David GOMBE
Uganda’s athletics gem Jacob Kiplimo has reclaimed the 21Km Half Marathon World Record following his triumph in Barcelona, Spain on Sunday.
Kiplimo powered to victory in a world record time of 56 minutes and 38 seconds. The Barcelona Half-Marathon started in 1991 (34 years ago).
His previous record of 57 minutes and 31 seconds he set while winning the 2021 Lisbon Half-Marathon was broken by Ethiopian Yomif Kejelcha in October last year.
Kejelcha’s record set in Valencia was 57 minutes, 30 seconds, knocking a single second off the record set in 2021 by Kiplimo in Lisbon.
This was Kiplimo’s ninth 21km race since winning over the distance at the Kampala Marathon in 2019. And five years later, he has won six of eight races including the 2020 World Half-Marathon title in Gdynia, Poland.
After reclaiming his Half-Marathon world record, Kiplimo will now turn focus to his Marathon debut set for April 27th in London. His compatriot Joshua Cheptegei will also make his second Marathon in March 2nd in Japanese Capital Tokyo.
