- Jacob Kiplimo has won the 2025 Mitja Marató Barcelona title in a world record time of 56:42.
- He was followed by the Kenyan duo of Geoffrey Kamworor and Samwel Nyamai Mailu.
- The world record will undergo the usual ratification process before it becomes official.
Jacob Kiplimo produced a sensational performance on Sunday morning to successfully retain his half marathon world record.
The Ugandan runner became the first human being to run a sub 57:00 half marathon when he won the 2025 Mitja Marató Barcelona in an astonishing time of 56:42.
Kiplimo, who is a multiple world half marathon championships gold medalist, was unmatchable in the race that was held in ideal weather conditions.
He took command of the race that had heavyweights like Kenya’s Geoffrey Kamworor at the earlier stages and never looked back.
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15km world lead
The 24-year-old went on to cross the 15km mark in a world lead time of 39:47, and since then it became clear that he was going to produce something special.
He was followed by Kamworor and Samwel Nyamai Mailu, who crossed the finishing line in 58:44 and 59:40 respectively. Mailu also hails from Kenya.
The brilliant performance ensured Kiplimo retained his half marathon world record that was taken from him in October 2024 by Ethiopia’s Yomif Kejelcha.
Kejelcha had ran 57:30 in the streets of Valencia to lower the previous half marathon world record of 57:31 that Kiplimo had set in the 2021 Lisbon Half Marathon.
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London Marathon debut
Today’s performance has made many marathon fans eager to see how the Kapchorwa based runner will perform in the upcoming 2025 London Marathon where he is set to make his debut.
In London, Kiplimo is expected to face stiff competition from the likes of four-time champion Eliud Kipchoge and the 2024 Paris Olympic Games winner Tamirat Tola.
Some of the other star runners who have been confirmed for the race that is scheduled to take place on Sunday, April 27 include Sabastian Sawe, Alexander Munyao Mutiso and Hillary Kipkoech.
Should Kiplimo replicate this breath-taking performance in the streets of London, he is likely to register a sub 2:02.00 in his first ever full marathon race.