Jacob Kiplimo delivered a commanding performance to reclaim the world half marathon record, producing a historic solo run at the EDP Lisbon Half Marathon in Lisbon on Sunday. The Ugandan distance star stormed to victory in 57 minutes and 20 seconds, rewriting the global standard in one of the most controlled road races of his career.
The 27-year-old shaved 10 seconds off the previous world record set by Yomif Kejelcha in 2024 in Valencia. In a twist of history, Kiplimo had also owned the earlier mark of 57:31, achieved on the same Lisbon course in 2021, making this latest run a triumphant return to the top of the half marathon rankings.
What made the performance stand out was its authority from start to finish. Kiplimo dictated the rhythm of the race and repeatedly crossed checkpoints at world-record pace, clocking 13:28 at 5km, 27:00 at 10km, 40:52 at 15km, and 54:23 at 20km, maintaining a relentless tempo that gradually distanced his challengers.
Kenyan runners Nicholas Kipkorir and Gilbert Kiprotich tried to keep within striking distance during the early stages. However, Kiprotich eventually dropped back while Kipkorir continued the chase until the closing kilometres, where Kiplimo surged again to seal victory. Kipkorir finished second in 58:08, while Kiprotich claimed third place in 58:59.
Speaking after the race, Kiplimo said he sensed the record was achievable once he crossed the 10km mark and decided to maintain an aggressive pace through the final stretch. World Athletics hailed the feat, noting that the performance—run without pacemakers—is pending official ratification. In the women’s race, Tsige Gebreselama successfully defended her title with a winning time of 1:04:48.
