© 10km Valencia Ibercaja by Kiprun 2026
Valencia 10K by KIPRUN, Andreas Almgren and Eilish McColgan, each sets a European record, honours even
Valencia further cemented its status as the fastest 10K in the world on January 11. This edition, the deepest field in the event’s history, brought together 15,600 runners across the combined 10K and 5K races. It was a spectacular way to open the 2026 season, highlighted by two European records: 26:45 by Sweden’s Andreas Almgren and 30:08 by Great Britain’s Eilish McColgan. The French athletes were not to be outdone, with a wave of personal bests as well.
2026 is already shaping up to be a thrilling year for road running and athletics. The Valencia 10K by KIPRUN proved it with a memorable 18th edition, crowned by a hat-trick of records. Each year at the start of the season, the Spanish organisers deliver a flat and lightning-fast course, combined with exceptional depth and near-perfect conditions. As a result, many of the world’s top middle- and long-distance runners have made this winter road race an unmissable fixture.
The event has also been the stage for both the men’s and women’s world records. In 2020, Kenya’s Rhonex Kipruto covered the distance in 26:24. In 2024, fellow Kenyan Agnes Jebet Ngetich made history with a stunning 28:46, becoming the first woman ever to break the 29-minute barrier. Not to be overlooked, Sweden’s Andreas Almgren set the European men’s record in 2025. All that remained was for the all-time European women’s best to be written into the story of the “Ciudad del Running.”
| Andreas Almgren improves his own European record
If there was one athlete to watch closely, it was Sweden’s Andreas Almgren. Valencia clearly holds special significance for the 30-year-old Scandinavian, who set the European record there last year in 26:53, becoming the first European athlete in history to break the 27-minute barrier. The Nike-sponsored distance runner once again showcased his talent with a stratospheric 26:45. The performance came as no real surprise. His eye-catching training sessions shared on social media and his rapid rise in recent seasons had already suggested that he was gearing up for something big.
“I’m very happy and very tired. It was really tough being out in front, it felt long, but I’m very pleased with what I achieved,” said Andreas Almgren. “I love running in Valencia. The course is excellent, the conditions were perfect and there were a lot of spectators. The organisers took great care of me, I’m delighted to race here.”
Andreas Almgren
| The fifth-fastest man in the world over 10 km
A former 800 m runner and a world medallist at youth level, the Swede is also the European record holder in both the 5000 m and the half marathon. In recent years, the prodigy has successfully shifted his focus to longer distances. Passing halfway in 13:29, the distance runner gradually broke clear of his rivals to claim a solo victory. With his 26:45 performance, Andreas Almgren now ranks as the fifth-fastest man in history over 10 km, behind Rhonex Kipruto (26:24 in 2020 in Valencia), Yomif Kejelcha (26:31 in 2025), Berihu Aregawi (26:33 in 2023) and Joshua Cheptegei (26:38 in 2019). Joining him on the final two steps of the podium were Ethiopia’s Khairi Bejiga in 26:51 and Kenya’s Victor Kipruto in 27:17. The Spanish contingent also had reason to celebrate, with Said Mechaal setting a new national record in 27:25.
| Eilish McColgan, queen of the Old Continent
The European record set by Belgium’s Jana Van Lent in 30:10 at the Prom’Classic in Nice lasted no more than… a week. Finishing eighth in the women’s race, Scotland’s Eilish McColgan clearly had her say, establishing a new continental benchmark of 30:08. Her first appearance in Valencia was an outright success. The 2022 Commonwealth Games 10,000 m champion is finally seeing light at the end of the tunnel after three years plagued by physical setbacks.
“I’m really happy. I have nothing but amazing things to say about this race. I think it’s the first time I’ve gone through an entire race without ever being more than a couple of metres on my own. There were spectators cheering from start to finish, and that helped me a lot over the final two kilometres when I was tired.”
Eilish McColgan
Ahead of the 35-year-old Briton, Kenya’s Brenda Jepchirchir was the fastest in 29:25. Ethiopia’s Likina Amebaw (29:29) and Kenya’s Clare Chemtai Ndwia (29:49) completed a women’s podium of extraordinary depth.
| The French take centre stage
The depth of the Valencia 10K needs no further proof, with 35 runners breaking 28 minutes, 97 under 29 minutes, 220 under 30 minutes, 379 under 31 minutes, 567 under 32 minutes, 770 under 33 minutes, 976 under 34 minutes, 1,183 under 35 minutes, 1,872 under 38 minutes and 6,325 under 50 minutes.
Within this incredibly dense field, many French athletes delivered personal bests. Leading the way was Azeddine Habz, 21st in 27:43, the eighth-fastest French performance of all time. Hassan Chahdi (27:44, French Masters M0 record), Baptiste Guyon (27:46), Antonin Marquant (27:47), Baptiste Fourmont (28:04), Florian Le Pallec (28:10), Aziz Boukebal (28:17), Valentin Bresc (28:20), Valentin André (28:25), Ayoub El Amani (28:29, the sixth-fastest French U23 performer in history), Maël Gouyette (28:31), Téo Dubuc (28:52), Maël Henric (28:53) and many others posted outstanding times. Not to be overlooked was the remarkable run by 16-year-old Meziane Benhammou, who clocked a superb 29:08. The young talent lowered his own French U18 record and missed the European record by just one second.
In the women’s race, Mélanie Allier improved on her mark set in Nice with a time of 32:17. Méline Rollin made her return in 32:42. Alice Finot (32:52), Lise Thimon (33:05) and Margot Dajoux (33:16) also impressed.
| KIPRUN continues its global rise
KIPRUN, Decathlon’s dedicated running and trail brand, has been the official partner of the Valencia 10K since 2024, a partnership set to run through 2027. This collaboration outfits thousands of participants, as well as volunteers and organisers, in KIPRUN colours. The brand continues to strengthen its profile and visibility, both in France and internationally. KIPRUN is pressing on with the ambition of breaking into the highly exclusive circle of the world’s five most popular running brands. Aligning itself with major events and top athletes, as seen in Valencia, clearly reflects that ambition.
Ideal conditions, extraordinary depth and the presence of the world’s best road runners created the perfect environment for fast times. True to its nickname, the “Ciudad del Running” lived up to its reputation, with a historic 2026 edition highlighted by both the men’s and women’s European records. Andreas Almgren and Eilish McColgan shone a spotlight on the Iberian city, while also underscoring the remarkable rise in global distance-running standards.
✔ All the results of the Valencia Ibercaja by KIPRUN 10K
Emma BERT
Journaliste
