Olympic triathlon champion Alex Yee has etched his name into the annals of British distance running history with a blistering performance at the Valencia Marathon. The 27-year-old produced a stunning run to finish seventh in a world-class field, clocking a time of two hours, six minutes, and 38 seconds.
Historic Performance Sees Yee Enter Elite Company
This remarkable time makes Yee the second-fastest British marathon runner of all time. The only man to have run quicker is the legendary Sir Mo Farah, who set the national record of 2:05:11 at the Chicago Marathon back in 2018. Yee's achievement is all the more extraordinary given his primary focus remains the triathlon, with the marathon representing a recent and ambitious diversion.
Crossing the finish line in Valencia, Yee's raw emotion was palpable. He roared skywards before clutching his head in sheer disbelief at the magnitude of his accomplishment. This moment of triumph came just months after a challenging debut over the 26.2-mile distance in London last April, where he finished in 2:11:08 following illness-disrupted preparations.
From Triathlon Gold to Marathon Podium Potential
Yee, who won Olympic triathlon gold in Paris earlier this year, only turned his attention to the marathon in 2024 as a brief sabbatical from his main sport. However, his running pedigree has never been in doubt. He represented Great Britain in the 10,000m at the European Championships as a 20-year-old, signalling the pure speed he now brings to the roads.
His build-up to Valencia hinted at a major breakthrough. Training alongside established British marathon stars Emile Cairess – fourth in the Paris Olympic marathon – and Phil Sesemann, Yee put in the rigorous mileage required. In the race itself, paced by Cairess (PB 2:06:46), Yee looked composed, reaching the halfway point in 1:03:32.
Negative Split in Testing Conditions
Despite warmer-than-ideal conditions, with temperatures rising into the mid-teens Celsius, Yee displayed superb strength and pacing. He managed to run the second half of the race even faster, achieving a negative split of 1:03:06. This demonstrates not just talent but exceptional race management and endurance.
Looking ahead, fans hoping to see Yee target Farah's national record may have to wait. The athlete has confirmed he will return to triathlon training full-time in 2025, with his sights set on defending his Olympic title in Los Angeles in 2028. It is therefore unlikely he will contest another marathon until after those Games.
Nevertheless, Alex Yee's sensational run in Valencia has unequivocally announced his arrival as a world-class force in marathon running, proving his athletic prowess extends far beyond the swim and bike legs of the triathlon.
