Yomif Kejelcha will not compete in the Valencia Marathon on December 6th, organizers announced. The Ethiopian runner, who holds the half marathon world record, cited an ongoing injury. The race organizers did not provide details about the injury or recovery timeline.

Kejelcha expressed his disappointment in a statement, saying he needs to recover and work hard to return to racing. Valencia organizers wished him a quick recovery and hoped to see him in future races. The absence of Kejelcha leaves no man in the announced field with a sub-two-hour marathon time. Read more everyday miles coverage.

John Korir, the defending champion, is now the favorite for the Valencia Marathon. Korir won the race last year with a time of 2:02:24 and ran a course record at the Boston Marathon in April. The women’s race remains unaffected, with a strong field including Fotyen Tesfay and Joyciline Jepkosgei. Related: Ethiopian Marathon Star Yomif Kejelcha Withdraws from Valencia Marathon.

This original Runner World brief is based on reporting from Marathon Handbook. Visit the source for its complete reporting, context and any later corrections.