Kenyans Triumph in Millions at Prestigious Valencia Marathon Victories
Kenyans achieved remarkable success at the prestigious Valencia Marathon, earning over Ksh 21 million in prize money. John Korir and Joyciline Jepkosgei excelled in the men’s and women’s categories, respectively, marking a significant milestone in their careers.
Kenyans Shine in Valencia Marathon
John Korir delivered an outstanding performance, completing the marathon in a personal best time of 2:02:24. This incredible feat places him eighth on the all-time marathon list. In the women’s race, Joyciline Jepkosgei clocked an impressive time of 2:14:00, breaking the previous course record of 2:14:58 set in 2022.
Historic Achievements
Jepkosgei’s victory was particularly noteworthy as she outpaced her fellow Kenyan and reigning world champion, Peres Jepchirchir. This marathon marked Jepkosgei’s first major win since her triumph at the 2021 London Marathon.
Valencia Marathon Prize Structure
The Valencia Marathon is renowned for its lucrative prize structure, with a total prize pool of Ksh 62 million (approximately €417,000). Here are the key details:
- Top prize for men’s champion: €75,000 (Ksh 11.3 million) for finishing under 2:04:30
- Top prize for women’s champion: €75,000 (Ksh 11.3 million) for finishing under 2:20:00
- Bonus for course record: Additional €30,000 (Ksh 4.5 million) for Jepkosgei
Jepkosgei’s exceptional performance guarantees her total earnings of around Ksh 15.8 million. Additionally, Peres Jepchirchir earned Ksh 6.7 million (45,000 Euros) for her second-place finish, further highlighting the competitiveness of the event.
Total Earnings for Kenyan Athletes
In total, the combined prize money for Korir, Jepkosgei, and Jepchirchir reached €224,000 (Ksh 33.8 million). Their stellar performances have once again put Kenya at the forefront of long-distance running.
In a related note, September also saw Kenyans Sebastian Sawe and Rosemary Wanjiru achieve significant payouts in Europe by winning the challenging Berlin Marathon, recognized as one of the fastest and most competitive events globally.
