The Valencia Half Marathon 2025, the setting for a new European record and five national records
28 October, 2025
As is now the tradition in Valencia Ciudad del Running, the day after the races, we look beyond the winners, and, once again, the Valencia Half Marathon Trinidad Alfonso Zurich 2025 did not disappoint. Despite the weather, five national records and one continental record, the European record, were broken along the route.
Sweden’s Andreas Almgren had already warned at Friday’s pre-race press conference that he was in very good shape. In fact, when asked how long he thought it would be before a European ran under 59 minutes, he replied, “just a few days”. And so it was. Yesterday, in the Valencia Half Marathon, he not only achieved his personal best with a time of 58:41, but he also became the first European to break the 59-minute barrier in a half marathon and set a new European Record. An impressive achievement that also sets a new Swedish national record.
Burundi’s Rodrigue Kwizera also set a new national record, finishing second in the race with an impressive time of 58:39, beating his own previous record, while debutant Adriaan Wildschutt crossed the finish line in 59:13, setting a new South African record.
In the women’s race, Alessia Zarbo broke the French national half marathon record with a time of 1:08:20, while fellow debutant Klara Lukan did the same for Slovenia clocking 1:08:04.
Sweden’s Andreas Almgren had already warned at Friday’s pre-race press conference that he was in very good shape. In fact, when asked how long he thought it would be before a European ran under 59 minutes, he replied, “just a few days”. And so it was. Yesterday, in the Valencia Half Marathon, he not only achieved his personal best with a time of 58:41, but he also became the first European to break the 59-minute barrier in a half marathon and set a new European Record. An impressive achievement that also sets a new Swedish national record.
Burundi’s Rodrigue Kwizera also set a new national record, finishing second in the race with an impressive time of 58:39, beating his own previous record, while debutant Adriaan Wildschutt crossed the finish line in 59:13, setting a new South African record.
In the women’s race, Alessia Zarbo broke the French national half marathon record with a time of 1:08:20, while fellow debutant Klara Lukan did the same for Slovenia clocking 1:08:04.
