Making a stunning half-marathon debut in Valencia, Adriaan Wildschutt not only conquered the distance but also set a new South African national record.
Valencia, Spain (28 October 2025) – South African long-distance runner Adriaan Wildschutt made a striking impression on his half-marathon debut in Valencia, breaking the national record and showcasing why he is one of the country’s brightest long-distance stars.
The 27-year-old, already a familiar face on the international track scene, showed incredible composure, proving that he can translate his track success to the road. Shortly after the race, Adriaan shared on Instagram,
“In the end, I am doing this for myself and no one else really! In my debut half marathon in Valencia today, I ran a new Athletics South Africa record. It was quite windy over the last 8km, and I know I can go even faster. For now, I am very grateful to God and everyone else for always supporting me.”
The feat adds to Adriaan’s growing collection of national records, which includes the 3 000m (7:32.99), 5 000m (12:55.02), and 10 000m (26:50.64) distances on the track. Although his South African 10km record was recently surpassed by Maxime Chaumeton, the half-marathon mark brings his tally of national records to four.
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Adriaan’s achievement adds another milestone to a career already filled with national records and international experience, including a top-10 finish in the 10,000m at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo.
Looking ahead, he is set to lead South Africa’s senior men’s team at the World Athletics Cross Country Championships in January, where he will tackle the 10km event.
Sources: Various – Linked Above
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