In a breathtaking display of endurance and speed, Ethiopian distance runner Yomif Kejelcha shattered the world record at the Valencia Half Marathon, crossing the finish line in an astonishing 57 minutes and 30 seconds.
Competing in wet conditions in the Spanish city, Kejelcha eclipsed Ugandan Jacob Kiplimo’s previous record by a single second, set in Lisbon three years ago. This achievement marks Kejelcha’s second world record, adding to his indoor mile world record set in Boston in 2019.
The 27-year-old’s dominance was evident from the start, as he settled in behind the pacemakers before making his move around the three-kilometre mark. Breaking away from Kenyan challengers Daniel Mateiko and Isaia Kipkoech, Kejelcha secured victory in his sixth half marathon appearance.
Kejelcha’s impressive performance comes on the heels of a sixth-place finish in the 10,000m final at the Paris Olympics earlier this year. As a two-time world indoor 3000m champion, Kejelcha continues to assert his position among the world’s elite distance runners.
In the women’s category, Kenya’s Agnes Ngetich claimed top honors with a remarkable time of 63:04, propelling her to second in the world all-time rankings.