First marathon… first wall.
Debuting at 26.2 miles is a bit like a first date—full of excitement, potential and, occasionally, heartbreak. For Selemon Barega, the 2025 Seville Marathon was the perfect setting for his first dance with the grueling distance.
The Tokyo Olympic 10,000m champion, a man who has made a career out of kicking past competitors on the track, stepped into the unknown on February 23, 2025, with the goal of making a statement.
And while he may have flirted with a sub-2:03 finish for a while, he also learned one of the marathon’s most universal truths: the wall is real, and it does not negotiate.
Seville isn’t just a picturesque Spanish city with incredible tapas—it’s also home to one of the fastest marathon courses on the planet. Flat, at sea level, and lined with enthusiastic fans, the Zurich Maratón de Sevilla has become a go-to race for athletes looking to drop fast times.
With a record-breaking 14,000 runners toeing the line this year, including a strong elite field, it was the perfect place for Barega to test his marathon chops.
If Barega had any nerves about his first marathon, he certainly didn’t show it.
The pre-race plan was ambitious—set out at 2:54 per kilometer pace, aiming for something in the 2:02–2:03 range. The lead pack, which included Barega, fellow Ethiopians Challa Gossa and Abebaw Desalew, and Kenya’s Mathew Samperu, got off to a blistering start. They hit 5K in 14:18 and 10K in 28:44—both ahead of schedule.
Halfway through, the clock read 1:01:45.
For a moment, it looked like Barega was on track to challenge the course record of 2:03:27, set just last year by Deresa Geleta. But then, as any seasoned marathoner will tell you, the real race starts at 30K.
With the pacemakers dropping out around the 24K mark, Barega found himself in unfamiliar territory: running alone with miles still to go. By 30K, he had built a solid lead over his chasers, passing the checkpoint in 1:27:26, with Gossa and Samperu trailing at 1:27:58. It was all going according to plan—until it wasn’t.
At 37K, Barega was still projecting a finish time of around 2:03:30.
But then, the dreaded marathon wall reared its ugly head. His pace slowed, his stride lost its bounce, and the smooth efficiency of his earlier miles started looking a little more like survival mode. The Ethiopian star, so used to devastating his opponents with a late-race surge on the track, found himself battling the very course itself.
“First marathon, first win, first marathon wall,” Barega later said. “See you soon with more experience for faster times!”
Even as he slowed, his victory was never in doubt. He crossed the finish line in 2:05:15, well clear of his competitors. While it wasn’t the sub-2:03 debut he had dreamed of, it was still a win—and a solid introduction to the world of marathoning.
Who Else Made Waves in Seville?
Behind Barega, Ethiopia’s Tafere Adisu took second in 2:06:27, slashing nearly three minutes off his personal best. Morocco’s Mohamed Reda El Aaraby rounded out the podium with a personal best of 2:06:45, proving that Seville’s reputation as a PR-friendly course is well-earned. Swiss runner Matthias Kyburz also impressed, finishing fourth in 2:06:48.
On the women’s side, Ethiopia’s Anchinalu Dessie delivered a stellar debut of her own, claiming victory in 2:22:17. France’s Manon Trapp finished second in 2:23:38, setting a new French national record, while Kenya’s Cynthia Kosgei took third in 2:23:43.
Seville’s Growing Reputation as a Speedy Marathon Destination
For years, the Seville Marathon was something of a hidden gem—a fast course that attracted a handful of elites but mostly served as a prime spot for age-groupers to chase personal bests. That’s changing. With its increasing prestige, a growing international field, and a track star like Barega making his debut here, Seville is fast becoming a staple on the global marathon circuit.
Even the weather threw in a challenge this year, with humidity levels spiking up to 90%. Despite that, the marathon’s reputation held firm. Whether you were an Olympic champion or a weekend warrior, Seville proved once again why it’s one of the best places in the world to run fast.
What’s Next for Barega?
With his debut in the books, the big question is: what’s next? Barega has already teased a return to the marathon distance with “more experience.” Given his pedigree, it’s not a matter of if he’ll run faster, but when.
He joins a growing list of track stars successfully transitioning to the roads—think of Jacob Kiplimo’s half-marathon world record, or Yomif Kejelcha’s dominance over 10K. The marathon may have humbled Barega a little, but make no mistake: he’ll be back, and next time, he might just make history.
So, will we see him in another marathon soon? Maybe a tilt at an even faster course like Berlin or London? One thing’s for sure—after Seville, the marathon world has been put on notice. Selemon Barega has arrived, and this is just the beginning.
