By Jacob Kiplimo knows he needs more race wins if he is to stay among the top long distance runners in the world.
The world half marathon record holder Kiplimo set a new world half marathon world record at the eDreams Mitja Marató Barcelona Half Marathon over the weekend. He clocked in at 56:42, shaving 48 seconds off the previous record.
He is the first person ever to run a half marathon in under 57 minutes. He beat the previous record of 57:30, which was set by Ethiopia’s Yomif Kejelcha.
At a press conference held at the Uganda Athletics Federation (UAF) offices in Kampala, a jovial Kiplimo attributed his success to dedicated training.
“I’m happy with what I did. Breaking the record wasn’t easy, but the hard work I invested has definitely paid off,” he said.
Kiplimo revealed that his primary focus wasn’t on setting a new record, despite having held the previous one in 2023.
“The conditions were favourable, and my body felt good. The first kilometer was crucial. I pushed myself, aiming for a strong race. I wasn’t thinking about a world record; I simply focused on running well. Ironically, I broke the record in the final minute,” he added.
Marathon debut
Fresh off his world-record-breaking performance, Kiplimo is now setting his sights on his longest race yet: the 42.2km London Marathon on April 27th.
He’ll be facing a star-studded field, including titans of the sport like Eliud Kipchoge, Kenenisa Bekele, and Sabastian Sawe.
Kiplimo’s dominant run in Barcelona, where he shattered the half-marathon world record, hints at his readiness to challenge the established order. His demonstrated ability to maintain a blistering pace over 21.1 kilometres, combined with his impressive track record, positions him as a genuine contender in London.
“London is a new challenge. I know it’s not going to be easy but I want to bring back the glory like it was in 2012,” he said referring to Stephen Kiprotich’s gold medal in the 2012 London Olympics..
Kiplimo has confirmed that he will continue his training in Kapchorwa as he prepares for his marathon debut.
Impressive career
Kiplimo’s recent performance adds to an already impressive career of a consistent athlete. As a young man from Kween District, Kiplimo was identified by Tuscany Camp in Siena, Italy where he trained between 2015 and 2019.
Kiplimo’s recent record-breaking feat enhances his already remarkable and consistent career.
Hailing from Kween District, Kiplimo’s talent was recognised early, leading him to train at the Tuscany Camp in Siena, Italy, from 2015 to 2019.
Nicknamed “The Road Master,” Kiplimo first burst onto the international scene in 2017 with a gold medal win in the U20 race at the IAAF World Cross Country Championships in Kampala, Uganda’s first-ever gold at the event. This followed a bronze medal in the 10,000m at the 2016 World Junior Championships in Bydgoszcz, Poland.
His success continued in 2020 with a gold medal at the World Half Marathon Championships in Gdynia, Poland, where he clocked a time of 58 minutes and 49 seconds. The following year, he set a new half-marathon record of 57 minutes and 31 seconds at the Lisbon Half Marathon.
Beyond the roads, Kiplimo has also excelled on the track, earning a bronze medal in the 10,000 meters at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. He is also a two-time World Cross Country Champion, taking gold in both 2023 and 2024. This versatility across terrains and distances underlines his exceptional talent and dedication to the sport.
“All I can promise is that we’re still here and we’re going to do a lot more,” he said.
Kiplimo’s career highlights
World records: Half marathon (56:42)
Olympic Games: Bronze in 10,000 M at Tokyo 2020.
World Championships: Bronze in 2022 in Eugene, Oregon.
Commonwealth Games: Gold in 5,000 M and 10,000 M in Birmingham, England.
World Cross Country: Two-time champion winning U20 title in 2017 and the senior title in 2023.
World Half Marathon: Gold medal at the 2020 World Half in Gdynia, Poland.
