Birhanu Legese, Lelisa Desisa, Ruti Aga and Peres Jepchirchir among marathon entries, while Rhonex Kipruto, Letesenbet Gidey and Genzebe Dibaba make half-marathon debuts

Stacked fields have been announced for the Valencia Marathon Trinidad Alfonso EDP and half-marathon which will take place as elite-only events on December 6.

Birhanu Legese, whose 2:02:48 PB puts him third on the world all-time list, plus world champion Lelisa Desisa, 2:18:34 runner Ruti Aga and world half-marathon champion Peres Jepchirchir are among the marathon entries, while world 10km record-holder Rhonex Kipruto, world 5000m record-holder Letesenbet Gidey and world 1500m record-holder Genzebe Dibaba are set to make their half-marathon debuts.

Also among the men’s marathon entries are Kinde Atanaw, Leul Gebresilase, Lawrence Cherono, Kaan Kigen Özbilen, Jemal Yimer and Zersenay Tadese, with 21 athletes having best times under 2:07:00 and 35 with times under 2:10:00.

Britain’s Scott Overall, Derek Hawkins, Matt Clowes, Peter Le Grice and Mike Kallenberg are set to run, with Callum Hawkins listed among the pacemakers.

The women’s marathon entry list also includes Birhane Dibaba, Degitu Azemiraw, Zeineba Yimer, Tigist Girma, Fancy Chemutai, Joyciline Jepkosgei, Joan Chelimo, Jordan Hasay, Valeria Straneo and Ann-Marie McGlynn. In total, there will be 28 women with PBs below 2:30:00.

In the half-marathon events, Kipruto will be joined by world half-marathon champion Jacob Kiplimo, Kibiwott Kandie, Bedan Karoki and Julien Wanders, while Gidey and Dibaba will line up alongside Senbere Teferi and Emily Sisson.

The top 10 marathon finishers in each of the men’s and women’s races will secure Olympic qualification, with the event having Platinum Label status.

Full entry lists can be found here.