Uganda’s long-distance star Jacob Kiplimo produced a historic performance on Sunday, breaking the world half marathon record with a stunning 57 minutes and 20 seconds at the EDP Lisbon Half Marathon in Portugal.
Competing in the World Athletics Label Road Races event without pacemakers, Kiplimo shaved 10 seconds off the previous official world record of 57:30 set by Yomif Kejelcha in Valencia in 2024.
The Ugandan had previously held the world record at 57:31, which he set in Lisbon in 2021, making his return to the Portuguese capital even more memorable as he reclaimed the global mark.
Kiplimo set an aggressive early pace, covering the opening 5km in 13:28. Kenyan runners Nicholas Kipkorir and Gilbert Kiprotich stayed close behind during the early stages as the trio passed the 10km mark in 27:00.
However, Kiprotich began to fade as the race progressed, leaving Kiplimo and Kipkorir running side by side through 15km in 40:52.
Sensing a slight drop in pace, the Ugandan three-time world cross-country champion surged ahead, covering the next 5km stretch in 13:31 and maintaining the momentum all the way to the finish line.
Kiplimo crossed the line in a record-breaking 57:20, with Kipkorir finishing second in 58:08 while Kiprotich held on for third place in 58:59.
“I’m so happy to break the world record,” said Kiplimo after the race. “After the first 10km, I thought the world record was possible. I tried to keep pushing the pace in the final two kilometres.”
The performance marks a remarkable return to Lisbon for the Ugandan, who had also set his previous world record in the city five years ago.
Last year, Kiplimo ran an even faster 56:42 in Barcelona, but that time was not ratified as a world record because the race conditions did not fully comply with World Athletics regulations.
In the women’s race, Ethiopia’s Tsige Gebreselama successfully defended her title after clocking 1:04:48.
Kiplimo smashes World Half Marathon Record with 57:20 in Lisbon
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