Uganda's Jacob Kiplimo broke the world half marathon record with a time of 56 minutes and 41 seconds in Barcelona on Sunday, 49 seconds faster than the previous mark set by Ethiopia's Yomif Kejelcha in October.

The half marathon world record now begins with a 56. Jacob Kiplimo of Uganda took a whopping 48 seconds off the previous record Sunday morning at the 2025 Barcelona Half Marathon, clocking 56:42 to become the first man to ever break 57 minutes. Afterward, he said he never imagined having the race he did: “That’s astonishing.”

Kiplimo finished the race with a time of 56:42 and smashed the previous world record by 48 seconds, the biggest ever single improvement on the men’s half marathon world record. Prior to Kiplimo’s incredible run, Ethiopian athlete Yomif Kejelcha held the record with a time of 57:30.

Ugandan Jacob Kiplimo sets a men's half-marathon world record and also becomes the first runner to go under 57 minutes.

Uganda’s Jacob Kiplimo smashed the world half marathon record with a blistering time of 56 minutes and 42 seconds, shaving 48 seconds off the previous record.

Uganda's Jacob Kiplimo became the first person to run a half marathon below 57 minutes as he shattered the world record by 48 seconds in Barcelona. The 24-year-old ran 56 minutes and 42 seconds to eclipse Ethiopian Yomif Kejelcha's previous world record of 57:30 set in Valencia in October.

Uganda’s Jacob Kiplimo has shattered the men’s half marathon world record, clocking an astonishing 56:42 at the Barcelona Half Marathon. The post Jacob Kiplimo Destroys Half Marathon World Record in Barcelona first appeared on Africa Top Sports.