Jacob Kiplimo reached the half marathon mountain again as he shattered the world record in 57:20 at the Lisbon Half Marathon on Sunday.
In a race that had potential for a record to fall from the start, Kiplimo grabbed the opportunity and shaved ten seconds off of Yomif Kejelcha’s record from 2024. Kiplimo was in familiar territory to take another shot at lowering the after clocking a 57:31 in Lisbon in 2021 to claim the world mark.
With Nicholas Kipkorir and Gilbert Kiprotich staying close, Kiplimo pushed through the first 5km in 13:28 but found some separation at he 10km point in 27:00 with Kiprotich struggling to keep pace.
Shortly after, Kiplimo and Kipkorir found themselves locked in a tight battled at 15km in 40:52 but opened a gap as he continued to surge and stay on world record time. Kiplimo passed the 20km mark at 54:23 and bolted through the finish with both fists clenched.
Kipkorir took second in 58:08 while Kiprotich was third in 58:59.
“I’m so happy to break the world record,” Kiplimo said. “After the first 10km, I thought the world record was possible. I tried to keep pushing the pace in the final two kilometers.”
Kiplimo’s new record will undergo the usual ratification process. In February, World Athletics did not certify his 56:42 world record that was set in Barcelona last year after it was decided that the slipstream of a pace car aided Kiplimo’s effort — with Kejelcha’s record continuing to stand.
Ugandan Jacob Kiplimo ran faster than the world record in the half-marathon, clocking a ridiculously fast 56:42 last February in Barcelona, Spain. However, World Athletics has decided not to ratify the performance as the world record because of assistance from the pace car.
In the women’s race, Tsigie Gebreselama was dominant as she defended her title and crossed the line in 1:04:48 — over two minutes quicker than Janeth Chepngetich, who took second in 1:06:50. Regina Wambui finished third in 1:07:10.
Gebreselama cruised through the 5km mark in 14:55 and opened a sizable lead as she established position early in the race. By the 10k point, she clocked a 30:05 and seemed to be on pace for a course record but slowed in the later stages with her competitors too far in the distance to regain some ground. Her 1:04:48 winning time is the second-best mark at Lisbon.
Top men’s finishers
1. Jacob Kiplimo (Uganda) – 57:20
2. Nicholas Kipkorir (Kenya) – 58:08
3. Gilbert Kiprotich (Kenya) – 58:59
4. Benard Langat (Kenya) – 59:31
5. Mohamed Ismail (Djibouti) – 59:45
6. Oscar Chelimo (Uganda) – 1:00:12
7. Stanley Waithaka Mburu (Kenya) – 1:00:17
8. Esau Kipkorir Kemboi (Kenya) – 1:00:19
9. Egide Ntakarutimana (Burundi) – 1:00:34
10. Célestin Ndikumana (Burundi) – 1:00:34
Top women’s finishers
1. Tsigie Gebreselama (Ethiopia) – 1:04:48
2. Janeth Chepngetich (Kenya) – 1:06:50
3. Regina Wambui (Kenya) – 1:07:10
4. Tabitha Njeri Kamau (Kenya) – 1:07:22
5. Girmawit Gebrzihair (Ethiopia) – 1:07:30
6. Emeline Imanizabayo (Rwanda) – 1:07:35
7. Mekdes Woldu (France) – 1:08:20
8. Selah Busienei (Ethiopia) – 1:09:54
9. Mariana Machado (Portugal) – 1:10:10
10. Clémence Calvin (France) – 1:10:10
