While Yomif Kejelcha was busy attempting to break the 10K world record in Castellón, coming within 6 seconds of the mark, Jacob Kiplimo was making waves in Barcelona. The Ugandan athlete left everyone in the dust, including Ethiopian Yomif Kejelcha, who had claimed the half marathon world record in 2004 with a time of 57:30. Kiplimo’s impressive run of 56:42 not only shattered the old record but also set a new standard for the distance.
A Dominant Performance
Kiplimo gave his rivals no chance, taking the lead from the start and maintaining an average pace of 2:42 per kilometer. This is particularly impressive given that he plans to make his marathon debut on April 27 in London. One notable aspect of his performance was his split time of 26:09 from kilometer 5 to 15, which earned him the World Record in the half marathon. With this achievement, Jacob Kiplimo has positioned himself as one of the top contenders to make history in the 42,195-meter distance.
A New Women’s Record
In the women’s category, Kenyan athlete Joyciline Jepkosgei also had a remarkable run, crossing the finish line in just 1:04:13. This not only broke the course record but also improved upon her own previous record of 1:04:29, set in 2024. Jepkosgei’s performance was all the more impressive given that she surpassed her old record by a full 16 seconds. As the dust settles on these record-breaking performances, one can’t help but wonder what the future holds for these talented athletes. Will Kiplimo’s success translate to the full marathon distance, and can Jepkosgei continue to push the boundaries of what’s possible in the women’s half marathon? Only time will tell.