Valencia Half Marathon 2026: Kwizera sets Spanish record in 58:03
Web StoryWatch this story in 15 seconds →Key takeaways
- Rodrigue Kwizera won the men's race in 58:03, a new Spanish record.
- Sheila Chepkirui won the women's race in 1:03:51, by one second.
- Five men ran under 59 minutes, and six women ran under 65 minutes.
A half marathon is a road race of 21.1 kilometres. On Sunday, October 25, 2026, Valencia in Spain hosted its 35th half marathon. Rodrigue Kwizera won the men's race in 58 minutes and 3 seconds.
That time set a new Spanish national record. Kenya's Sheila Chepkirui won the women's race in 1 hour, 3 minutes and 51 seconds. She beat her fellow Kenyan Diana Wanza by just one second.
What happened
The race started at 8:25 in the morning, local time. It is a World Athletics Gold Label road race. That label marks it as a top-level race.
Kwizera broke away from a small lead group late in the race. He crossed the line in 58:03, according to The News Mill. His old best time was 58:16, so he beat it by 13 seconds.
His training partner Thierry Ndikumwenayo finished second in 58:09. Kenya's Victor Kipruto took third place in 58:12. Ethiopia's Tadese Worku was fourth in 58:33, and Kenya's Owen Kapkama was fifth in 58:42.
All five men ran under 59 minutes. Each of the five also set a personal best time. A personal best is the fastest time a runner has ever run.
The old Spanish record was 59:39. Carlos Mayo set that record in Valencia in 2023. Kwizera beat it by 1 minute and 36 seconds.
Before the race, Kwizera had said his goal was to run faster. He told the race press conference that he enjoys running in Valencia. On race day, he did just that.
The women's race was even closer. Chepkirui crossed the line in 1:03:51, according to The News Mill. Wanza finished one second later, in 1:03:52.
That one second was the gap between first and second place. Wanza improved her own best time by more than three minutes. Kenya's Daisilah Jerono finished third in 1:04:11.
Six women finished in under 65 minutes. Chepkirui's time put her joint fifth on the all-time women's list. Wanza moved up to sixth on that same list.
Spain also had a home success in the women's race. Laura Luengo set a Spanish women's record of 1:08:28, according to The News Mill. Before the race, Carla Gallardo held the Spanish record at 1:08:30.
The big names before the race
Kwizera was born in Burundi and now runs for Spain. He came into the race with the fastest time in the men's field. His best of 58:16 led the start list.
Ndikumwenayo was another Spanish hope in the men's race. Before the race, he said running 58:30 would make him very happy. He beat that target by 21 seconds.
One famous name was also on the start list. Ethiopian legend Kenenisa Bekele, aged 44, was set to race in Valencia. He has won three Olympic gold medals in his long career.
Bekele had pulled out of the Berlin Marathon in September. He withdrew three days before that race with a left Achilles tendon injury. The Achilles tendon links the calf muscle to the heel bone.
His half marathon best is 1:00:22, set in London in 2020. Valencia marked his return to racing just over a month after Berlin. His name gave the race extra star power.
The American team also had five elite runners in Valencia. Chandler Gibbens led the American men, with a best time of 1:01:57. Emily Venters led the American women, with a best of 1:08:48.
On race day, Gibbens finished in 1:01:42, according to Watch Athletics. That was faster than his best time from before the race. Venters finished in 1:07:36, also faster than her old best.
Why it matters
Valencia is known as one of the fastest half marathon courses in the world. The course is flat, which helps runners keep a fast pace. Fast times draw top runners from all over the world.
The men's world record was set on this course. Ethiopia's Yomif Kejelcha ran 57:30 in Valencia in 2024. The women's world record was also set here.
Ethiopia's Letesenbet Gidey ran 1:02:52 in Valencia in 2021. That time still stands as the women's world record. Today's results add to that fast history.
A national record matters for Spanish running. It shows that Spain's top runners can now match the world's best. Two Spanish men ran under the old record on the same day.
The women's finish matters for a different reason. A one-second gap after 21 kilometres is very rare. It shows how close the top women are at world level.
For new runners, the race also gives a simple lesson. A flat course and steady pacing help produce fast times. You can read more about breathing properly while running before your next run.
Good shoes matter too, over long distances. Our guide explains what makes a running shoe cushioned versus responsive. The right pair can make long runs feel easier.
What happens next
Kwizera now holds the Spanish half marathon record. His next races will draw more attention in Spain. Fans will watch whether he can go even faster.
Chepkirui's win puts her among the fastest women ever. Her time ranks joint fifth in history. She will be a name to watch in future big races.
Valencia will host its full marathon later in the season. Many of today's runners use the half marathon as a form test. A form test shows how fit a runner is right now.
The Dublin Marathon also took place today, October 25. You can read our report on the Dublin Marathon 2026 race in strong Storm Boelo winds. It was a very different race day in Ireland.
For now, Valencia keeps its name as a record course. Sunday gave it a new Spanish record and a one-second thriller. That is why runners all over the world keep coming back.
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