Mateiko and Mesfin clinch podium finishes in Valencia

The NN Running Team climaxed its major international marathon campaign with a pair of podium finishes in the 2024 Valencia Marathon Trinidad Alfonso Zurich.

Kenyan Daniel Mateiko - in his first completed marathon – delivered on his rich promise shown over the half marathon to place third in the men’s race with Tiruye Mesfin of Ethiopia matching that finishing position in the women’s race courtesy of a PB performance.

The end-of-season marathon in the Spanish port city has carved out a reputation as one of the world’s fastest 42.2km races and once again it did not disappoint.

On his marathon debut, the men’s race was secured by Sebastian Sawe in a blistering world leading time of 2:02:05 as the Kenyan climbed to fifth on the all-time lists. Deresa Geleta followed up his fifth place finish at the Olympic Games in Paris to take second in a PB of 2:02:38 with Matieko crossing the line in 2:04:24 to produce a performance of which he should be immensely proud.

In a high-class women’s race, Mergeta Alemu of Ethiopia dominated to take victory in 2:16:49 from Stella Chesang, who posted a Ugandan record of 2:18:26. Mesfin was rapidly closing in on Chesang in the closing kilometres but had to settle for third in 2:18:35 – chipping 12 seconds from her lifetime best set in Valencia two years ago.

When the starting gun was fired at 8.15am local time, the athletes were greeted to overcast conditions and temperatures of 11C. However, the clouds quickly cleared and by the finish the temperature rose to around 17C – hotter than ideal for many.

Led by Erick Sang of the NN Running Team – one of three designated pacemakers at the head of the men’s elite race – the Kenyan helped take a 12-strong lead group - including Mateiko and his NNRT team-mate two-time Tokyo Marathon winner Birhanu Legese through 5km in a healthy 14:31.

Maru Teferi, who just six weeks earlier had set a PB of 2:05:43 when third in the TCS Amsterdam Marathon, wisely executed a more conservative race with the Israeli sat 17 seconds further back of the chasing group at 5km.

There was no change to the overall picture for the remainder of the first half of the race as the trio of pacemakers took the lead group of a dozen athletes through splits of 10km (29:04), 15km (43:40) and halfway in 1:01:18.

The first to crack from the lead bunch was 42-year-old veteran Kenenisa Bekele with his countryman Demiso Legese

suffering the same fate. Shortly after the 25km checkpoint – reached in 1:12:45 – Sang completed his stint as pacemaker and by 30km the lead group was whittled down to five - containing Mateiko and Legese as well as Sawe, Geleta and the defending champion Sisay Lemma of Ethiopia.

Matieko could wait no longer. Looking fresh and possessing a long, bouncy stride a little after 30km he rapidly accelerated to the front and blew the race wide open. The man who just five weeks earlier had set a half marathon PB of 58:17 here in Valencia, surged with intent and opened up a 50m gap on the field. While Lemma and Legese struggled to keep pace, Sawe and Geleta found a second wind and gradually closed in on Matieko. A little after 35km the pair caught the Kenyan with Sawe, the world half marathon, powering into the lead without a second glance.

As Sawe stepped on the afterburners he rapidly opened up a lead which would prove insurmountable as the Kenyan went on to clinch a statement win. Geleta climaxed a memorable year to better his PB set when winning the Seville Marathon (2:03:27).

Undoubtedly suffering in the latter stages, Mateiko nonetheless courageously battled on to finish third to indicate a bright marathon future awaits.

Profiting from a smart tactical outing, Teferi finished strongly to take seventh in 2:04:45 to wipe almost a minute from his PB set only in October. Legese, who had been positioned fourth at 40km, finished 11th in 2:05:21.

In the women’s elite race, Mesfin made a positive start and at 10km – reached in 32:03 - formed a four-strong lead group alongside Alemu, Chesang and Kenyan Evaline Chirchir.

However, by the 15km split at 47:56 it was Alemu shadowed by Chesang who has opened up a clear gap on the field with Chirchir 14 seconds back in third and Mesfin sat fourth in 48:16.

At halfway Alemu and Chesang were engaged in a titanic tussle, splitting 21.1km in 1:07:15 while Mesfin – who had placed second in the 2023 Hamburg Marathon - had bridged the gap on Chirchir with the pair just over 50 seconds down on the lead duo.

By 25km Alemu had eased out to a 14-second lead from Chesang, while Mesfin had gapped Chirchir, which she extended to 41 seconds – as the Ethiopian passed 30km in 1:37:33.

While Alemu’s victory looked increasingly secure in the final 5km, Mesfin rapidly started to close in on the fading Chesang, who was paying the price for her committed first half of the race.

Despite finishing with a strong sprint Mesfin could not quite overhaul Chesang as the Ugandan bettered her national record – finishing nine seconds clear of the 22-year-old NN Running Team athlete.