Yomif Kejelcha Sets New Half Marathon World Record

Ethiopia’s Yomif Kejelcha breaks the men’s half marathon world record in Buenos Aires, clocking 56:51 and reclaiming his title.

Ethiopia’s Yomif Kejelcha has dramatically reclaimed the men’s half marathon world record after completing the distance in a stunning 56 minutes and 51 seconds during a World Athletics road race held in Buenos Aires on Sunday.

The 29-year-old originally held the record with a time of 57:30, set in Valencia in October 2024, but lost that title to Uganda’s Jacob Kiplimo earlier this year. Kiplimo set a blistering pace, finishing in 57:20 at an event in Lisbon. Kejelcha’s latest achievement sees him knock an impressive 29 seconds off Kiplimo’s time, pending official ratification.

Notably, Kejelcha is not just carving a niche in the half marathon but is also a formidable presence in other distances. Recently, he gained recognition as one of the first male athletes to run a sub-two-hour marathon in record-eligible conditions, claiming second place behind Kenya’s Sebastian Sawe at the London Marathon.

The record-setting race saw Sawe finish his marathon in an extraordinary time of 1:59:30, with Kejelcha trailing closely, just 11 seconds behind.

Kejelcha, who has previously earned a silver medal in the 10,000m at the World Track Championships, now adds the half marathon record to his impressive credentials, cementing his position as a leading athlete in long-distance running.

As the world eagerly awaits the official validation of his latest record, Kejelcha’s remarkable feat continues to stir excitement in the athletics community, highlighting his exceptional talent and dedication to the sport.