Majida Maayouf debuted his national marathon record in San Silvestre Vallecana

NN San Silvestre Vallecana is gradually announcing the list of elite athletes. After confirming several national athletics figures such as Mohamed Katir, Tariku Novales, Mario García Romo, Laura Luengo, Fátima Ouhaddou and Marta Galimany, the organization announced that the brand new Spanish marathon record holder Majida Mayouf will also be on the starting line on December 31.

Majida Maayouf is one of the names of the last month. In this first marathon with Spanish nationalitythe Moroccan athlete mercilessly destroyed the previous distance record, lowering it by almost five minutes (2:21:27).

Maayouf’s talent is impressive, and his next upcoming challenge could have a double reward.

And in Vallecana, a Spanish athlete has not won since 2008, when the legend achieved it. Marta Dominguez. The woman from Palencia also holds the record for the event, with 31:35 since she won in 2003. Will Maayouf be able to make history this December 31 and achieve this double milestone?

Of course, it won’t be easy for him with the stars on the starting line in front of him. At the head, an old acquaintance from Nationale-Nederlanden San Silvestre Vallecana: Lonah Salpeter. The Israeli athlete from the NN Running Team was third in the 2021 edition, when he was still in full transition to the marathon. Now firmly established at 42 kilometers, with notable achievements such as victory in the Tokyo Marathon (2:17:45), second place in New York and third in Boston, as well as bronze at the World Championships in Eugene in 2022 and Fourth at the last World Cup in Budapest, Salpeter will try to lower his national 10K record of 30:05 to become a clear contender for victory on December 31.

In front of him, another marathon specialist hailing from the eternal hotbed of long-distance runners that is Ethiopia. Ababel Yeshaneh He was second in the Boston and Chicago Marathons (2:20:51), third in New York and fourth in Boston this year, and wants to continue the good performances of his compatriots in previous editions, with victories for to Degitu Azimeraw, Gelete Burka, Tirunesh Dibaba or Yalemzerf Yehualaw.

One of the great contenders for victory is one of the dominants of the cross country season in our country: Likina Amebaw. Ethiopian with habitual residence in Avila since 2020, Amebaw arrived in good condition at the end of the year, with notable victories such as Cross de Soria, Alcobendas or Cantimpalos. In 2021 he already showed his talent in San Silvestre Vallecana with a fourth place, so it will not be surprising if this year he can continue his successful streak on the streets of Madrid.

The best Spanish of the previous edition deserves special mention, Naima Ait Alibouwho will again meet the test after his fifth place last year (32:26).

Other top athletes who will seek their fame at the Nationale-Nederlanden San Silvestre Vallecana are the 18-year-old Ethiopian girl Asmarech AnlayAfrican junior 3,000 meters champion, or the French Giovanna Epistwelfth at the World Cup in Budapest this summer.

Performance of athletes

With the big stars ready for action, the Saturday afternoon The traditional presentation of athletes from Nationale-Nederland will take place in San Silvestre Vallecana on Daoíz y Velarde Municipal Sports Center.

Ethiopian Berihu Aregawi will take the stage alongside Spaniards Mohamed Katir, Mario García Romo, Tariku Novales and Yago Rojo. For their part, among the women, there will be the athlete of the NN Running Team, Lonah Salpeter, the Spanish Laura Luengo and Laura Priego, and the Ethiopian Yeshaneh.