Adel Mechaal (ESP) 27:39

4 Felix Bour (FRA) 27:42

5 Nibret Kinde (ETH) 27:44

6 Jesus Ramos (ESP) 28:07

7 Aaron Las Heras (ESP) 28:12

8 Andreu Blanes (ESP) 28:50

9 David Cantero (ESP) 28:56

10 Adrian Ben (ESP) 28:57

(01/02/2025) Views: 252 ⚡AMP
by World Athletics

Ruth Chepngetich leads the female participation in the San Silvestre Vallecana

The Nationale-Nederlanden San Silvestre Vallecana is once again dreaming of breaking records. Like the historic 2018, the end-of-year classic features a superlative squad, with great athletes who arrive in Vallecas with ambition and in excellent physical condition, the perfect mix that can lead athletics fans to experience a day for the history books on December 31.

In 2018, Kenyan Brigid Kosgei became the first athlete to break the 30-minute barrier at the Vallecana. Since then, the mark obtained remains unchanged as the top of the Nationale-Nederlanden San Silvestre Vallecana. But this year, an old acquaintance of the race, Kenyan Ruth Chepngetich, has decided to put the finishing touch to a 2024 to remember, and leave a mark of her quality on the streets of Madrid.

At the Chicago Marathon, Ruth Chepngetich lowered the world marathon record by almost 2 minutes (2:09:56), in a feat that left the athletics world speechless. After this heroic feat, Chepngetich arrives as the great female star of this Nationale-Nederlanden San Silvestre Vallecana, with the desire to achieve the victory that eluded her in her previous presence in the event (in 2020, when she was defeated by Yalemzerf Yehualaw) and challenge Kosgei's record.

In addition to her stratospheric marathon record, Chepngetich has a golden record with a world marathon title, and a triple of victories in the emblematic Chicago Marathon, as well as a best time in 10 kilometers on the road of 30:29, which she hopes to blow up in the Vallecana.

Alongside her, Ethiopian Adawork Aberta, from the always competitive NN Running Team, will seek to follow in the footsteps of other compatriots and team members who have triumphed in Vallecana, such as Yalemzerf Yehualaw herself. The 28-year-old athlete's best result was a seventh place in the Seville Marathon with 2:23:39 and has a personal best in 10K of 32:27. Meanwhile, the Mexican of Kenyan origin, Risper Besabwa, sixth in the 2023 Pan American Games in the marathon, will seek her personal best in 10K, which she has with 31:43, achieved in New Orleans (United States).

(12/26/2024) Views: 383 ⚡AMP
by As.com

Kiplimo and Aregawi, stellar duel in the Nationale-Nederlanden San Silvestre Vallecana

Jacob Kiplimo, Olympic and world bronze medalist in 10,000 meters, is reunited six years later with the San Silvestre Vallecana, a race in which he triumphed and set a dizzying record that still stands (26:41) in 2018.

Opposite, Aregawi, Olympic silver medalist in 10,000 meters at the Paris Olympic Games and second in the all-time ranking in 10K, will challenge Kiplimo to revalidate last year's triumph (with a time of 27:16) in the main duel of the race to be held on December 31.

Berihu Aregawi will defend the throne with the credit provided by the silver won at the Paris Games this summer, his double runner-up in the world in cross-country, and his mark in the 10K on the road, the second best in history after Rhonex Kipruto -26:33, achieved in Laredo in 2023.

In addition, the Spaniards will have a lot to say in the race, with Adel Mechaal, the Spaniard who has run the fastest in history in a 10K, Yago Rojo, Olympian in Paris 2024 in marathon and national silver in 10K in 2023, or Jesús Ramos, double national champion in 10K in 2022 and 2023, in the lead.

(12/23/2024) Views: 297 ⚡AMP
by Europa Press

Adel Mechaal returns to the Nationale-Nederlanden San Silvestre Vallecana

The Nationale-Nederlanden San Silvestre Vallecana begins its countdown to the 60th anniversary of the best 10K in the world.

In this special edition, the International event promises to raise emotions to unprecedented heights, bringing together a large representation of national and international athletics on December 31.

After a few years of absence, the Nationale-Nederlanden San Silvestre Vallecana will once again enjoy the elegant strides of Adel Mechaal.

The national record holder, in 1500 meters in indoor track and European champion in 3,000 meters in 2017, is in one of the best moments of his career, as he recently evidenced in the streets of Madrid, in the Speed Run, to become the fastest Spaniard in history in a 10K with a brutal record of 26:46.

Adel Mechaal dreams of glory in the end-of-year classic, as do two Madrilenians who know what it's like to run fast in the Nationale-Nederlanden San Silvestre Vallecana. Jesús Ramos returns after climbing the podi

(12/18/2024) Views: 309 ⚡AMP
by Marca