Jacob Kiplimo obliterated the half-marathon world record en route to victory at the eDreams Mitja Marató Barcelona, becoming the first man to run under 57 minutes for the event with his 56:42 finishing time.
The two-time cross-country world champion and the bronze medalist at the 2020 Olympic Games in the 10,000 meters, Kiplimo took 48 seconds off the prior record of 57:30, which had been set by Yom Kejelcha this past October.
According to World Athletics, it is the single largest drop in the men’s half marathon world record time ever.
With ideal weather conditions, the field had agreed to an opening few kilometers at 2:45/km (4:25/mile) pace at the technical meeting prior to the event. However, Kiplimo decided to up the pace, taking the lead decisively just eight minutes into the event. He opened a 19 second lead by 5 kilometers, having run 13:34 for that segment. Kiplimo reached 10 kilometers in 26:46, and 15 kilometers in 40:07 — itself a world best time.
Kiplimo, a Nike sponsored athlete, appeared to be wearing AlphaFly 3s for the effort.
Post-race, Kiplimo said that he will not race again until his debut at the marathon distance, coming in April at the London Marathon.
I found this line about Kipchoge’s marathon time (sorry to derail Kiplimo, but I couldn’t find a Kipchoge), and just HAD TO share
"Kipchoge ran 2:01:39, or a staggering 4:38 per mile. If you are like me, you have never run a single mile that fast. If you are like me, then by comparison, Kipchoge runs like a cheetah, and you run like a lion. A sea lion."
I have run a 4:38 mile but I haven’t run two of the in a row. Doing that 26 times in a row is mind boggling.
I remember when Ryan Hall broke the 1-hour in the Half Marathon in Houston. That took place right around the time I started running half marathons so I really connected with that event. I was excited to see Manzt break Hall’s record in Houston this year and also connected with that event. I don’t have a connection with Barcelona or with Kiplimo so this might not make a connection and when it is broken again I might not remember who set the last WR or where they did it but going 3 minutes faster than the American Record is a huge gap. I can’t imagine even going that fast in my dreams.
Kiplimo ran closely behind the lead pace car, maintaining a distance of (approx 10-15m for ages): risking being deemed an unfair drafting advantage.
Under Article 6.3.1 of World Athletics’ Technical Rules, athletes are not permitted to receive pacing assistance from individuals not competing in the race, or from technical devices other than a wearable.
World Athletics officials are said to judge that the arrangement, though the rules do not specify a minimum allowable distance between athletes and pace vehicles, violated the spirit and intent of the regulations.
Kiplimo may have breached another rule by receiving coaching advice during the competition.
I’ve got a big problem with that Runners World Spain post, I gotta say
They’re claiming something from World Athletics, but no link back to them to verify
Kinda like those posts you see with a headline like “CNN Reporter Destroys Karoline Leavitt” and delivers a beautifully written play-by-play of an exchange between Caitlin Collins and the Press Secretary, concluding with Leavitt retreating from the podium in tears
But no link to a video — because, sadly, it never happened
So, until I see something from the governing body, I’m calling bullshit on the “denial”
Before posting this I went looking on the World Athletics ‘board’ for the basis of the several reports (not just RW(S)). Nope. But lotrs of records have been ratified - a year is atypical.
