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Ethiopian Berihu Aregawi clocked an impressive 26:32 performance, while Spanish runner Marta García Alonso won in the time of 31:19 on Tuesday, December 31. They took the San Silvestre Vallecana race bettering impressive competitors in front of 2000 competitors.

Men’s race

In the men’s race Aregawi fought off Uganda’s Jacob Kiplimo, who finished just one second back. The two made a race of it while a race for third took place between Adel Mechaal of Spain and Felix Bour of France. They finished in 27:39 and 27:42, respectively.

Kiplimo, who holds the half-marathon world record at 57:31 has also run as fast as 26:48 on the roads which he accomplished in Valencia one year ago. His 10,000m best is an impressive 26:33.93 from May 2021 in the Czech Republic. But Aregawi won, who may have Kiplimo’s number as his personal best in the 10,000m is slightly better at 26:31.13. His 5000m best is even faster at 12:40.45 from the Lausanne Diamond League in 2023. They are close though, as Kiplimo ran 12:40.96 in the 2024 Oslo, Bislett Games.

In Madrid, the race came down to the wire, as the two athletes entered Vallecas Stadium toward the finish together. Aregawi took the win to defend his title, and took Kiplimo’s course record of 26:41 in the process.

As for Mechaal, his best is 28:31 from May 2024. While he did run 27:39 in Madrid, the course — a World Athletics Gold Label Race — is not legal for records and standards.

Women’s race

In the women’s race, it was surprising that marathon world record holder Ruth Chepngetich of Kenya finished second in what appears to be a slow race. While local Marta Garcia Alonso clocked 31:19, Chepngetich was well back at 31:32. Agueda Marques took third in 31:34.

The performance was almost a new personal best for Marquez, who previously ran 31:58 last January in Valencia, however, the 25-year-old’s New Year’s Eve performance is not considered legal by World Athletics. For Chepngetich, the performance is nearly two minutes slower than what would be expected from her considering the 30-year-old’s 2024 Chicago Marathon performance of 2:09:56.

Coming into the 2024 race, the course records were 26:41 by Kiplimo in 2018 and 29:54 by Kenyan Brigid Kosgei from 2019. She is the former world record holder in the marathon with her best from Chicago in 2019 at 2:14:04.

The event was the 60th annual in Madrid. Over 42,000 runners took in the two 10km races, a citizen’s with 40,000 and the elite event.

Top 10 results

Men

Berihu Aregawi (ETH) – 26:32
Jacob Kiplimo (UGA) – 26:33
Adel Mechaal (ESP) – 27:39
Felix Bour – 27:42
Nibret Kinde – 27:44
Jesus Ramos – 28:07
Aaron de las Heras – 28:12
Andreu Blanes Reig – 28:50
David Cantero – 28:53
Yago Rojo – 28:56

Women

Marta Garcia Alonso (ESP) – 31:19
Ruth Chepngetich (KEN) – 31:32
Agueda Marques – 31:34
Carolina Robles Campos – 31:58
Carla Gallardo Puertas – 32:10
Adawork Aberta – 32:16
Laura Priego Montero – 32:20
Fatima Azzaharaa Ouhaddou Na – 32:22
Risper Bayaki Besabwa – 32:25
Tugva Guvenc Yenigüm – 32:42

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