Jacob Kiplimo Smashes Half Marathon World Record with Historic Run

Jacob Kiplimo of Uganda made history by breaking the half marathon world record, running 56:42 in Barcelona. This achievement surpasses the previous record by 48 seconds and marks a significant improvement in the sport. Kiplimo’s performance also included a world best for 15km at 39:47, as he finished ahead of fellow competitors Geoffrey Kamworor and Samuel Mailu.

Jacob Kiplimo of Uganda made history by becoming the first athlete to complete a half marathon in under 57 minutes, achieving a remarkable time of 56 minutes and 42 seconds. This outstanding performance took place in Barcelona and saw him surpass the previous world record of 57:30, held by Ethiopian Yomif Kejelcha since October in Valencia. Kiplimo’s achievement marks the most significant single improvement on the men’s world half-marathon record to date.

The 24-year-old expressed immense joy over his success, stating, “I am very excited about what I did today.” He further noted his initial intention was to run a strong race, but breaking the world record was beyond his expectations. Kiplimo explained, “I started very strong in the first two kilometres to get away from my rivals.” As he maintained a record pace throughout the race, he motivated himself to continue pushing forward relentlessly.

In addition to setting the half marathon world record, Kiplimo also established a world best time of 39:47 for 15 kilometers during the event, which benefited from ideal weather conditions of 13ºC and no wind. Geoffrey Kamworor, a fellow Ugandan, secured second place with a time of 58:44, while Kenya’s Samuel Mailu finished in third at 59:40.

In summary, Jacob Kiplimo’s extraordinary performance in Barcelona has redefined the possibilities of distance running by breaking the half marathon world record. His time of 56:42 not only sets a new standard but also signifies a remarkable 48-second improvement over the previous record. This accomplishment, coupled with his world-best 15km time, places him among the elite in the sport.

Original Source: www.bbc.com