Abraham Cheroben defeated a high-quality field in Valencia that produced four sub-60:00 performances, which has only been surpassed once all year (Copenhagen, six sub-60:00 times). His time of 59:11 won a tight finish ahead of Leul Gebresellasie (59:18) and Fidaku Haftu (59:22). It was Cheroben’s third title in Valencia over the last four years (’14 and ’15) and with his half marathon victory earlier this year in Copenhagen (58:40), he now holds the fastest and fifth-fastest half marathon performances in the world this year. Japeth Korir also competed in Valencia, finishing 11th in 1:01:25.
Marius Kimutai crossed the finish line at the Ljubljana marathon in 2:08:33, with over a minute’s margin to 2nd-placer Solomon Kirwa Yego (2:09:36). Kimutai earlier this season won the Rotterdam Marathon in 2:06:04, a time that ranks him 14th on the ’17 world marathon chart.
Other Personae athlete road results of note from late October include Meskerem Assefa‘s 3rd place at the Frankfurt Marathon (2:24:38), Martin Kosgei‘s 4th place in Frankfurt (2:09:39), and Abel Rop winning the Podgorica marathon for the second year in a row (2:15:29).