Eilish McColgan’s European Record was one of the many standout British performances at the 10K Valencia Ibercaja.

Much of the (British-specific) attention from the 10k Valencia Ibercaja will go to Eilish McColgan. Rightly so, given she improved the European Record to 30:08 (30:05 chip).However, there were plenty of other noteworthy performances on the streets of Valencia this morning.

McColgan bettered her 2022 PB of 30:19 in her debut at Valencia. She now holds the European Records for both a mixed (30:08) and a women’s only (30:19) 10k. Her previous PB was the latter mark; she did not ‘reclaim’ the European Record, as many have reported. It was an impressive performance – and one of many runs inside the qualifying standard for the European Championships.

Alex Bell become only the sixth British woman to run inside 31 minutes, clocking 30:57 (30:55 chip). Alex’s transition from the track to the roads continues to in fine form. She next races at the Burj2Burj Half Marathon in February.

Four seconds behind, Izzy Fry had one of the best races of her career with 31:01 (30:59 chip), She improved her PB, set last April, by 40 seconds in her first race since the European Cross Country Championships.

Clara Evans-Graham set a Welsh Record of 31:18 (31:13 chip) and Hannah Irwin a Northern Irish Record of 31:32 (31:28 chip). All, alongside Samantha Harrison and Lucy Jones, ran inside the European Championships standard of 32:00.

Jess Martin, who represented Great Britain over 10000m at the 2016 Olympics and retired a year later, clocked 32:04 (31:56 chip). It is a PB for the athlete now based in Andorra who returned to the sport last year.

Fast Men Too

Before today, 12 British men had run inside 28 minutes on the road for 10k. Today, five did it for the first time. That in itself is incredible, let alone the additional eight who ran under 29 minutes.

They were led by Joe Wigfield, who’s 27:38 (27:37 chip) equals the British Record. He now shares it with Rory Leonard, who ran in Valencia last year. It is a step-change performance for Joe that hopefully provides him with some much-deserved attention. A formidable athlete, but one who often supports local and club races. The Cabbage Patch 10, Ealing Half Marathon, four Friday Night Under the Lights 5ks and four BMC races featured on his schedule last year. A 1:46.62 800m, 27:38 10k and 62:04 half marathon in seven months, exceptional range.

Plenty others were very close behind. Alfie Manthorpe continued his love of Valencia with 27:40 (27:38 chip), with Scott Beattie one second behind (27:41, 27:38 chip). Scott turned down automatic selection for the World Cross Country Championships in favour of Valencia. It is probably fair to say there’ll be no regrets with that decision.

Andrew Butchart make a most welcome return, clocking 27:43 (27:42 chip) to break Callum Hawkins’ Scottish Record.  After a tough few years, he improved his PB by 22 seconds. Zak Mahamed also had an excellent performance with 27:46 (27:43 chip) to improve his best by over 20 seconds.

All five ran inside the European Championships standard.

Leading British Men

Joe Wigfield 27:39 (27:37 chip) PB / =British Record
Alfie Manthorpe 27:41 (27:38) PB
Scott Beattie 27:42 (27:38) PB
Andy Butchart 27:44 (27:42) PB / Scottish Record
Zak Mahamed 27:47 (27:43) PB
Joe Tuffin 28:28 (28:25) PB
Flynn Jennings 28:32 (28:28) PB
Ollie Lockley 28:35 (28:29) PB
Ben Alcock 28:39 (28:34) PB
Finn Proffitt 28:41 (28:36) PB
Logan Rees 28:49 (28:42)
Finlay Ross-Davie 28:51 (28:46) PB
Charlie Brisley 28:56 (28:51) PB
Abdimalid Darood 29:07 (29:03) debut
Lewis Hannigan 29:11 (29:05) PB
Jonathan Cornish 29:15 (29:08) PB
Joshua Hobbs 29:16 (29:11) PB
Joe English 29:20 (29:18) PB
Alex Howard 29:21 (29:17) PB
Harry Henriksen 29:22 (29:16)

Leading British Women

Eilish McColgan 30:08 (30:05 chip) PB / European Record
Alex Bell 30:57 (30:55) PB
Izzy Fry 31:01 (30:59) PB
Clara Evans-Graham 31:18 (31:13) PB / Welsh Record
Hannah Irwin 31:32 (31:28) PB / Northern Irish Record
Samantha Harrison 31:40 (31:35)
Lucy Jones 32:00 (31:56) debut
Jess Martin 32:04 (31:56) PB
Abbie Donnelly 32:22 (31:17)
Jade Morgan 32:36 (32:28) PB
Yvie Lock 32:39 (32:33) PB
Lizzie Welsted 32:49 (32:44) PB
Molly Smith 33:00 (32:56) PB
Esme Davies 33:06 (33:03)
Megan Gadsby 33:18 (33:12)
Abbey Brooke 33:21 (33:16) PB
Annabel Gummow 33:32 (33:28)
Gemma Kersey 33:37 (33:29) PB
Holly Archer 33:51 (33:48)
Rosie Hamilton-Jones 33:59 (33:55) PB