A historic moment unfolded in Barcelona as Jacob Kiplimo became the first human to break the 57-minute barrier in the half marathon.
The 24-year-old Ugandan star blazed through the eDreams Mitja Marató Barcelona, stopping the clock at an astounding 56:42 – obliterating the previous world record by 48 seconds.
This wasn’t just another record-breaking performance. Kiplimo’s run represents the largest single improvement in men’s half marathon history, leaving Ethiopian Yomif Kejelcha’s previous mark of 57:30 in the dust.
The perfect 13°C temperature and still conditions in Barcelona set the stage for something extraordinary, but few could have predicted just how extraordinary it would be.
A Solo Journey to History
The initial plan called for a modest 2:45/km pace – but Kiplimo had other ideas. Just eight minutes into the race, the two-time world cross country champion took matters into his own hands.
Racing against only the clock, he hit the 5km mark in 13:34, already well under world record pace.
As Kiplimo charged forward in splendid isolation, Kenya’s Geoffrey Kamworor and Samwel Mailu formed their own battle for second place, running together nearly 20 seconds behind.
European champion Yemaneberhan Crippa of Italy followed in a distant fourth.
Breaking Barriers Beyond the Half Marathon
Kiplimo’s remarkable run wasn’t just about the final time. Along the way, he also set a new 15km world best of 39:47.
His consistent splits told the story of a perfectly executed race plan, with each 10km segment completed in 26:46.
The closing kilometers brought no fade in pace. Instead, Kiplimo seemed to gain strength, powering through the 20km mark in 53:42.
When he crossed the finish line, the magnitude of his achievement was clear – he hadn’t just broken the world record, he had redefined what’s possible in half marathon running.
Women’s Race: Jepkosgei Dominates
In the women’s competition, Kenya’s Joyciline Jepkosgei showed her own mastery of the distance.
The former world record holder successfully defended her title with a personal best of 1:04:13, setting a new course record and climbing to seventh on the all-time list.
