Agnes Ngetich will make her marathon debut in Valencia, Citizen Digital reported on Sunday. Her main rival is Tesfay, who holds the record for the fastest women's marathon debut. Ngetich holds the world 10km record. Earlier this year she won world titles in cross-country and the half marathon.
Tesfay won the Barcelona Marathon in March in 2:10:51. According to Citizen Digital, that time is an Ethiopian record and the second-fastest women's marathon in history.
Valencia is familiar ground for Ngetich. She set her world 10km record of 28:46 there in 2024. She also ran her national half marathon record of 1:03:04 and her 5km best of 14:13 in the Spanish city. Both times rank her second on the world all-time lists.
Both women arrive in form after half marathon wins. Ngetich won the Tokyo Legacy Half Marathon in October in 1:04:23. Tesfay won the Buenos Aires Half Marathon in August in 1:03:57.
Tesfay's entry was announced earlier this year, when Yomif Kejelcha was named for the men's race. Kejelcha has since pulled out injured. Citizen Digital reported that he ran 1:59:41 on his debut in London in April.
Last year's winners, Jepkosgei and John Korir, return to defend their titles. Jepkosgei won the women's race last year in 2:14:00.