Jacob Kiplimo loses the world half-marathon record after World Athletics' decision
World Athletics has decided not to ratify as a world record the time of 56:42 achieved by Jacob Kiplimo in the Barcelona Half Marathon, considering that the Ugandan athlete gained an advantage by running in the slipstream of the race car.
The mark, achieved in February 2025, was initially celebrated as a historic milestone, being the first half marathon run in under 57 minutes. The international governing body itself published the time as a record. pending the usual ratification process, a standard procedure for this type of trademark.
However, after the subsequent regulatory evaluation, the time has not been officially approved as a world record.
What happened at the Barcelona Half Marathon
Jacob Kiplimo completed the 21,097 kilometers in 56:42improving the previous world record by 48 seconds. The race was run at a very high pace from the first few kilometers, with the athlete leading alone for much of the course.
During the race, the lead car traveled close to the runner, a circumstance that was decisive in the subsequent assessment made by World Athletics.
The reason for the non-approval
According to the interpretation of the current regulations, the use of vehicles that can generate aerodynamic advantage It is not permitted in world record attempts in road races. World Athletics believes the car's slipstream may have influenced the athlete's performance.
This criterion aims to ensure that records are achieved without external assistance that alters the competition conditions. For this reason, although Kiplimo's time remains his personal best and the official result of the event, It has not been ratified as a world record.
What does the world half marathon record stand now?
Following this decision, the official world record once again belongs to Yomif Kejelcha, With the 57:30 achieved in Valencia in 2024, a mark that does meet all the regulatory criteria established by World Athletics.
Jacob Kiplimo, for his part, maintains the World Half Marathon Championship record with the 58:49 achieved in Gdynia in 2020, a differentiated category within the official records of the international organization.
An open debate in elite athletics
The decision has reopened the debate on the Clarity and application of the rules in road racesespecially in a context of increasingly extreme rhythms and very tight records.
The case also highlights the role of the organizers, the use of guide vehicles, and the need for clear procedures to avoid subsequent interpretations of records at this level.
Kiplimo's performance in Barcelona thus stands as one of the most outstanding displays of recent years in the distance, although without official recognition as a world record.
