Ugandan Athlete Sets New Half-Marathon World Record in Barcelona Race

Uganda’s Jacob Kiplimo has achieved a historic milestone by becoming the first athlete to clock under 57 minutes in the half-marathon. Racing in Barcelona under near-perfect conditions at 13°C and no wind, the 24-year-old recorded a remarkable time of 56:42. This performance slashed a remarkable 48 seconds off Ethiopia’s Yomif Kejelcha’s previous record of 57:30 set in October, marking the greatest single improvement in men’s half-marathon history. Kiplimo, a two-time world cross-country champion, also set a world-best time of 39:47 for the 15km mark en route to his record. Reflecting on his unexpected accomplishment, Kiplimo expressed his surprise at maintaining such a blistering pace. Having made his Olympic debut at just 15, he continues to cement his position as one of long-distance running’s brightest stars.

Source: Aljazeera