Olympic Triathlon Champion Alex Yee Achieves Sensational Record as Second-Fastest Brit in Valencia Marathon

Basio badr

ago 9 hours

Olympic Triathlon Champion Alex Yee Achieves Sensational Record as Second-Fastest Brit in Valencia Marathon

Olympic triathlon champion Alex Yee has achieved a remarkable milestone, becoming the second-fastest Briton in marathon history. He completed the Valencia Marathon in an astonishing time of 2:06:38, securing a seventh-place finish behind Kenya’s John Korir.

Record-Breaking Performance

This achievement positions Yee as the second-fastest British marathon runner, following Sir Mo Farah’s record of 2:05:11 set at the Chicago Marathon in 2018. Emile Cairess previously held the second-fastest time at 2:06:46 during the London Marathon last year.

Pacing and Strategy

Yee, Cairess, and fellow British runner Phil Sesemann worked closely together, benefiting from months of training as a trio. Cairess provided excellent pacemaking throughout the race, which was crucial for maintaining their target pace.

Halfway and Final Push

First 10km: 30:08
Halfway mark (21.1km): 1:03:32
30km mark: 1:30:23

The group executed their plan with precision, allowing Yee to finish strong. He experienced a negative split, running the second half of the marathon in 1:03:06.

Future Goals and Training

Yee dedicated much of this year to marathon training, debuting in the London Marathon in April with a time of 2:11:08. After securing gold in triathlon at the Paris Olympics, he has shifted his focus to marathon running before returning to triathlons leading up to the LA 2028 Games.

Ideal Marathon Conditions

Valencia is known for its ideal marathon conditions, although temperatures at the start were slightly above optimal, reaching 14 degrees Celsius at 08:15 and climbing into the low 20s by midday. Despite this, Yee executed his strategy flawlessly with help from his trainers.

Race Highlights

John Korir finished the race in a remarkable time of 2:02:24, adding to his impressive resume, including wins at the Boston and Chicago marathons. Sesemann also performed well, clocking in at 2:07:11, marking a personal best for him.

Yee’s feat has not only solidified his status among elite runners but also sets a promising foundation for his future endeavors in either marathon running or returning to triathlon.