Ethiopia’s Yomif Kejelcha has set a new world record in the men’s half-marathon to clinch the title at the Medio Maraton de Valencia in Spain on Sunday, Afrosport reports.
The 27-year-old distance runner, clocked a time of 57 minutes 30 seconds, shaving a second off the previous record held by Ugandan Jacob Kiplimo, who achieved this feat in Lisbon in 2021.
Kejelcha, who set the world indoor mile record in Boston in 2019 and holds a silver medal in the 10,000 metres event at the 2019 World Championships, held on for victory in wet conditions in Valencia.
The Ethiopian, competing in only his sixth half-marathon, was well settled behind the pacemakers from the blast of the gun. He, however, moved into second gear from the three-kilometre mark as he subsequently put some distance between himself and the chasing pack.
Kejelcha’s eye-catching performance during the race saw him reach some unique levels as he breezed past the 5km mark at 13:38, got to 10km in 27:12, and overcame the 15km barrier in 40:56.
He finished ahead of Kenyans Daniel Mateiko and Isaia Kipkoech to clinch the title in record time.
Meanwhile, in the women’s event, Kenyan Agnes Ngetich took home the title in 63:04, as she moved into second place in the all-time world rankings.
