NEW DELHI: Jacob Kiplimo, a 24-year-old Ugandan athlete, achieved an extraordinary feat by becoming the first person to break the 57-minute barrier in the half-marathon.
On Sunday, in Barcelona, he set a stunning new world record of 56 minutes and 41 seconds, surpassing the previous record held by Ethiopia's Yomif Kejelcha, who had clocked 57:30 in Valencia in October.
Kiplimo's remarkable performance represents the greatest single improvement on the men's world half-marathon record. Racing in ideal conditions, with a temperature of 13 degrees Celsius (55 degrees Fahrenheit) and no wind, he also set a world best of 39:47 for the 15km mark en route to the half-marathon record.
The two-time world cross-country champion, who had previously held the half-marathon record between 2021 and 2024, reclaimed the record by slashing an impressive 49 seconds off Kejelcha's time. Kiplimo expressed his excitement about his achievement, stating, "I started strong, I wanted to have a great race, but I didn't expect to break the world record."
As the kilometers passed and he realized he was on pace to break the record, Kiplimo remained focused and determined, telling himself, "I had to maintain that pace no matter what it took."
This unwavering mindset and exceptional physical prowess enabled him to etch his name in the annals of athletics history.
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