Jacob Kiplimo is one of the finest athletes in the world. I have observed him race over the half marathon distance, in cross-country, and on the track. Last fall, Jacob won the Bank of America Chicago Marathon, and that was fun to watch and witness. Jacob ran 57:20 on Sunday, March 8, in Lisbon, and he should have the World record for the half marathon. The last one he ran, 56:42, was curiously not approved by World Athletics. WA said that he was getting aid from the pace car, which was apparently very close to him.
Kiplimo 57:20 WR
LISBON (POR, Mar 8): Uganda’s Jacob Kiplimo broke the world record in the Lisbon Half Marathon (WA Elite Label), clocking 57:20 to break Yomif Kejelcha’s record by 11 seconds. Kiplimo pulled clear from Kenya’s Nicholas Kipkorir after the 15km mark, covering the 15-20 kilometre section in 13:31 for the world record. Kipkorir finished second in 58:08 PB with fellow Kenyans Gilbert Kiprotich (58:59) and Benard Langat (59:31) finishing third and fourth respectively. Djibouti’s Mohamed Ismail also broke the one hour-barrier in fifth in 59:45 with Kiplimo’s brother Oscar Chelimo sixth (60:12). France’s Valentin Gondouin was the leading European finisher in 60:35, just ahead of Portugal’s Samuel Barata (60:36).
Kiplimo had clocked 56:42 in Barcelona last year but it could not be ratified as a world record because the race conditions were not fully compliant with World Athletics rules.
