One week after Jana Van Lent broke the European 10km record with 30:10 in Nice, there is every possibility the record books will undergo revision again in the 10K Valencia Ibercaja 10K on Sunday (11) with Sweden's Andreas Almgren and Great Britain's Eilish McColgan the focus of attention.
The 10K Valencia Ibercaja will be streamed live on the European Athletics YouTube channel from 9.15am CET (8.15am GMT). The commentary will be accompanied by English-language commentary and with no geo-blocking restrictions.
Just how fast will Almgren go?
Andreas Almgren made history last year by becoming the first European to break the 27 minute-barrier on the roads for 10km with 26:53 and the Swede, who went on to win 10,000m bronze at the World Athletics Championships before breaking the European half marathon record in Valencia with 58:41, is seeking another fast time on the streets of Valencia.
In one of his last workouts before the 10K Valencia Ibercaja, Almgren posted on Instagram that he did a 10x1000m training session on an indoor track with one minute recovery after each rep, covering the last kilometre in 2:28.
Propelled by a 13:10 split for the last 5km, Almgren outsprinted European 10,000m champion Dominic Lobalu from Switzerland for the victory - and for the European record - last year and this year’s race could be another continental affair.
The line-up also includes world 5000m silver medallist Isaac Kimeli who finished fourth last year in a Belgian record of 27:10, one of many national records to be set in last year’s race and a mark which could undergo further revision on Sunday.
Another national record which looks due for significant revision is Portuguese record which belongs to Jose Carlos Pinto with 27:53. Pinto arrives fresh from winning the New Year's Eve 5km in Barcelona in 13:10 to move to sixth on the European all-time list which suggests he is in shape to make a big improvement on his 10km national record.
From an international standpoint, leading entrants include Kenya’s Edwin Kurgat along with Ethiopia’s Khaira Bejiga and South Africa’s Maxime Chaumeton, all of whom have broken the 27 minute-barrier for the distance either on the track or on the roads.
McColgan eyeing European 10km record
The women’s race has also been billed as a European record attempt although Eilish McColgan’s task has been made decidedly tougher following Jana Van Lent’s exploits in Nice last weekend.
Van Lent smashed Paula Radcliffe’s long-standing mark of 30:21 in a mixed race with 30:10 although the Belgian has acknowledged this time might not last as a record beyond this weekend.
"She [Eilish] will try to break my record next week. Even if she succeeds, I'll still have done it and I'll enjoy it,” she said as quoted by Sporza.be.
McColgan, who still holds the European 10km record in a women’s only race at 30:19 from 2022, has been gradually returning to form after injury. In one of her most recent races, McColgan clocked 47:12 for 15km at the Seven Hills Run in Nijmegen, the second fastest time ever recorded by a European in a standalone 15km.
McColgan faces a strong line-up in Valencia which includes Ethiopians Girmawit Gebrzihair, who finished second last year in 29:34 and Likina Amebaw who recently won the Barcelona 5km in 14:23 and has a 29:40 PB for 10km.
And even if the European record remains intact, a number of national records could undergo revision in Valencia. Among those with national records in mind, European 5000m bronze medallist Marta Garcia will be looking to challenge the Spanish 10km record of 31:11 on home soil.
Leading European entrants
Men
Andreas Almgren (SWE) - 26:53
Isaac Kimeli (BEL) - 27:10
Zerei Kbrom Mezngi (NOR) - 27:39
Mohamed Abdilaahi (GER) - 27:40
Charles Wheeler (GBR) - 27:42
Efrem Gidey (IRL) - 27:43
Azeddine Habz (FRA) - 27:44
Djilali Bedrani (FRA) - 27:45
Juan Antonio Perez (ESP) - 27:45
Magnus Tuv Myhre (NOR) - 27:46
Simon Debognies (BEL) - 27:48
Jose Carlos Pinto (POR) - 27:53
Scott Beattie (GBR) - 27:58
Mike Foppen (NED) - 27:59
Women
Eilish McColgan (GBR) - 30:19
Samantha Harrison (GBR) - 30:51
Marta Garcia (ESP) - 31:19
Nathalie Blomqvist (FIN) - 31:26
Mariana Machado (POR) - 31:30
Alex Bell (GBR) - 31:31
Tereza Hrochova (CZE) - 31:38
Izzy Fry (GBR) - 31:43
Valentina Gemetto (ITA) - 31:44
Lisa Rooms (BEL) - 31:47
Abbie Donnelly (GBR) - 31:59
Isabel Barreiro (ESP) - 32:00
The full entry-lists can be found here.