Kiplimo Breaks Half Marathon Record
Uganda's Jacob Kiplimo just reclaimed the men's half-marathon world record with a 57:20 finish at the Lisbon Half Marathon — shaving 10 seconds off the previous record set by Yomif Kejelcha in 2024. Kiplimo had previously held the record in 2021 before losing it, making this a triumphant return to the top of distance running.
The rivalry between Kiplimo and Ethiopia's Yomif Kejelcha is a battle of seconds. Kejelcha had broken Kiplimo's previous record by a single second with a 57:30 run at the 2024 Valencia Half Marathon. Kiplimo's first world record of 57:31 was also set on the same fast Lisbon course in 2021. This record is a moment of redemption for the 25-year-old Ugandan. In 2025, he ran an incredible 56:42 at the Barcelona Half Marathon, but the time was not officially ratified as a world record by World Athletics due to illegal assistance from a pacing car. The Lisbon Half Marathon course is famously fast, featuring a start on the iconic 25 de Abril bridge and a flat route along the Tagus River. The course has a history of producing world records, making it a destination for elite runners seeking to make history. In a race without official pacemakers, Kiplimo pushed the pace himself. He passed the 10km mark in 27:00 and the 15km mark in 40:52 before accelerating in the final stages to secure the record. Beyond the half marathon, Kiplimo is a decorated distance runner. He is a four-time World Cross Country champion and has won bronze medals in the 10,000m at both the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and the 2022 World Athletics Championships. The running world will be watching as Kiplimo and Kejelcha are scheduled to face each other again, this time at the London Marathon on April 26, 2026.
