Ugandan long-distance runner Jacob Kiplimo shattered the men’s half marathon world record at the eDreams Mitja Marató Barcelona in Spain.
Kiplimo completed the 21 km course in an astonishing time of 56:42, surpassing the previous record of 57:30 set by Ethiopia’s Yomif Kejelcha in October last year.
The 24-year-old two-time World Cross Country champion’s effort was the largest single improvement on the men’s world half marathon record, surpassing Kejelcha’s previous world record by 49 seconds.
Additionally, Kiplimo became the first athlete to break the 57-minute barrier for the distance and also set a world best of 39:47 for 15 km en route to his record.
“I am very excited about what I did today. I started strong; I wanted to have a great race, but I didn’t expect to break the world record,” Kiplimo said.
By the 15 km mark, he had already set a world best of 39:47, a clear indication that something extraordinary was in the making.
His competitors, including his compatriot Geoffrey Kamworor and Samwel Mailu, could only watch in awe as Kiplimo’s shadow lengthened ahead, distancing himself from the pack.
He had not only reclaimed the record he once held but had done so with the greatest single improvement on the men’s world half marathon record ever seen.
The record will be subjected to the usual ratification procedure from World Athletics.
Kiplimo’s versatility across disciplines is well-documented. He is a two-time World Cross Country champion (2023 and 2024) and secured a bronze medal in the 10,000 meters at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.
His latest accomplishment in Barcelona not only reaffirms his dominance in long-distance running but also sets a new benchmark for future athletes.
