The Catalan athlete Marta Galimany has broken the Spanish marathon record in Valencia with an unofficial time of 2h26:14 hours, surpassing the previous national record of Ana Isabel Alonso (2h26.51) that the woman from Palencia had held since 1996.
“It has cost me a lot and I have finally achieved the record. It had to be here, I have fought for it and I have finally achieved it“, Galimany insisted exultantly, who explained:” When I saw the rhythm he was carrying, I thought that this time I couldn’t escape. I wanted it to be here in Valencia because it’s a special city for me and I’m super happy.”
After obtaining the record, he indicated that the first thing he thought of was “in all the people who have helped me, who is with me on a day-to-day basis, who gives me energy”.
Regarding the development of the race, he recounted that “he had Roger (Rock) Hare The pace was on point and it took me in the times we had set, I felt good and I knew that if I arrived strong at kilometer 34 I couldn’t escape. The goal now is to enjoy it and focus on the 2024 games because my goal is to be able to get to Paris”.
Triumph of Beriso
the ethiopian Amane Beriso starred in the big surprise in the Valencia-Trinidad Alfonso Marathon by beating the favourite, his compatriot Letesenbet Gideywith a time of 2:14:58 hours, the third best record in history in the distance, only surpassed by the world record of Brigid Kosgei (2:14:04) and the time also achieved in the Chicago marathon by Ruth Chepngetich (2:14:18)
Gidey, world record holder of 5,000, 10,000 and 15,000 meters and also half marathon, He made his debut in the distance and sought to break the world record, but he had to settle for second place and with the signing of the best debut in history in the distance, with a time of 2:16:51 hours. The podium was completed by the Kenyan, also rookie, Sheila Chepkirui.
Gidey, who monopolized all the spotlights before the race, proposed a conservative race in his first kilometers as a marathon runner, with more than 30 seconds above the world record after the first 10,000 metres, but offering an image of control at all times, since just five kilometers later he asked his three ‘hares’ to increase the pace of the race.
Gidey increased his performance after overcoming the distance of the half marathon and at kilometer 30 he already marked a partial of 5 seconds below the world record, although Beriso kept up with the pace that the three ‘hares’ of the race were still marking.
With less than ten kilometers to go, Gidey began to show signs that he was not going as well as she would have liked. took advantage of Beriso to launch an attack, with which he quickly got a good handful of meters away from his compatriot and great favorite.
Beriso, who did not appear in any of the favorite pools, fearlessly launched himself for victory, looking askance at the possibility of achieving the historic feat of breaking the world record. However, in his solo adventure in the last kilometers he was not eligible for this objective although he did take a spectacular victory marking the best third half of all time.
From behind, he reached the goal a Gidey unfoundedwho could barely stay on her feet after crossing the finish line, almost two minutes from the winner, and paying for her ambitious debut in the distance.
