Ugandan runner Jacob Kiplimo set a new half marathon world record on Sunday, February 16, at the eDreams Mitja Marató Barcelona, finishing the race in a blistering 56:42.
This victory marked the first time an athlete had completed the distance in under 57 minutes, surpassing the previous record of 57:30 set by Yomif Kejelcha of Ethiopia.
Kiplimo, who had set a 15km world best earlier in the race, surged ahead from the beginning and maintained a fast pace throughout.
He completed the first 5 kilometers in 13:34, already outpacing the competition by nearly 20 seconds.
By the 10km mark, he had a substantial lead, finishing 2 minutes clear of second-place Geoffrey Kamworor.
The 24-year-old attributed his record-breaking performance to ideal race conditions and a strong start, stating, "It has been the perfect race. Everything went better than expected."
Kiplimo, who is preparing for his marathon debut at the TCS London Marathon on April 27, is now recognized as the fastest half marathoner in history.
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