Ethiopian sets new half-marathon world record in Buenos Aires

Ethiopia's Yomif Kejelcha shattered the half-marathon world record on Sunday, clocking in at an astonishing 56 minutes and 51 seconds in Buenos Aires. This remarkable performance saw him reclaim the title he previously held, besting his own record by 11 seconds. The previous record, set by Uganda's Jacob Kiplimo in March, was not officially ratified by World Athletics due to concerns over drafting behind a lead car.

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Yomif Kejelcha set a new world record in the half marathon today when he ran 56:51 in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

Kejelcha's dominance in the race was evident as he finished more than two minutes ahead of his competitors. His compatriots Tadese Worku and Bereket Nega secured second and third place, respectively, highlighting Ethiopia's strength in the event. This marks the second time in just five months that the half-marathon world record has been broken, underscoring the rapid advancements in the sport.

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Kejelcha thus broke the previous record of Ugandan Jacob Kiplimo by 11 seconds and took back the record he himself held from October 2024 to March of this year.

The 29-year-old Kejelcha has transitioned successfully to longer distances after a decorated career on the track. He is a two-time world indoor champion in the 3,000 meters and a two-time silver medalist in the 10,000 meters at the World Athletics Championships. His recent performance in the London Marathon, where he finished second just 11 seconds behind world record holder Sabastian Sawe, further solidifies his status as a top contender in endurance running.

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This is the second time in just five months that the world record in the discipline has been broken.