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Will Selemon Barega Run the Fastest Marathon Debut In History?

The 2021 Olympic 10,000m champ is running Seville next month. Could he outperform the men's London Marathon field?

Will Selemon Barega Run the Fastest Marathon Debut In History? 1

When it comes to the world of elite distance running, Selemon Barega is one of those athletes who can leave you completely in awe. The Ethiopian sensation has already achieved what most runners only dream of. From taking home gold in the 10,000m at the Tokyo Olympics to grabbing a World Indoor Championship title in the 3,000m, Barega has proven time and time again that heโ€™s a force to be reckoned with. Oh, and letโ€™s not forget his silver in the 5,000m at the World Championships. Yeah, heโ€™s that good.

Now, letโ€™s talk about his numbers. Barega has some jaw-dropping personal bests:

  • 1,500m (indoor): 3:32.97
  • 3,000m (indoor): 7:25.82
  • 5,000m: 12:43.02 (10th fastest time in history, in case you’re wondering)
  • 10,000m: 26:34.93
  • Half marathon: 57:50 (yup, thatโ€™s the 7th-fastest time in history)
Will Selemon Barega Run the Fastest Marathon Debut In History? 2

But hereโ€™s where things get really exciting: Barega is stepping up to run his very first marathon at the Zurich Maratรณn de Sevilla on Feb. 23, 2025. This is a big deal. Sevilleโ€™s marathon is famous for being flat, fast, and perfectly timed weather-wise. Basically, itโ€™s a runnerโ€™s dream stage for a debut.

His track record (literally) makes him a favorite to put on a stellar show. That 57:50 half marathon he clocked in Valencia already had people wondering when heโ€™d tackle the full marathon distance. And with training partners like Deresa Geleta (2024 Seville marathon champ) and Alemu Megertu (2022 champ), heโ€™s in great company.

Barega’s potential target time: 2:02:05. That’s the record for the fastest debut marathon in history, set last December by Kenyan Sebastian Sawe at the Valencia Marathon. Sawe’s performance won him the race, and also slotted him as the fifth fastest marathoner in history.


Top 10 All-Time Men’s Marathon Performances

RankTimeRunnerDOBNationalityRace PositionRaceDateWorld Athletics’ Score
12:00:35Kelvin KIPTUM02 DEC 1999KENKEN1Chicago, IL (USA)08 OCT 20231307
22:01:09Eliud KIPCHOGE05 NOV 1984KENKEN1Berlin (GER)25 SEP 20221296
32:01:41Kenenisa BEKELE13 JUN 1982ETHETH1Berlin (GER)29 SEP 20191286
42:01:48Sisay LEMMA12 DEC 1990ETHETH1Valencia (ESP)03 DEC 20231283
52:02:05Sabastian Kimaru SAWE16 MAR 1995KENKEN1Valencia (ESP)01 DEC 20241278
62:02:16Benson KIPRUTO17 MAR 1991KENKEN1Tokyo (JPN)03 MAR 20241274
72:02:38Deresa GELETA14 JAN 1996ETHETH2Valencia (ESP)01 DEC 20241267
82:02:44John KORIR02 DEC 1996KENKEN1Chicago, IL (USA)13 OCT 20241265
92:02:48Birhanu LEGESE11 SEP 1994ETHETH2Berlin (GER)29 SEP 20191264
102:02:55Mosinet GEREMEW12 FEB 1992ETHETH2London (GBR)28 APR 20191262

Will Selemon Barega Run the Fastest Marathon Debut In History? 3

For Barega, this isnโ€™t just another race; itโ€™s a leap into the unknown (and we are stoked). We’re certainly buzzing to see what kind of magic heโ€™ll bring to Seville. Could we be looking at the marathonโ€™s next big star? All signs point to yes.

So mark your calendars and stay tuned. Whether youโ€™re a running nerd or just love an underdog story, Baregaโ€™s marathon debut is one race you wonโ€™t want to miss.

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Jessy Carveth

Senior News Editor

Jessy has been active her whole life, competing in cross-country, track running, and soccer throughout her undergrad. She pivoted to road cycling after completing her Bachelor of Kinesiology with Nutrition from Acadia University. Jessy is currently a professional road cyclist living and training in Spain.

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