Valencia Half Marathon 2026: Kwizera and Luengo Break the Spanish Record, Chepkirui Runs the World Lead
The Spanish record for the half marathon fell twice at the Valencia Half Marathon on Sunday: Rodrigue Kwizera won in 58:03 and Laura Luengo lowered the women’s mark to 1:08:28. In the women’s race, Kenya’s Sheila Chepkirui won in 1:03:51, the fastest time in the world this year. These are the results published by the organiser, S.D. Correcaminos, after the 35th edition, which started at 8:25 with about 26,500 entrants from 128 countries. According to the organiser, 25,733 people crossed the finish line on Tarongers.
Kwizera wins in 58:03 with a new Spanish record
Kwizera came in with the fastest best on the start list, the 58:16 he ran in Prague on 28 March, and improved it by 13 seconds. His friend and training partner Thierry Ndikumwenayo was second in 58:09 and Kenya’s Victor Kipruto third in 58:12. Until today the Spanish record was Carlos Mayo’s 59:39, set on this same course in October 2023, according to the official table of the Royal Spanish Athletics Federation (RFEA). Kwizera took 1:36 off it and Ndikumwenayo 1:30.
According to the organiser, Kwizera is the first Spaniard to win the race since it has been run over the official 21.097 km distance. Ndikumwenayo had said at Friday’s press conference that he would be happy with 58:30, and he finished 21 seconds under that. Behind them, Ethiopia’s Tadese Worku was fourth in 58:32 and Owen Kapkama, an under-20 runner, fifth in 58:42, according to the provisional results. The third Spaniard was Aarón de las Heras, 13th in 1:00:08. Adel Mechaal finished 18th in 1:01:00 and Yago Rojo 21st in 1:01:24.
Why World Athletics still lists Kwizera under Burundi
For the RFEA, Kwizera is already Spanish: its records table credits him with the Spanish 10 km road record, 27:15 in Prague on 5 September. At World Athletics, however, his profile still carries the Burundi flag, and his 58:16 from Prague is listed as a Burundian national record. Until that change of sporting nationality is approved, he cannot represent Spain at international championships.
Ndikumwenayo does not have that problem. World Athletics has listed him as a Spanish athlete since April 2023. His 58:09 today is also under the previous Spanish record, so both new Spanish half marathon marks belong to athletes born in Burundi. Both times still have to be ratified by the RFEA.
Laura Luengo lowers the women’s Spanish record
Laura Luengo came in with 1:08:50 and had not raced for a while. At the press conference she said her plan was to run with Carla Gallardo, who had held the Spanish record of 1:08:30 since Berlin on 29 March. She finished in 1:08:28, two seconds faster. According to the organiser, Luengo said she had not prepared specifically for this distance and went out to see how far she could go.
The Spanish women’s podium was completed by Catalan runner Meritxell Soler and Irene Sánchez-Escribano, both in 1:08:47. With her Spanish record, Luengo was 20th in the women’s race. Gallardo, who held the Spanish record until today, finished 29th in 1:09:32, just behind Catalan runner Marta Galimany, 28th in 1:09:12 in the over-40 category. According to the organiser, results further down the field also reshaped the Spanish all-time rankings for both men and women.
Chepkirui runs the fastest time in the world this year
The women’s race, with an all Kenyan podium, was decided by one second: Sheila Chepkirui won in 1:03:51, Diana Wanza was second in 1:03:52 and Daisilah Jerono third in 1:04:11. Until today the world lead on the World Athletics list was Fotyen Tesfay’s 1:03:57 in Buenos Aires on 23 August.
| Place | Women | Time | Men | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sheila Chepkirui | 1:03:51 | Rodrigue Kwizera | 58:03 |
| 2 | Diana Wanza | 1:03:52 | Thierry Ndikumwenayo | 58:09 |
| 3 | Daisilah Jerono | 1:04:11 | Victor Kipruto | 58:12 |
| 4 | Mizan Alem | 1:04:53 | Tadese Worku | 58:32 |
| 5 | Senayet Getachew | 1:04:57 | Owen Kapkama | 58:42 |
The 1:03:51 equals the time Yalemzerf Yehualaw ran in Valencia in 2021, which is the seventh fastest performance in history on the World Athletics list. Wanza made a huge jump: her best time of 2026 was 1:07:31, in Azpeitia in March. The tenth woman finished in 1:05:40, and the organiser describes it as the deepest women’s race in history.
Yehualaw 16th, Bekele not in the results
In our preview we reported that Kenenisa Bekele was on the entry list four weeks after pulling out of Berlin with an Achilles injury, and that Yehualaw started as the favourite on paper. Yehualaw finished 16th in 1:07:21, more than three minutes slower than her 2021 time. Tsigie Gebreselama was 13th in 1:06:20 and Ftaw Zeray 14th in 1:06:41.
Bekele does not appear among the finishers in the official provisional results. The organiser has not said whether he did not start or dropped out during the race.
What the Valencia Half leaves for recreational runners
Valencia is again the course for Spanish records: Mayo’s in 2023 and both of today’s were set here. This time the race was run in sunshine, after two wet editions, with 15 degrees at the start and 17 at the finish according to the official results. If you are preparing your first half or want to beat a time, the half marathon training plan organises the weeks and the race time predictor gives you a realistic target from your current times. The Valencia Marathon in December has its own Valencia Marathon guide, and we cover the world record for the distance in half marathon world record.
The sources for this article are the official race report, the provisional results, the RFEA table of Spanish records and the World Athletics lists.
Frequently asked questions
Who won the 2026 Valencia Half Marathon?
Rodrigue Kwizera in the men’s race, in 58:03, and Sheila Chepkirui in the women’s race, in 1:03:51, the fastest time in the world this year.
What is the Spanish record for the half marathon?
After Valencia 2026, 58:03 by Rodrigue Kwizera for men and 1:08:28 by Laura Luengo for women, pending ratification by the RFEA. The previous records were Carlos Mayo’s 59:39 and Carla Gallardo’s 1:08:30.
Why can Kwizera break the Spanish record?
The RFEA already recognises him as Spanish and credits him with the Spanish 10 km road record. World Athletics still lists him under Burundi, so he cannot yet compete for Spain at international championships.
Course photos: ChiralJon (1, 2), CC BY 2.0, taken at the 2018 World Half Marathon Championships in Valencia.
