Andreas Almgren of Sweden ran the Valencia 10 km on Sunday, January 11th, in a time of 26:46, which represents a win, personal best (PB) and a European record. British runner Eilish McColgan also ran to a new European record in the race, clocking a new PB of 30:09.
Almgren’s run
The performance is eight seconds faster than the 2025 edition of the same race. Almgren is now the seventh-fastest male in the world all-time, on the roads.
The world record is held by Ethiopian Yomif Kejelcha with his 26:31 from Castellón, Spain, on February 16 last year. Also ahead of him are Berihu Aregawi, Joshua Cheptegei, Victor Togom, Jacob Kiplimo and Leanoard Komon at 26:44.
🇸🇪 Andreas Almgren breaks the European Record in the Men’s #10km at 🇪🇸 Valencia 10k.
— Athletics Central (@Athletics_Cntrl) January 11, 2026
On the Women’s side, 🇬🇧 Eilish McColgan also set a new ER, clocking 30:08. #Athletics #10k 🇪🇸 #Valencia @EuroAthletics pic.twitter.com/LozjF6WMaS
The 30-year-old ran 26:53 in Valencia in 2025, then went on to take the European record in the 5000m in the Stockholm edition of the Diamond League. He is the first European in history to dip under 59 minutes for the half-marathon, running 58:41 in Valencia last October. He holds seven national records from 3000m to the half-marathon.
Taking second was Ethiopian Khairi Bejiga in 26:52, and third was Kenyan Victor Kipruto in 26:52.
Top-10 results
| Place | First name Last name | Time | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Andreas | Almgren | 26:46 |
| 2 | Khairi | Bejiga | 26:52 |
| 3 | Victor | Kipruto | 27:18 |
| 4 | Valentin | Soca | 27:22 |
| 5 | Mohamed | Abdilaahi | 27:23 |
| 6 | Magnus | Tuv Myhre | 27:23 |
| 7 | Said | Mechaal | 27:25 |
| 8 | Isaac | Kimeli | 27:30 |
| 9 | Jose Carlos | Pinto | 27:38 |
| 10 | Kipkandie | Mkulia | 27:39 |
New European women’s record
One week after Jana van Lent had lowered Paula Radcliffe’s European record in the 10km, McColgan took it back in Valencia with her 30:09 run.
The record was held by fellow Brit Paula Radcliffe in 2003. The record was untouched for 23 years. Van Lent broke it last week with a 30:10 performance in Nice, France. However, McColgan was not going to be outdone. McColgan, known for her gutsy finish, appeared to go to the well for the win. She dug deep in the closing stages of the race.
Spain’s Marta GarcÃa missed the Spanish national record of 31:11, finishing in 31:16.
The women’s race was won by Kenya’s Brenda Jepchirchir, who became the fastest woman ever over the distance in Valencia with 29:26. The time, however, was well short of the 28:46 world record set on the same course by Agnes Jebet in 2024, which remains the world record. On Saturday, Ngetich won the 2026 Tallahassee World Cross Country Championships.
Ethiopian Likina Amebaw finished second in 29:30, moving to sixth on the all-time list. Taking third was Clare Chemtai Ndwia in 29:50.
Top-10 results
| Place | First name Last name | Time | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brenda | Jepchirchir | 29:26 |
| 2 | Likina | Amebaw | 29:30 |
| 3 | Clare | Chemtai Ndwia | 29:50 |
| 4 | Wede | Kefale Belew | 29:56 |
| 5 | Girmawit Gebrzihair | Gebru | 30:03 |
| 6 | Faith | Cherono | 30:07 |
| 7 | Miriam | Chebet | 30:09 |
| 8 | Eilish | McColgan | 30:09 |
| 9 | Debash Kelali | Desta | 30:22 |
| 10 | Alice | Chemtai | 30:39 |
