Valencia Half Marathon Produces Two Spanish Records in One Day as Kwizera Runs 58:03
The 35th Valencia Half Marathon, held in the Spanish city of Valencia on October 25, produced two national records. Rodrigue Kwizera won in 58 minutes 3 seconds, slashing the Spanish record of 59:39 set by Carlos Mayo on the same course in 2023, and became the first Spanish winner of the race over its official distance of 21.0975 kilometres.
His training partner Thierry Ndikumwenayo finished second in 58:09, also inside the old record, with Kenya's Victor Kipruto third in 58:12.
In the women's race, Kenya's Sheila Chepkirui won in 1:03:51, the fastest time in the world this year, just one second ahead of compatriot Diana Wanza. Spain's Laura Luengo set a new Spanish women's record of 1:08:28, three seconds faster than the previous mark.
Valencia City Council ran a special mobility plan for the race: 26,000 runners started in seven waves from 08:25, and the council expected around 100,000 people along the course. The event holds World Athletics Gold Label status. Kwizera's 58:03 is three seconds faster than the European record of 58:06, but because his international transfer from Burundi to Spain has not yet been completed, the time cannot yet be ratified as a European record.
Source: Valencia City Council
Published by GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: 图：公路长跑比赛中的领跑选手。DS Pugh 摄，Wikimedia Commons，CC BY-SA 2.0。 / Photo: Lead runners in a road race. Photo by DS Pugh , Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0.
