Ugandan runner Jacob Kiplimo, 24, set a new world half-marathon record with an impressive time of 56 minutes and 42 seconds, surpassing the previous record of 57:30 set by Ethiopia’s Yomif Kejelcha in Valencia last October.
Kiplimo’s performance marks the largest single improvement in the men’s world half-marathon record, a monumental achievement in long-distance running.
“I am very excited about what I did today,” said Kiplimo, a former 10,000m Olympic and World Championships bronze medalist. “I wanted to have a great race, but I didn’t expect to break the world record.”
The race unfolded with Kiplimo starting strong, pulling away from his competitors in the first two kilometers. As he continued to set a pace that looked to be record-breaking, he focused on maintaining his momentum. “As the kilometers passed and I saw that I was going at record pace, I told myself that I had to maintain that pace no matter what it took.”
In addition to the world half-marathon record, Kiplimo also set a new world best for the 15km distance with a time of 39:47 during the World Athletics event. The race conditions were ideal, with a cool 13ºC temperature and no wind, perfect for fast times.
Kiplimo’s compatriot Geoffrey Kamworor finished in second place with a time of 58:44, while Kenya’s Samuel Mailu placed third at 59:40.
