Kiplimo bags new world in Barcelona race
Sports
By
Stephen Rutto
| Feb 16, 2025
Kenya's Joyciline Jepkosgei in past action. [AFP]
The 2025 Barcelona Half marathon kicked off with a big promise of talking points and it delivered a humongous surprise.
Jacob Kiplimo of Uganda spectacularly shattered men’s half marathon record in a race where two 21km superstars were featured.
Kiplimo reclaimed his previous world record in the distance and became the first man to run a 21km race under 57 minutes.
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He was followed by Kenya’s decorated road racer Geoffrey Kamworor who stuck behind Kiplimo in the race punctuated by superfast tempos.
="https://www.standardmedia.co.ke/sports/athletics/article/2001510912/slow-but-sure-new-faces-keep-kenyas-athletics-prowess-alive#google_vignette">“I am very excited< about my victory. I started strong because I wanted to have a great race, but I didn’t expect to break the world record. As the kilometres passed and I saw that I was going at record pace, I told myself that I had to maintain that pace no matter what it took,” the new record holder said.
Kamworor finished second in 58:44 ahead of Mailu (59:40).
Former London Marathon champion Joyciline Jepkosgei claimed victory in the women’ race 1:04.11.
When his record was falling in Barcelona, Ethiopia’s Kejelcha was in action at the 10K Facsa Castellón where he clocked 27:30.
="https://www.standardmedia.co.ke/sports/ureport/article/2001310974/kamworor-races-to-his-sixth-title-at-police-meet">From yesterday’s< record performance from Kiplimo, Kejelcha now moves to second on the half marathon world all-time list.
Kejelcha, who lost his world half marathon record some two minutes after crossing the finish line in Castellón following Jacob Kiplimo’s impressive effort in Barcelona, took a commanding victory as he improved on his PB of 26:37 and set an Ethiopian record, although he had set himself the goal of bettering the world record of 26:24.