The world of athletics ended 2025 and started 2026 with a series of bright races and records. From Nice to Sao Paulo, from Barcelona to Madrid, athletes set new achievements at distances from 5 to 15 km, overcoming difficult weather conditions and demonstrating incredible speed. The focus is on the European 10 km record from Jana Van Lent, national records in Spain, Portugal and Puerto Rico, as well as the anniversary race in Brazil. Here are the highlights of the holiday starts.

Nice: European record for 10 km

On January 4, Jana Van Lent set a new European record in the 10 km in the mixed race at the Prom Classic 10K – 30:10. She surpassed Paula Radcliffe’s (30:21), which has been held since 2003, as well as Elish McColgan’s women’s record (30:19, 2022). The previous best result – 30:05 from Lonach Cemtai Salpeter – was not officially approved. Van Lent completed half of the distance in 14:42, which was her personal best for 5 km. Second place — Alessia Zarbo (31:12), third — Anael Guyonne (31:39). In the men’s category, 20-year-old Gaston Romer won – 28:28.

Barcelona: top results in the 5 km

On December 31, Likina Amoeba won the 5K race of the Cursa dels Nassos in Barcelona with a time of 14:23, which is the fifth result in history. France’s Agatha Guillemot was 15:04 (personal best), Britain’s Gemma Rickey was 15:21 (debut), and Puerto Rican’s Alondra Negrón was 15:32 (national record). In men’s competition, Portuguese Jose Carlos Pinto set a national record of 13:10, ahead of Norwegian Magnus Tove Mure (13:13, also a record). Thierry Ndikumwenayo is third (13:22). Abdessaman Aukelfen won the 10 km race – 27:59.

São Paulo: São Silvestre Jubilee Race

On December 31, in hot conditions in São Paulo (Brazil) (28°C, humidity 70%) Muse Gizachev won 15 km at the 100th São Silvestre International Road Race – 44:28. The second is Jonathan Kipkoech Kamosong (Kenya, 44:32), the third is Fabio Jesus Correia (45:06). In the women’s category, Cicilia Panga from Tanzania won – 51:08.

BOClassic at Bolzano

On December 31, Yomif Kejelcha won the 10 km with a track record of 27:42. The second is Telahun Haile Bekele (27:47), the third is the Italian Yemaneberhan Krippa (27:57). In the women’s race, Nadezhda Battokletti won the 5 km race for the third time in a row — 15:51.

Madrid: San Silvestre Vallecana

On December 31, world champion in the half marathon Jeffrey Kamworor won the 10 km – 27:41. The second is Jesus Ramos (27:56), the third is Aaron Las Jeras (28:00). In women, the fastest Spaniard is Marta Garcia (31:11), the second is Diana Van Es (31:18), and the third is Carla Gallardo (31:25).

Other New Year’s Eve races December 31 – January 1

• Sylvestercross (Netherlands): Jana Van Lent won 7 km among women (24:09), Ilias Fifa won 9.6 km among men (30:47).
• London: Alex Bell won the 5 km (15:23), Jo Wigfield won the men’s race (13:36).
• Newcastle: Scott Beatty won the 5 km (13:59), among women – Izzy Fry (15:49).
• Rome: Ludovica Cavalli (32:49) and Federico Riva (29:31) won the 10 km.
• Copenhagen: Juliane Hvid (16:09) and Axel Wang Christensen (14:09) won the 5 km.
• Vienna: Julia Mayer (17:48) and Mario Bauernfeind (15:31) won by 5,3 km.
• Poierbach: Marusha Mišmash Zrimšek won 5.1 km (15:47), among men – Florian Bremm (19:10).
• Bitigheim: Simon Boch won 10.5 km (30:32), Lisa Merkel won among women (34:32).
• Trier: Emil Danielsson won the 5 km (13:38), among women – Florence Niyonkuru (15:26).
• Sost (Germany): Lars Franken (44:34) and Lara Kiene (50:05) won the 15 km.
• Backnang: Jens Mergenthaler won the 10 km (29:27).
• Beasain: Irene Pelayo (33:23) and Chaqib Lachgar (28:54) were the winners.
• Creviliente: Lily Partridge won the 10 km (35:44).
• Luanda: Valentina Ruto (33:06) and Aden Darar (28:09) won the 10 km.
• Exmouth (January 1): Ines Fitzgerald set the parkuran record for British women – 15:27.
• Zurich (January 1): Australian Astrid Roberts won the marathon in 3:02:16.

Latest results

• 04.01Karachi Marathon, Karachi
• 04.01Marathon Mérida Banorte, Merida
• 04.01Prom Classic 10K, Nice
• 03.01 Polar Night Half Marathon, Тромсе
• 01-02.01Ultra Trail Challenge Race Baiyunshan SnowRun, Zhangjiakou
• 01.01Exmouth Parkrun, Exmouth
• 01.01New Year’s Marathon Zurich, Zurich
• 31.12 100th St. Sylvester International Race, Сан-Паулу
• 31.12BOclassic South Tyrol, Bolzano
• 31.12Backnang New Year’s Eve Run, Backnang
• 31.12Bietigheim New Year’s Eve Run, Bittigheim-Bissingen
• 31.12Race of the Noses, Barcelona
• 31.12HogmanHoway 5K, Newcastle upon Tyne
• 31.12Int Vienna New Year’s Eve Run of the LCC Vienna, Vienna
• 31.12 Intersport Sylvestercross, Зост
• 31.12 Mizuno x FULL New Year’s Eve 5K, Лондон
• 31.12Nationale-Nederlanden San Silvestre Vallecana, Madrid
• 31.12New Year’s Eve Run Copenhagen, Kopengagen
• 31.12San Silvestre Beasain 10K, Beatain
• 31.12San Silvestre Internacional Crevillentina, Crevilient
• 31.12New Year’s Eve Run Peuerbach, Poyerbach
• 31.12New Year’s Eve Run Trier, Trier
• 31.12Sparkassen New Year’s Eve Run, Werl
• 31.12São Silvestre de Luanda 10K, Luanda
• 31.12We Run Rome 10K, Rome

Upcoming events

• 06.01 40. Dreikönigslauf, Schwäbisch-Hall
• 08-09.01 XXXI All-Ukrainian Indoor Athletics Competitions “Christmas Starts”, Kyiv
• 09-10.01 Vinnytsia Region Indoor Championship among boys and girls born in 2009-2010, Vinnytsia
• 09-11.01 Chevron Houston Marathon, Х’юстон, Техас
• 10.01 46th World Athletics Cross Country Championships, Tallahassi, Florida
• 10.01 Hoka Sola Beach Half Marathon, Сола
• 10.01 Oman Desert Marathon, Al Wasil
• 10-11.01 Open Championship of Busk Youth Sports School in Athletics, Lviv
• 11.01 10K Valencia Ibercaja by Kiprun, Валенсія
• 11.01 43rd Ibusuki Nanohana Marathon, Ібусукі
• 11.01 48. Cross della Vallagarina, Villa Lagarina
• 11.01 C&D Xiamen Marathon, Сямень
• 11.01 Egmond Halve Marathon, Egmond-en-See
• 11.01 Ho Chi Minh City Marathon, Хошимін
• 11.01 Ironman 70.3 Pucon, Пукон
• 11.01 Kaohsiung Fubon Marathon, Гаосюн
• 11.01 Khon Kaen International Marathon, Кхонкен
• 11.01 NN Egmond Half Marathon, Egmond-en-See
• 11.01 Standard Chartered Taipei Marathon, Тайбей
• 11.01 Tokyo New Year Half Marathon, Токіо

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