Andreas Almgren Sets New European Half-Marathon Record in Valencia
In a remarkable display of athleticism, Swedish runner Andreas Almgren made history at the Valencia Half Marathon by breaking the European record for the event. On October 26, Almgren clocked an impressive time of 58:41, surpassing the previous record of 59:13 set by Julien Wanders.
Valencia Half Marathon Highlights
The Valencia event was highlighted by standout performances from both men and women. Yomif Kejelcha from Ethiopia won the men’s race with a time of 58:02, but fell short of the world record of 56:42 held by Jacob Kiplimo. Almgren’s achievement places him firmly among the top European athletes.
Women’s Race Overview
In the women’s category, Agnes Ngetich of Kenya finished strong with a time of 63:08. While she couldn’t break Letesenbet Gidey’s world record of 62:52, Ngetich’s performance remains notable as it stands as the third fastest time in history for the distance.
Other Notable Runners
- Yomif Kejelcha (Ethiopia) – 58:02
- Rodrigue Kwizera (Burundi) – 58:39
- Brian Kibor (Kenya) – 58:39
- Andreas Almgren (Sweden) – 58:41
Almgren’s 58:41 time not only set a new European record but also marked his third record-breaking performance in 2023. Earlier in the year, he recorded a 10km time of 26:53 in Valencia and a 5000m time of 12:44.27 in Stockholm. Additionally, he secured a bronze medal in the 10,000m at the World Championships held in Tokyo.
British Athletes Perform Well
Among the British participants, Alfie Manthorpe stood out with a time of 61:26, placing him 20th on the UK all-time rankings. Other notable British times included:
- Charlie Wheeler – 61:28
- Alex Yee – 61:30
- Ben Connor – 61:32
- Zak Mahamed – 61:44
Lily Partridge led the British women’s field with a time of 69:52, just two weeks following her 69:34 finish in Manchester.
Conclusion
The Valencia Half Marathon continues to be a premier destination for record-breaking performances. With exceptional times recorded by both men and women, the 2023 edition of the race reaffirmed its reputation for fostering elite competitive standards.
