New Delhi: Uganda’s Jacob Kiplimo etched his name in history as he shattered the world record in half marathon to win the Barcelona Half Marathon in Barcelona, Spain on Sunday, February 16. Kiplimo achieved a remarkable feat as he became the first athlete in the world to complete a half marathon in less than 57 minutes en route his way to winning the title in Barcelona.
The 24-year-old two-time cross-country champion finished the Barcelona half marathon in 56 minutes and 42 seconds to surpass the previous world record of 57:30 held by Yomif Kejelcha, who created the record in Valencia in October last year. Kiplimo’s timing is subject to the regular ratification procedure.
Despite being just 24, Kiplimo, who is one of the best half-marathon racers in the world, is a seasoned campaigner and held the half-marathon world record between 2021 to 2024 before losing it to Kejelcha, who scripted history in Valencia, Spain last year. However, Kiplimo reclaimed the record in neighbouring Barcelona with a splendid performance on Sunday.
In perfect weather conditions in Barcelona at 13 degrees Celsius with little to no wind, Kiplimo made a strong start in the half marathon and maintained his lead till the end to finish the race in 56 minutes and 42 seconds for a record victory. The Uganda athlete completed the distance of 15km in 39 minutes and 47 seconds to create another record for the lowest time taken to a 15km distance in a half marathon.
Didn’t expect to break the world record: Jacob Kiplimo
Kiplimo, who made his Olympic debut at the age of 15 at the Rio Olympics in 2016, said he was happy with what he managed to achieve in the Barcelona half marathon but never thought he would hp on to smash the world record.
“I wanted to have a great race, but I didn’t expect to break the world record,” Kiplimo said after winning the Barcelona half marathon.
“I started very strong in the first two kilometres to get away from my rivals. As the kilometres passed and I saw that I was going at record pace, I told myself that I had to maintain that pace no matter what it took,” he added.
The long distance runner is a two-time gold medallist in Commonwealth Games and won a bronze medal at the Tokyo Olympics in men’s 10,000m. He has also won four gold medals and two silver medals in the World Cross County Championships across multiple events.
Jacob Kiplimo of Uganada broke the half marathon world record on Sunday by completing the Barcelona Half Marathon in 56 minutes and 42 seconds. Other Sports Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
