Jacob Kiplimo Breaks Half-Marathon World Record in Barcelona

Ugandan runner Jacob Kiplimo made history in Barcelona by shattering the world half-marathon record. The 24-year-old, who reclaimed the title he held in 2021, set a new record by finishing the 21.0975 km race in an astounding 56 minutes and 42 seconds. This performance was a remarkable 48 seconds faster than the previous world record, set by Ethiopia’s Yomif Kejelcha in November 2024. Kiplimo’s extraordinary achievement is being hailed as the greatest single improvement in the men’s world half marathon record in history.

Key Highlights of Jacob Kiplimo’s Performance

• Record Time: Jacob Kiplimo set a new half-marathon world record of 56 minutes 42 seconds.
• Improvement: He improved the previous world record by 48 seconds.
• Perfect Conditions: The race was held under ideal conditions—13°C temperature with no wind—allowing Kiplimo to perform at his best.
• Pacing Strategy: Kiplimo started with the pacemakers at a 2:45 per kilometer pace, but by the third kilometer, he decided to increase his pace, completing the race faster than expected.

World Record

• New World Best: In addition to the half-marathon record, Kiplimo set a world best for 15km with a time of 40:07.
• Speed Breakdown: Kiplimo averaged 22.3 km/h (2:41 per kilometer), which equates to a 13:26 for 5 km and 26:53 for 10 km.
• Personal Best for 10km: His personal best for 10km on the track is 26:33.93.
• Future Goals: Kiplimo is set to debut in the London Marathon on April 27, where he is confident of challenging the marathon world record of 2:00:35.

Additional Context

• Historical Comparison: This achievement rivals Eliud Kipchoge’s 78-second improvement in the marathon world record in 2018.
• Women’s Race: In the women’s race, Joyciline Jepkosgei of Kenya won with a personal best time of 1:04:13, setting a course record.