Uganda’s Jacob Kiplimo says he never believed he could break the half marathon world record after he became the first person to run below the 57 minute mark in Barcelona at the weekend, Afrosport reports.
The 24-year-old ran in a time of 56 minutes and 42 seconds to eclipse Ethiopian Yomif Kejelcha’s previous world record of 57 minutes, 30 seconds which was set at the Valencia half marathon event last October.
The time set by Kiplimo is the best single improvement in setting the men’s world half-marathon record which left him over the moon.
“I am very excited about what I did [at the half marathon],” he said.
“I wanted to have a great race, but I didn’t expect to break the world record.
“I started very strong in the first two kilometres to get away from my rivals. As the kilometres 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.”
What just happened? 🤯
🇺🇬’s Jacob Kiplimo smashes the half marathon world record, flying to 56:42 at the Barcelona Half Marathon 🚀
📸Daniel Meumann for https://t.co/eAHK0L0xXB
*Subject to usual ratification procedures pic.twitter.com/rNfhQxjOJc
— World Athletics (@WorldAthletics) February 16, 2025
Compatriot Geoffrey Kamworor finished second in a time of 58 minutes and 44 seconds while Kenya’s Kenya’s Samuel Mailu was third clocking in 59 minutes, 40 seconds.
