Jacob Kiplimo Breaks Half-Marathon World Record in Barcelona
Ugandan runner Jacob Kiplimo made history in Barcelona by breaking the world half-marathon record. The 24-year-old, who previously held the title in 2021, finished the 21.0975 km race in an incredible 56 minutes and 42 seconds. This remarkable performance was 48 seconds faster than the previous record, which was set by Ethiopia’s Yomif Kejelcha in November 2024. Kiplimo’s achievement is being celebrated as the greatest single improvement in the men’s world half-marathon record ever.
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.