Yomif Kejelcha found the route back to the right side of the record books on Sunday after powering his way to a 56:51 world record at the Buenos Aires Half Marathon.
The stunning mark by Kejelcha shaved off 29 second from the current 57:20 record that was set by Jacob Kiplimo on March 8 at the Lisbon Half Marathon, which is still under the usual ratification process. Kejelcha surged to a 57:30 in October 2024 in Valencia for his first world record before Kiplimo’s most recent feat.
Buenos Aires billed itself as the “fastest course in America” and Kejelcha was out to do more than grab a podium spot as he slipped through the first 5k in 13:44 behind pacermakers Dillon Kipyeko and Brian Kipmwetich Kipkore who guided him into the 10k mark at 27:18.
Favorable conditions at around 42 degrees and breezy meant that the weather would be one thing not on the minds of Kejelcha and his pacers and they entered the 15km point at 40:39, keeping the same momentum from the previous marker. Fellow Ethiopian Tadese Worku maintained a close presence through 5k but was nearly 40 seconds behind at the next interval.
But Kejelcha pushed the pace and soared into 20k at 54:04 and realizing he was well within Kiplimo’s mark and pressed ahead without his pacers and crossed the finish line with a triumphant fist pump and was later swarmed by members of his support team.
Worku took second in 59:20 and Bereket Nega Batebo was third in 1:00:20.
In the women’s race, Fotyen Tesfay was simply dominant with a 1:03:57 performance in a win she took by over minute and a half for a new course record.
Tesfay opened the race as part of a lead pack alongside Irine Jepchumba, Sheila Chepkirui, Nevin Can and Selin Can that cruised through the 5k mark at 15:26 under the guide of pacermaker Gebresadik Abraha.
It was clear that Tesfay was not willing to let the middle or later stages of the competition be decided by a final kick as she advanced into the 10km point at 30:29 and used bursts of speed to shake off the group one at a time. By the time she reached 15k at 45:25, Tesfay was locked in on how the remainder of her races would look, holding a nearly 40 second gap on Nevin and Selin Can.
By the time she reached 20k at 1:00:42, Tesfay was unwilling to let up on her pace despite the sizable lead and eased into the finish with the victory and new course record as Nevin Can took second in 1:05:06 with Selin Can in third at 1:05:11.
2026 Buenos Aires Half Marathon Results
Men’s Elite Field
1. Yomif Kejelcha (Ethiopia) – 56:51
2. Tadese Worku (Ethiopia) – 59:20
3. Bereket Nega Batebo (Ethiopia) – 1:00:20
4. Jonathan Kipkoech Kamosong (Kenya) – 1:00:21
5. Simon Maywa (Kenya) – 1:00:57
6. Ignacio Erario (Argentina) – 1:00:59
7. Dillon Kipyeko (Uganda) – 1:01:09
8. Robert Kiprop Koech (Kenya) – 1:02:03
9. Julio Oritz Ponce (Mexico) – 1:03:21
10. Jimmy Gómez (Ecuador) – 1:03:38
Women’s Elite Field
1. Fotyen Tesfay (Ethiopia) – 1:03:57
2. Nevin Can (Turkey) – 1:05:06
3. Selin Can (Turkey) – 1:05:11
4. Irine Jepchumba Kimais (Kenya) – 1:06:04
5. Sheila Chepkirui (Kenya) – 1:06:13
6. Magaret Akidor Ngathike (Kenya) – 1:06:46
7. Deborah Samum (Kenya) – 1:08:32
8. Nubia de Oliveira Silva (Brazil) – 1:11:13
9. Sofía Luna (Argentina) – 1:11:21
10. Dahyana Juarez (Argentina) – 1:11:28
