Uganda’s Jacob Kiplimo made history on Sunday by breaking the men’s half-marathon world record in Barcelona, becoming the first runner to complete the distance in under 57 minutes. The 24-year-old crossed the finish line in an astonishing time of 56 minutes and 41 seconds, surpassing the previous record of 57:30 set by Ethiopian runner Yomif Kejelcha in Valencia last year.
Kiplimo, who had not anticipated setting a world record, expressed his joy and gratitude after the race. “I’m so grateful. I’m very excited about what I did today. I didn’t expect to break the record because I just came here to run a good race. But I am happy I have broken the world record,” Kiplimo said, visibly overwhelmed by his performance.
World Athletics hailed Kiplimo’s achievement as the greatest single improvement in the men’s half-marathon record, noting that the ideal weather conditions played a crucial role. The race took place in favorable conditions, with temperatures of 13 degrees Celsius and no wind, contributing to the outstanding performance.
Kiplimo’s success builds on an already impressive athletic career. In addition to his record-breaking feat, he also won a bronze medal in the 10,000 meters at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, cementing his reputation as one of the world’s leading distance runners.
This latest achievement adds to the growing legacy of Uganda’s distance running talent, and Kiplimo’s record-breaking run in Barcelona is expected to inspire a new generation of long-distance athletes.
