Valencia, Spain – Olympic triathlon champion Alex Yee continued to impress in his transition to long-distance running, recording the second fastest marathon ever by a British athlete during the Valencia Marathon. At just his second competitive marathon, Yee crossed the finish line in an astonishing 2 hours 6 minutes 38 seconds, finishing seventh overall.

The 27-year-old, who won triathlon gold at Paris 2024 and secured the world championship title later that year, surpassed expectations in only his second marathon appearance. His performance was just 1 minute 27 seconds slower than Mo Farah’s British record of 2:05:11, making him the fastest Briton since the legendary runner.

“It’s incredible to achieve this in only my second marathon,” Yee said. “I’ve been focused on triathlon, but to see this level of performance in running is really motivating.”

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Marathon Details and Key Performances

Yee was paced for 21 of the 26.2 miles by fellow Briton Emile Cairess, who helped him maintain a competitive rhythm throughout the race.

The marathon was won by Kenya’s John Korir, who finished in 2:02:24, followed by Germany’s Amanal Petros in second place, 1 minute 39 seconds behind, and Norway’s Awet Kibrab in third, just 21 seconds back.

Yee’s time was a significant improvement on his London Marathon performance in April, where he ran 2:11:08 and finished 14th. Despite the success, Yee confirmed that he will not permanently switch to marathon running, focusing instead on defending his Olympic triathlon title at Los Angeles 2028.

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Women’s Race Highlights

The women’s marathon was dominated by Kenyan runners. Joyciline Jepkosgei won the race in 2:14:00, the fastest time recorded worldwide this year. Fellow Kenyan Peres Jepchirchir finished second, just 43 seconds behind, while Belgium’s Chloe Herbiet took third place in 2:20:38.

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Alex Yee’s Growing Legacy

Yee’s transition from elite triathlete to top-level marathon runner highlights his exceptional endurance and versatility. With only two competitive marathons under his belt, he has already cemented himself as one of Britain’s fastest long-distance runners. Fans now eagerly await his return to triathlon competitions, where he aims to defend his Olympic and world titles.