by Deji Ogeyingbo
Jacob Kiplimo might have just changed the distance running forever.
Jacob Kiplimo didn’t just break the half marathon world record in Barcelona. He shattered it. Fifty-six minutes and forty-two seconds. That’s how long it took him to run 13.1 miles. No one had ever gone under 57 minutes before. No one had ever cut 48 seconds off the record in one race. It was the most significant single drop in history. That’s why this wasn’t just another fast time. It was a statement. This is a reminder that Kiplimo isn’t just a great runner; he’s a once-in-a-generation talent. He had lost his record to Yomif Kejelcha last year by just one second. This time, he ensured no one would return it anytime soon.
From the start, Kiplimo looked different. The pacemaker set out at 2:45 per kilometer, a pace meant to hit 58 minutes. That was supposed to be ambitious. But it was too slow for him. By the third kilometer, he was already pulling away. He hit 5K in 13:34, then picked up the pace. At 10K, he was at 26:46. By 15K, he had run 40:07, breaking his record for that distance. By then, it was apparent. The record wasn’t just going down—it would be destroyed. Kiplimo never faded. His second half was just as fast as his first. He closed the race in 56:42, leaving the rest of the field minutes behind.
“It has been the perfect race,” Kiplimo said afterward. And he wasn’t wrong. The conditions were ideal, cool weather, no wind, and a fast course. But conditions alone don’t explain what happened. The truth is, Kiplimo was ready for this. He had hinted at it weeks earlier when he ran 26:32 for 10K in Madrid. The fitness was there. He just needed the right day to show it. And now, there’s a bigger question: How much more can he do?
Kiplimo is still just 24. He has already won Olympic and World medals on the track. He has won cross-country titles. And now, he has run a half marathon faster than anyone ever imagined. But his next step might be the biggest yet.
In April, he will make his marathon debut in London. And suddenly, that race feels different. For years, the marathon has belonged to Eliud Kipchoge. But Kipchoge is bowing to Mother Nature. His time at the top is coming to an end. The search for his successor has been ongoing. Many thought it would be Kelvin Kiptum, but he sadly passed away in 2024. The Kenyan seemed primed to take the 26.2-mile race head-on. Kiplimo’s half marathon speed suggests he could run under two hours and two minutes right away. If his body handles the distance, he could someday be a real threat to Kiptum’s world record.
There is also the Track season to look forward to for Kiplimo. The World Championships are in Tokyo in September, and Kiplimo is suddenly the man to beat in the 5,000m and 10,000m. He already has an Olympic Bronze in the 10,000m from 2021. Last year, he finished eighth at the Paris Games, but that was after an injury disrupted his season. Now, healthy again, he looks better than ever. And with no clear favorite in either event, he might be the best bet for Gold. The question is how much longer he stays on the track. His performance in Barcelona suggests his future is on the roads. And if he commits to the marathon, he could be the most dangerous newcomer to the distance since Kiptum.
Records get broken all the time when running. But not like this. Kiplimo didn’t just run faster. He redefined what was possible. A few years ago, the idea of a sub-57 half marathon seemed ridiculous. Now, it’s real. And it’s not just about this race. The Ugandan is proving that he is more than a star; he might be the future of distance running. His speed, his strength, and his ability to push limits are unlike anyone else right now. In April, he will test himself in the marathon. In Tokyo, he will chase double Gold on the track. And nothing seems out of reach after what he just did in Barcelona.
