Jacob Kiplimo Runs Sensational Half Marathon World Record!

Uganda’s Jacob Kiplimo has run a remarkable world record in the men’s half marathon, clocking 56:42 at the eDreams Mitja Marató Barcelona by Brooks. 

Kiplimo is the first person to run sub-57 in the half marathon and his time was an astonishing 48 seconds quicker than the previous record held by Ethopia’s Yomif Kejelcha, which is the biggest margin of progression in the men’s half marathon world record since the 1960s. 

A 56:42 half marathon is an average pace of 2:41 per kilometre, or 4:20 per mile. He passed through the 15k timer in 39:47 which is inside his own world record (40:42) over that distance.

The 24-year-old, who previously held the half marathon world record with a time of 57:31 set in Lisbon in 2021, is set to make his marathon debut in London at the end of April in what has been called the ‘greatest elite field’ ever assembled. Given his performances over the half marathon, Kiplimo is arguably the runner most capable of challenging the sub-two hour marathon. 

Yomif Kejelcha is now second on the half marathon all-time list and while Kiplimo was surpassing him in Barcelona, the Ethiopian was running his own record-breaking race in the 10K Facsa Castellón. He won in 26:30, which is the second fastest 10k ever, and just six seconds short of his goal of breaking the 10k world record. 

It’s been a week that’s seen many running world records broken. Yared Nuguse lowered the indoor mile record only for Jakob Ingebrigtsen to better the time just five days later, while also running the indoor 1500m world record in the same race. Grant Fisher set new indoor world records for the 3000m and 5000m in the same week. 

It’s been a fast start to 2025!

Image: Tim Clayton/Corbis via Getty Images