Jacob Kiplimo Smashes Half Marathon World Record with Historic Sub-57 Run

Uganda’s Jacob Kiplimo made history in Barcelona by becoming the first athlete to run a half marathon in under 57 minutes, setting a new world record of 56:42. His remarkable feat shattered Ethiopian Yomif Kejelcha’s previous record of 57:30, set in Valencia last October, by an astonishing 48 seconds.
Kiplimo’s time marks the biggest single improvement in the men’s half marathon world record, solidifying his dominance in long-distance running.
“I am very excited about what I did today,” said the 24-year-old, who previously won bronze in the 10,000m at the Olympics and World Championships. “I started strong to break away from my rivals, and as I saw I was on record pace, I told myself I had to maintain it no matter what.”
During the race, Kiplimo also set a world best for 15km, clocking 39:47. The event, held in ideal conditions of 13°C with no wind, saw fellow Ugandan Geoffrey Kamworor finish second in 58:44, while Kenya’s Samuel Mailu took third in 59:40.
Kiplimo’s performance cements his place as one of the greatest long-distance runners of his generation.