Swedish Runner: Andreas Almgren Smashes European Record In Thrilling Valencia Half Marathon

As is contented successful nan Valencia Ciudad del Running, nan time aft nan title is simply a clip to look beyond nan winners — and this year’s Medio Maratón Valencia Trinidad Alfonso Zurich 2025, held connected Sunday October 26, surely did not disappoint. Despite challenging upwind conditions, nan people witnessed an bonzer bid of performances, pinch 5 nationalist records and a caller European grounds falling successful a azygous morning.

Swedish runner Andreas Almgren had already hinted astatine his exceptional shape during nan pre-race property convention connected Friday. When asked really agelong it would return Europeans to break nan 59-minute barrier, he confidently replied, “a fewer days”. True to his word, Almgren made history successful Valencia, becoming nan first European to tally a half marathon successful nether 59 minutes. His stunning clip of 58:41 not only earned him a caller individual champion but besides group some a European and Swedish nationalist record.

Behind him, Burundi’s Rodrigue Kwizera claimed 2nd spot pinch an awesome 58:39, improving his ain nationalist best. Meanwhile, Adriaan Wildschutt, making his debut complete nan distance, clocked 59:13 to found a caller South African record.

France’s Alessia Zarbo collapsed France’s nationalist record

The women’s title was arsenic remarkable. France’s Alessia Zarbo collapsed her country’s nationalist grounds pinch a clip of 1:08:20, while Slovenian debutant Klara Lukan crossed nan statement successful 1:08:04, besides mounting a caller benchmark for her nation.

Race elite selector Marc Roig praised nan event’s results, noting that “the time has been rather good, though nan upwind played a awesome role. Both winners were eager from nan start. We were adjacent to world records, but wide it’s a satisfying balance, pinch nan champion marks of nan twelvemonth successful some races.”

Men’s champion Yomif Kejelcha admitted that it had been a challenging day: “Up to kilometre 10, I was emotion beardown and successful bully rhythm, but past I started suffering tummy issues that affected me. Even without them, I don’t deliberation I could person surgery nan world grounds coming — nan upwind was beardown and it made moving tough.”

Satisfaction pinch an arena for everybody

Women’s victor Agnes Ngetich besides reflected connected what could person been: “I’m happy pinch nan result. I had nan world grounds gait until kilometre 15, but I’m still pleased,” she said, adding that Valencia holds a typical spot for her. “I ever consciousness very comfortable present — I’ve travel 3 times and won each three, doubly successful nan Half Marathon and erstwhile successful nan 10K. Valencia feels for illustration home, and I dream to return.”

Juan Roig, president of nan Fundación Trinidad Alfonso, shared his pridefulness successful nan event: “We’re very pleased, particularly pinch nan organisation by Correcaminos and nan city’s support, arsenic good arsenic nan number of visitors from extracurricular nan region. We missed nan world grounds this time, but that leaves america thing to purpose for adjacent year. It’s a pity astir nan wind, which nan athletes said prevented them from reaching excellence erstwhile again.”

Meanwhile, Paco Borao, president of nan Sociedad Deportiva Correcaminos, expressed restitution pinch really nan arena unfolded: “We’re very happy. It rained, but we faced it head-on — nan upwind is nan only point we can’t change. Even so, we achieved near-record times, group a caller European record, and nan women’s victor produced nan champion half marathon performance of nan year.”

Smiling, Borao added, “Seeing each runner transverse nan decorativeness statement pinch joy, contempt nan rainfall trying to spoil nan party, fills america pinch pride. Above all, we’re proud to erstwhile again springiness Valencia this spectacle of peace, health, and strength.”