Kejelcha and Ngetich claim victories in Valencia - Almgren makes history
Valencia, Spain — In a landmark day on the streets of the “City of Running”, the elite fields at the 2025 Valencia Half Marathon delivered exceptional performances.
The Valencia Half Marathon Trinidad Alfonso Zurich once again lived up to its reputation as the fastest half marathon in the world, delivering outrageous times, national records, and a historic European performance on Sunday, October 26 morning.
Ethiopia’s Yomif Kejelcha won the men’s elite race in 58:02, while Kenya’s Agnes Jebet Ngetich ran 1:03:08 to dominate the women’s field with the third-fastest half marathon ever recorded. Both races were impacted by strong headwinds in the final kilometers, yet the winning marks were still among the best performances in road running history.
MEN’S ELITE RACE
Yomif Kejelcha (ETH) took control early and never let the race slip away. The reigning world record holder for the half marathon — he set the current ratified standard of 57:30 in Valencia in 2024 — crossed the line in 58:02 to secure back-to-back victories in the “City of Running.”
Behind him, Burundi’s Rodrigue Kwizera produced a breakthrough run for second in 58:39, while Kenya’s Brian Kibor finished third in 58:39, rounding out a podium where all three athletes broke 59 minutes despite the wind.
One of the biggest storylines of the day came just off the podium: Sweden’s Andreas Almgren smashed the European record with 58:41, becoming the first European athlete in history to run under 59 minutes for the half marathon. His performance rewrote the continental record books and underlined Valencia’s status as the reference point for world-class road racing.
Top 3 – Men’s Race
- Yomif Kejelcha (ETH) – 58:02
- Rodrigue Kwizera (BDI) – 58:39
- Brian Kibor (KEN) – 58:39
WOMEN’S ELITE RACE
Agnes Jebet Ngetich (KEN) delivered a commanding solo run to win the women’s race in 1:03:08. That time is the world lead for 2025 and the third-fastest half marathon ever run by a woman. Ngetich was on world-record pace for much of the race, chasing Letesenbet Gidey’s 1:02:52 global mark set on these same streets in 2021, but the headwind in the closing kilometers cost her the record. Even so, her victory in Valencia further confirms her status as one of the premier long-distance road racers in the world.
Ethiopia’s Fotyen Tesfay took second in 1:05:10, and Kenya’s Veronica Loleo placed third in 1:05:46 to complete a high-quality women’s podium.
Top 3 – Women’s Race
- Agnes Jebet Ngetich (KEN) – 1:03:08
- Fotyen Tesfay (ETH) – 1:05:10
- Veronica Loleo (KEN) – 1:05:46
SPANISH AND EUROPEAN HIGHLIGHTS
Spain’s top finisher on the men’s side was Carlos Mayo, who crossed in 1:00:46, while Carla Gallardo led Spanish women with 1:09:14. The race also featured marathon legend Martín Fiz, who, at 62 years old, completed yet another half marathon milestone in 1:16:00 as he continues his personal “SuperHalfs” challenge.
But the standout European headline belonged to Almgren. His 58:41 did not just lower the previous European record — it shattered it by more than half a minute and signaled that sub-59 is no longer reserved for East African athletes.
A GLOBAL DESTINATION FOR FAST TIMES
More than 25,000 runners from over 130 nationalities lined up in Valencia, underlining the event’s status as a World Athletics Gold Label race and one of the world’s premier half marathons. Even on a windy day, Valencia produced a world lead, a European record, and a men’s podium entirely under 59 minutes. It was, once again, the place where the limits of road running get rewritten. Cadena SER+1
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