By Hannah Blackwell

Clara Evans has become Wales’ fastest female marathon runner of all time after smashing the Welsh record for the distance.

The Wales Commonwealth Games star set a new Welsh record of two hours, 25 minutes and four seconds at the Valencia Marathon on Sunday.

The Valencia Marathon has delivered an excellent day for British distance running:
Mahamed Mahamed 2:08:42 (debut), 7th 🇬🇧 AT
Phil Sesemann 2:08:49 PB, 8th 🇬🇧 AT
Clara Evans 2:25:04 PB, Welsh Record, Olympic Q, 7th 🇬🇧 AT
Lily Partridge 2:25:12 PB, Olympic Q, 8th 🇬🇧 AT

— Fast Running (@FastRunning) December 3, 2023

Evans, 30, – a member of Pontypridd Roadents club – broke the previous best of two hours, 26 minutes and 14 seconds set by Natasha Cockram last year by one minute and 10 seconds.

The run, which is under the Olympic qualifying standard, was more than four minutes quicker than Evans’ previous best mark, which was set earlier this year.

It also places her seventh on the UK all-time rankings – an impressive rise from a runner who has steadily improved from a decent club runner to the current best female marathon runner in the UK.

A fantastic effort by Clara Evans at the Valencia Marathon 🏃#BBCMarathon https://t.co/uprytZGfiu

— BBC Sport Wales (@BBCSportWales) December 3, 2023

Evans finished ninth in the marathon at last year’s Commonwealth Games in a time of 2;38.03.

Her time in Spain was massive 13 minutes better than her run in Birmingham only 16 months ago.

Ethiopia completed a podium sweep in the women’s race with Worknesh Degefa winning in 2:15:51 to go seventh on the world all-time list.

Degefa dropped Rio 2016 10,000m champion Almaz Ayana in the closing stages and finished some 30 seconds clear of her teammate.

Hiwot Gebrekidan was third, just inside 2:18, with the rest of the field outside 2:20.

Huge runs for Clara Evans 2:25:04 and Lily Partridge 2:25:12 🔥🔥
Both huge PBs and Olympic Q! Welsh Record for Clara!

— James Rhodes (@James_Athletics) December 3, 2023