Uganda’s star long-distance runner Jacob Kiplimo will return to Spain in 2026 to defend his title at the Barcelona Half Marathon, Uganda Athletics has confirmed.
Uganda Athletics President Dominic Otuchet said Kiplimo, alongside compatriot Ezekiel Mutai, is set to compete in the prestigious race scheduled for February 15, 2026.
Kiplimo heads into the Barcelona event in top form, having recently secured a third consecutive men’s senior gold medal at the World Athletics Cross Country Championships held earlier this month in Florida. The 25-year-old is now targeting another standout performance in Barcelona, where he etched his name into history last year.
“I can confirm that after competing at the World Athletics Cross Country Championships in Florida earlier this month, Kiplimo has entered for the Barcelona Half Marathon,” Otuchet told Xinhua on this week.
Otuchet noted that Kiplimo’s participation carries added significance, as the Ugandan currently holds the men’s half marathon world record, which he set during last year’s Barcelona race.
In 2025, Kiplimo clocked 56 minutes and 42 seconds to break the men’s world record at the Barcelona Half Marathon. The women’s half marathon world record is held by Ethiopia’s Letesenbet Gidey, who ran 1:02:52 at the Valencia Half Marathon in 2021.
Beyond Barcelona, Kiplimo’s resume continues to grow. Last year, he also claimed victory at the Chicago Marathon, further cementing his status as one of the world’s elite distance runners.
Kiplimo remains a trailblazer in Ugandan athletics history. He is the youngest Olympian Uganda has ever produced, having competed at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at just 15 years old. A year later, he won the under-20 title at the World Cross Country Championships, marking the beginning of a remarkable senior career.
Uganda’s Kiplimo to lead strong field at Barcelona Half Marathon defense
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