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Adreas Almgren breaks European record as he outshines Lobalu and Langat in Valencia

The 2014 World U-20 800m bronze medallist, Andreas Almgren demolished a strong deep elite field at the 17th edition of the 10K Valencia Ibercaja, on Sunday (12) in Valencia, Spain.

The 29 year-old who stuck to the leading group of four that included Vincent Langat, Daniel Kinyanjui and Dominic Lobalu, went through the 8km mark in a contained and controlled pace as he did not know how great in shape the East African nation athletes were.

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Lobalu who is the reigning European 10,000m champion, took charge of the race as soon as they hit the 9km point, where they dropped Kinyajui who could not keep up with the fast pace. Lobalu’s lead was short lived as Langat over took him with a killer pace with Sweden’s six times national champion closing on the two.

With the tape being seen ahead of the three, Almgren engaged his gear with 300m remaining to pass the two, in an entertaining finish that went to the wire but Almgren surprised many when he cut the tape first in a new European Record of 26:52, crushing the old course time of 27:09 set by Lobalu last year as the later also came home in second place a second later.

“This is I have lots of confidence and knowing how the finish stretch was long I had to be patient and wait for the right time to kick,” said Almgren.

Langat who was the fastest athlete on paper with a time of 27:11, was forced to settle in third place in a new personal best of 26:54.

Kinyanjui and Isaack Kimeli from Belgian finished in fourth and fifth place in respective time of 27:05 and 27:09.

The race course record of 26:48 set by Uganda’s Jacob Kiplimo remains standing.

LEADING RESULTS

10KM MEN

  1. Adreas Almgren (SWE) 26:52
  2. Dominic Lobalu  (CAN) 26:53
  3. Vincent Langat   (KEN) 26:54
  4. Daniel Kinyanjui  (KEN) 27:05
  5. Isaack Kimeli       (KEN) 27:09

Author

  • John Vaselyne is the founder of Athletics News. Africa’s only Independent Athletics News website. He has covered World U18 and U20 Championships, World Cross Country Championships, Four Continental Tour Gold Series, Wanda Diamond League. He has passion for the Sport and has over seven years experience in this area of sport. He is also the Leading Athletics Pundit in the Country, having been hosted in ALL leading TV stations in Kenya

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