In Barcelona, Ugandan athlete Jacob Kiplimo Breaks the Global Half Marathon Record
In the thrilling world of athletics, Ugandan star Jacob Kiplimo made headlines by shattering the half marathon record in Barcelona, Spain, at the eDreams Mitja Marató Barcelona by Brooks 2025. With a stunning time of 56 minutes and 42 seconds, Kiplimo outperformed Ethiopian Yomif Kejelcha's previous record by 48 seconds, set just a few months prior in Valencia.
The ideal conditions of a cool 13 degrees Celsius and no wind aided Kiplimo in breaking new ground, as he astoundingly became the first person to crack the 57-minute barrier in a half marathon. After an extraordinary showcase at the World Athletics Gold Label road race, the 24-year-old long-distance runner's achievements knew no bounds.
According to World Athletics, Kiplimo's success was attributed to the perfect race circumstances, specifically the ideal temperature, no wind, and a fantastic circuit. Reflecting on his achievement, Kiplimo enthusiastically praised the weather conditions and course, expressing that it surpassed his expectations then and there.
Just as impressive as Kiplimo's victory, Kenya's Joyciline Jepkosgei clinched the women's race with a lifetime best of 1:04:13, breaking her own course record and climbing to seventh on the world all-time list. Jepkosgei appeared highly satisfied with her consecutive wins in Barcelona, boasting a career-best improvement of 16 seconds.
Uganda's star athlete, Kiplimo, also excelled in the 15km, setting a new world best time of 40:07 while en route to his half-marathon victory. Demonstrating his unparalleled potential, Kiplimo announced that he won't compete until his marathon debut in April at the London Marathon.
Kenyan runners Geoffrey Kamworor and Samwel Mailu finished as second and third in the men's race, clocking times of 58:44 and 59:40 respectively. Joyciline Jepkosgei was closely followed by compatriot Gladys Chepkurui in second place (1:06:25) and Ethiopian Alemtsehay Zerihun in third place (1:08:19).
References:[1] Equidistance Running[2] World Athletics[3] Athletics Weekly
- Jacob Kiplimo's world record-breaking half marathon time of 56 minutes and 42 seconds at the eDreams Mitja Marató Barcelona by Brooks 2025 has solidified his position as one of Uganda's top athletes.
- The London Marathon, set to take place in April, will mark Jacob Kiplimo's much-anticipated marathon debut, following his impressive half marathon record.
- At the 2025 Barcelona marathon, Jacob Kiplimo not only broke his own Ugandan half marathon record but also managed to shatter the world record previously held by Ethiopian Yomif Kejelcha.
- The London Marathon, known for its challenging course and variable weather conditions, might add an extra layer of difficulty to Jacob Kiplimo's marathon debut, but his determination to excel is undeterred.
- During the half marathon race in Barcelona, Jacob Kiplimo's outstanding performance not only set a new world record but also secured him a significant lead over his competitors, including Kenyan runners like Geoffrey Kamworor and Samwel Mailu.
- Despite the ideal weather conditions in Barcelona, which aided Jacob Kiplimo in breaking the half marathon record, the London Marathon is famous for its unpredictable temperature fluctuations and occasional windy conditions.
- In addition to his world record-breaking half marathon, Jacob Kiplimo's impressive 15km time of 40:07 at the same event further underscores his potential as a top contender in long-distance races, including the marathon.
