Alex Yee may have come in a touch over his projected pace, but the Olympic triathlon champion produced an extraordinary performance at the Valencia Marathon, stopping the clock at a stunning 2:06:38. The time not only earned him seventh place overall in one of the world’s deepest marathon fields but also secured the second-fastest marathon ever run by a British athlete.
As is tradition in Valencia, the front of the race was packed with elite East African talent, yet Yee held his ground with the poise and discipline of a seasoned marathoner. Impressively, he executed a negative split: opening the first half in 1:03:32 before accelerating through the second half in 1:03:06. That closing strength underscored both his maturing endurance and his trademark efficiency built through years of triathlon racing.
Only Mo Farah has ever run faster among British athletes, posting a 2:05:11 at the 2018 Chicago Marathon. For Yee, today marked just the second marathon of his career. His debut came earlier this year at the London Marathon, where he ran an already remarkable 2:11:08 for 14th place.
The men’s race in Valencia was won by Kenya’s John Korir, who produced a blistering 2:02:24 to take the victory.