The 10K Valencia Ibercaja further proved itself as the world’s fastest 10km road race on Sunday (11) morning.
In a race which was highlighted by European records from Sweden’s Andreas Almgren and Great Britain's Eilish McColgan with 26:45 and 30:08 respectively, an incredible 20 national records were set by European athletes across the two elite races.
Behind Almgren, Germany’s Mohamed Abdilaahi and Norway’s Magnus Tuv Myhre both crossed the finish-line in 27:22 to improve their country’s respective national records while Said Mechaal smashed the Spanish 10km record on home soil with 27:25.
Both Portuguese records fell on Sunday with Jose Carlos Pinto improving his record to 27:37 while Mariana Machado had the distinction of becoming the first Portuguese woman to break the 31 minute-barrier for 10km on the roads, clocking 30:58 in the women’s race.
As well as McColgan revising the record books with a European record of 30:08, Joe Wigfield also equalled the British record on the men’s side with 27:38.
National 10km records set in Valencia
Men's race
26:45 - Andreas Almgren (SWE)
27:22 - Mohamed Abdilaahi (GER)
27:22 - Magnus Tuv Myhre (NOR)
27:25 - Said Mechaal (ESP)
27:37 - Jose Carlos Pinto (POR)
27:38 (=NR) - Joe Wigfield (GBR)
27:38 - Efrem Gidey (IRL)
27:39 - Mike Foppen (NED)
27:40 - Baldvin Magnusson (ISL)
27:43 - Dereje Chekole (ISR)
27:50 - Mustafe Muuse (FIN)
28:04 - Nahuel Carabana (AND)
28:19 - Giedrius Valinčius (LTU)
28:19 - Martin Zajic (CZE)
28:34 - Peter Durec (SVK)
Women's race
30:08 - Eilish McColgan (GBR)
30:58 - Mariana Machado (POR)
31:05 - Tereza Hrochova (CZE)
31:47 - Elżbieta Glinka (POL)
32:20 - Anastasia Marinakou (GRE)
What they said
Andreas Almgren: "I said around a 10 second PB - that would be acceptable - but I feel like I have a very fast time in me. If I could have had a pacemaker for 6-7 km, I think I can run very fast."
Said Mechaal: "The work of the last four weeks, but also of the last two, three, and four years, has finally paid off today. I'm very happy, especially for the people who believed in me, for being able to give them this little gift and for them to be able to enjoy this Spanish record."
Eilish McColgan: "I’m really proud of myself. Crossing the finish-line I was a bit emotional because it’s been a very long three years to get back to this level. It’s a really special race to be a part of...I’d love to try and come back and have a go at running sub-30. I'd also love to come back for the half marathon and maybe even the marathon one day?"