This Week In Athletics we have record breaking runs in Valencia whilst the Cross Country season kicks into action in the UK with the Ron Hill Manchester Relays. 

Ngetitch and Algrem Star In Record Breaking Valencia Half

Kenya's Agnes Ngetitch ran the third fastest time ever over the half marathon distance in Valencia on Sunday, the World lead run of 63:08 saw Negtiitch go past 10km (29:18) and 15km (44:36) inside World Record pace. 

Only Ngetitch herself (63:04) and World Record Holder Letesenbet Gidey (62:52) have ever ran faster

Following her winning distance of over a minute ahead of Ethiopian Fotyen Tesfay (65:11) and fellow Kenyan Veronica Loleo (65:46 PB) Ngetitch said "I know I have the World Record in my legs and my splits were inside that pace until 15km"

In the Men's race Ethiopia Tome Kejelcha won with a time of 58:02 coming through 10k at 27:13. Kejelcha's run was the second fastest this season and opened up a half-a-minute gab to Burundi's Rodrigue Kwizera who crossed the line in a national record time of 58:38 just one second ahead of Kenya's Brian Kabor who came home in third in 58:39. 

In Fourth came Swede Andreas Almgren who smashed the European record by over half a minut in 58:41, becoming the first European to ever go sub-59 in the distance..

Following the win Kejelcha Said "I felt superb until the 10km point but then I began to suffer a stomach pain and could not maintain my rhythm. It was not the ideal day to break the world record anyway, as the wind was strong and it hampered me," via valenciaciudaddelrunning

Bol and Duplantis Crowned European Athletes of the Year

Dutch 400m Hurdles World Champion Femke Bol and Swedish Pole Vault Olympic and World Champion Armand Duplantis have both been crowned European Athlete of the year at the Golden Tracks awards night in Batumi Georgia. 

This is the third time that both athletes have recived the award and comes off the back of a 2025 season that saw Femke Bol stretch her unbeaten Diamond League record to 35 races before retaining her world title over 400m Hurdles in Tokyo. 

For Duplantis 2025 saw him break his own World Record 4 times alongside claiming World Indoor and Outdoor titles 

Both Athletes have previously claimed the rising start title which this year were awarded to Diamond League 800m Champion Audrey Werro and U20 Decathlon World Record Holder Hubert Trościanka.

A lifetime achievement award was also presented to Armenian Robert Emmiyan who European Long jump record of 8.86 has stood since 1987. via European Athletics 

Marathon World Record Holder Chepng'etich Banned By AIU

The Athletics world is still in shock after the suspension of Women's Marathon World Record holder Ruth Chepng'etich last week by the Athletics Integrity Unit. 

The 31-year-old Kenyan, who's a former world marathon champion and a three-time Chicago Marathon champion, accepted the charges and sanction following positive test on March 14, 2025 for the use of Hydrochlorothiazide, often referred to as the "water pill", which treats high blood pressure and fluid retention.

although her 2024 Chicago Marathon world record will stand as the offence occurred months later. The Athletics Integrity Unit found 190 times the permitted level of HCTZ in her sample and uncovered photos on her phone showing testosterone and anabolic steroids, which she failed to explain credibly. Despite admitting guilt, Chepngetich’s inconsistent account led the AIU to rule her violation intentional, while her early admission reduced the ban from four years to three, backdated to April 2025.

Chepng'etich was provisionally suspended by the AIU in July of this year. via The Times

Cross Country Season Kicks into life with Ron Hill Relays

The British Cross Country Season is in full swing following a packed afternoon of action at the Ron Hill Relays in Wythenshawe Park, Manchester on Saturday. Men's Women's and Mixed teams all took on 6 legs of 3km. on a considerably flatter course then what they are likely to face throughout the rest of the season. 

Leeds Beckett took the men's title by over 30 seconds ahead of their city rivals. Henry Yelling and Josh Blevins piecing together two consecutive legs of 9:06 before James Salt's 9:10 scored the fastest first leg of the race. Whilst gaps seemed to slightly close during Ash Burgess' fourth leg Johar Ali and Abdimalid Darood anchored the boys in Purple home with an impressive time of 55:14.

Arlo Ludewick took the fastest leg of the race with an incredible 8:47 to open up the University of Manchester's account on home soil. 

In the Women's race the University of Birmingham took the win in 31:55 with Hannah Kinane's second leg run being the highlight in 10:29 bring the reds home 47 seconds ahead of the University of Nottingham as BUAC saw three of their teams place in the top ten. 

Their was also success for Birmingham in the mixed race as they brought home the title in 1:03:10, Sam Greenstein's 9:35 being the pick of their legs before they were followed closely by the University of York who closed with an incredible 9:22 from Cam Bryson. 

Manchester Metropolitan took the mixed varsity title finishing 1:10 seconds ahead of University of Manchester.  via myraceresult