Last February (2025), Uganda’s Jacob Kiplimo reclaimed his place in the history books by obliterating the men’s half marathon world record at the 2025 eDreams Mitja Marató de Barcelona.
Clocking in at 56:42, the 24-year-old became the first human ever to complete the 13.1-mile distance in under 57 minutes.
The performance wasn’t just a win — it was a seismic shift in distance running. Kiplimo’s time slashed a staggering 48 seconds off the previous record of 57:30 set by Ethiopia’s Yomif Kejelcha in Valencia just four months prior.
The magnitude of that improvement, according to World Athletics, is the greatest single leap in the men’s half marathon world record.
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The Record-Breaking Run
Barcelona served up near-perfect conditions on race day: 13°C, no wind, and a flat, fast course.
Kiplimo made the most of it, maintaining an average pace of 4 minutes and 20 seconds per mile, or about 13.86 miles per hour. He didn’t just beat the field — he decimated it. Second-place finisher Geoffrey Kamworor of Kenya crossed the line over two minutes later in 58:44. Fellow Kenyan Samwel Mailu rounded out the podium in 59:40.
Kiplimo’s performance was so dominant that he also set a world best en route at the 15K mark, covering the distance in 39:47 — another jaw-dropping stat from an already historic day.
“I wanted to have a great race, but I didn’t expect to break the world record,” Kiplimo said after the finish. “I am very excited about what I did today.”
Redemption After Being Dethroned
This isn’t Kiplimo’s first world record — but it’s arguably his most important. He first claimed the half marathon crown in 2021, running 57:31 at the Lisbon Half Marathon. That time stood as the global benchmark until Kejelcha edged it out by a single second in 2024.
In Barcelona, Kiplimo didn’t just reclaim his record. He annihilated it — sending a clear message that he’s far from done.
“What a day!” he wrote on Instagram. “Today everything has been perfect — the course, the weather, and of course myself.”
Humble Roots and a Meteoric Rise
Kiplimo’s journey from the hills of eastern Uganda to the pinnacle of world athletics is nothing short of remarkable.
He grew up in Kween District, where his parents farmed and he ran more than three miles to school daily at an altitude of 6,200 feet. His entry into professional running was inspired by his older brothers, both athletes.
“To my mind, I said: ‘I want to be like them,’” Kiplimo told World Athletics.
After winning a trial race in 2015 for the World Mountain Running Championships, he briefly trained in Italy before returning to Uganda — a decision that aligned with his stunning breakthrough at the 2017 World Cross Country Championships, where he captured gold and was hailed as a national hero.
A decorated resume — and he’s just getting started
Though still just 24, Kiplimo is already a three-time World Cross Country Champion, with individual titles in 2023 and 2024 and a team title in 2019.
He also owns Olympic and World Championship bronze medals in the 10,000 meters — placing third in both the Tokyo 2020 Games and the 2022 World Championships in Eugene.
His path to greatness began even earlier, though. In 2016, at just 15, he became Uganda’s youngest-ever Olympian, competing in the 5000 meters at the Rio Games.
Looking Ahead: The Marathon Debut
Kiplimo’s historic run in Barcelona is a tantalizing preview of what’s to come. His next major milestone? Making his marathon debut this April at the London Marathon.
Given the ease with which he crushed the half marathon record, many in the running world are wondering: could Kiplimo be the next great challenger to the 2-hour marathon barrier?
If his performance in Barcelona is any indication, he’s more than ready for the challenge.
Joyciline Jepkosgei Shines in the Women’s Race
While Kiplimo grabbed global headlines, Kenya’s Joyciline Jepkosgei delivered an equally impressive performance in the women’s division.
She finished in 1:04:13, setting a new course record and notching a personal best. Jepkosgei, a former winner of the London (2021) and New York City (2019) Marathons, continues to cement her legacy among the top female distance runners in the world.
Final Thoughts
Kiplimo’s jaw-dropping performance in Barcelona will be remembered not just for the time on the clock, but for the statement it made: a new era in distance running is here.
He’s fast, fearless, and only getting stronger.
With his marathon debut on the horizon and the world at his feet, Jacob Kiplimo is no longer just a record-holder.
He’s a force of nature — and he’s just getting started.
