Ugandan’s Jacob Kiplimo made historical past on Sunday, turning into the primary man to interrupt the 57-minute barrier within the half-marathon. On the eDreams Mitja Marató Barcelona, Kiplimo clocked 56:42, shattering Ethiopian runner Yomif Kejelcha‘s earlier world file of 57:30, set in Valencia simply months earlier, by an unimaginable 48 seconds. His efficiency marks the one biggest enchancment within the males’s world half-marathon file.
24-year-old Kiplomo already had a powerful resume, together with a world half-marathon title in 2020 and a number of World Cross Nation Championships victories. He additionally holds an Olympic bronze medal within the 10,000m from the Tokyo Video games and has persistently been a dominant pressure on the roads and observe. Earlier than reclaiming the half-marathon world file in Barcelona, he had beforehand set the mark in 2021 with a time of 57:31 in Lisbon, and held it till 2024 when Kejelcha briefly captured it.
Virtually a minute ☠️
Jacob Kiplimo destroyed earlier HM WR — 56:38 in Barcelona.
5 ok — 13:34
10 ok — 26:46
15 ok — 39:46
20 ok — 53:09
end — 56:38 pic.twitter.com/qQRDfWwYg3— Konstantin Kan (@knstntn_kan) February 16, 2025
Good circumstances, excellent execution
Racing in near-ideal circumstances of 13°C with no wind, Kiplimo confirmed early on that he was on observe for a race not like another. Though there had been no pre-race discuss of a world file try, his latest 26:32 10km efficiency in Madrid hinted at his health. The tempo was initially set for a 58-minute end, however Kiplimo rapidly took cost.
Breaking new limitations
Because the race unfolded, Kiplimo handed the 5K mark in 13:34, already inside world file tempo. He continued to select up the tempo, reaching 10K in 26:46 and setting a new world better of 40:07 for 15K alongside the way in which. Kiplimo ran by 20K in 53:42, earlier than crossing the end line in 56:42. Geoffrey Kamworor of Kenya completed second in 58:44, whereas Samuel Mailu, additionally of Kenya, took third in 59:40.
What’s subsequent for Kiplimo?
“It has been the proper race,” mentioned Kiplimo instructed media post-race. “Splendid temperature, no wind in any respect, unbelievable circuit— every little thing went higher than anticipated. The pacemaker set the agreed 2:45 tempo however I discovered myself filled with power and determined to inject a brisker rhythm from the third kilometre, however I by no means imagined to carry out underneath the 57-minute barrier, that’s astonishing.” Kiplimo added that he received’t be racing once more till his much-anticipated marathon debut in London on April 27.
For full outcomes of the eDreams Mitja Marató Barcelona, head right here.