Ugandan long-distance sensation Jacob Kiplimo made history on Sunday (February 16, 2025) at the eDreams Mitja Marató Barcelona by Brooks, becoming the first person to run a half marathon in under 57 minutes. The 24-year-old shattered the previous world record by 48 seconds, clocking a stunning 56:42 at the World Athletics Gold Label event.
Kiplimo’s performance erased the previous world record of 57:30, set by Ethiopia’s Yomif Kejelcha, marking the largest single improvement in the history of the men’s half marathon record. The race unfolded under perfect conditions, with temperatures at 13°C and no wind, setting the stage for a historic achievement.
Kiplimo’s dominance was evident from the early stages. Kenyan pacemaker Edwin Kimosong initially set a 2:45/km pace, but Kiplimo quickly took control just eight minutes into the race, picking up the tempo in pursuit of a world record. At the 5km mark, he clocked 13:34, already inside world record pace. His 10km split of 26:46 put him well ahead of the record trajectory, and by 15km, he set a world best of 40:07, further solidifying his incredible form.
Almost a minute ☠️
— Konstantin Kan (@knstntn_kan) February 16, 2025
Jacob Kiplimo destroyed previous HM WR — 56:38 in Barcelona.
5 k — 13:34
10 k — 26:46
15 k — 39:46
20 k — 53:09
finish — 56:38 pic.twitter.com/qQRDfWwYg3
With every passing kilometre, Kiplimo continued to push the limits, covering the second half of the race at an astonishing pace. His 20km split of 53:42 confirmed the inevitable, and he crossed the finish line in 56:42, obliterating the previous mark. Behind him, Geoffrey Kamworor of Kenya finished second in 58:44, while Samwel Mailu took third in 59:40.
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“It has been the perfect race,” said Kiplimo. “Ideal temperature, no wind at all, fantastic circuit – everything went better than expected. The pacemaker set the agreed 2:45 pace, but I found myself full of energy and decided to inject a brisker rhythm from the third kilometer. I never imagined I would break the 57-minute barrier; that’s astonishing.”
Kiplimo, a two-time world cross-country champion, also confirmed that he will now focus on his marathon debut at the London Marathon on April 27.
In the women’s race, Kenya’s former world record-holder Joyciline Jepkosgei delivered a dominant performance, winning in a lifetime best of 1:04:13. The 31-year-old defended her title in style, setting a course record and moving to seventh on the all-time list.
Jepkosgei pulled away from the competition early, reaching 5km in 15:25 before hitting the 10km mark in 30:08, already 37 seconds ahead of her nearest rival, Gladys Chepkurui. By the 15km point, her lead had extended to over a minute, and she powered home unchallenged to secure back-to-back victories in Barcelona.
“It’s my third year in a row competing here in Barcelona,” Jepkosgei said. “I managed a runner-up place and two wins, so I’m more than satisfied. In addition, I have bettered my PB, which was not easy, so I can’t ask for more. I hope to return next year. I’m also impressed by Kiplimo’s great achievement.”
