Valencia Half Marathon sees dual Spanish records

The 2026 Valencia Half Marathon concluded with historic performances, as Rodrigue Kwizera and Laura Luengo both established new Spanish national records. Kwizera won the men’s race with a time of 58:03, significantly improving upon the previous record of 59:39. While his time was faster than the current European record, it will not be officially recognized as such by World Athletics until his change of allegiance from Burundi to Spain is fully formalized.

In the women’s race, Kenyan athlete Sheila Chepkirui secured victory with a time of 1:03:51, narrowly beating Diana Wanza by one second. Luengo set a new Spanish record for women with a time of 1:08:28. The event saw massive participation, with over 25,700 runners crossing the finish line in Valencia.

Thierry Ndikumwenayo finished second in the men’s category with a time of 58:09, also setting a high mark for Spanish athletics. The race continues to be a major global venue, with organizers expressing interest in attracting a world record for the full marathon in the future.