Kwizera sets a Spanish record, six women break 65 minutes in Valencia

Rodrigue Kwizera won the Valencia Half Marathon on Sunday in 58:03, a Spanish record that beat Carlos Mayo's old mark of 59:39 by more than a minute and a half. Kwizera, who switched allegiance to Spain this year after competing for Burundi, led a breakaway through 15km in 41:32 before pulling clear. His training partner Thierry Ndikumwenayo was second in 58:09, with Kenya's Victor Kipruto third. Twelve men broke 60 minutes on the flat, fast course through the city.

The women's race was deeper than any half marathon has been. Sheila Chepkirui won in 1:03:51, the fastest time in the world this year and good for fifth on the all-time list, but she had company the whole way. Diana Wanza finished one second back in a personal best of 1:03:52, and Daisilah Jerono was third in 1:04:11. Mizan Alem and Senayet Getachew followed in under 1:05. Six women broke 65 minutes in the same race, something World Athletics said has never happened before.

Further down the field, Spain's Laura Luengo ran a national record of 1:08:28 for 20th, and Yalemzerf Yehualaw, the former 10km world record holder racing after becoming a mother, was 16th in 1:07:21.

Kwizera's 58:03 would be quicker than the current European record, but World Athletics says it can't be ratified as one yet because his transfer of allegiance from Burundi hasn't been formally processed. The record books will catch up. The result on the road already has.

Sources: World Athletics; Marathon Handbook.