Ethiopia’s Yomif Kejelcha regained the world half marathon record*, running 56:51 at the Media Maratón Ciudad de Buenos Aires, a World Athletics Label road race, in the Argentinean capital on Sunday (23).
With that performance, Kejelcha took 29 seconds off the world record of 57:20* set by Uganda’s Jacob Kiplimo in Lisbon in March – a mark that is pending ratification – to regain a world record he set in Valencia in October 2024 with a 57:30 clocking.
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.
The women’s race in Buenos Aires was won by Ethiopia’s Fotyen Tesfay who became an overwhelming victor thanks to a 1:03:57 performance.
The race was held under favourable weather conditions of 6°C at the start with a slight breeze and Kejelcha set off behind two pacemakers – Uganda’s Dillon Kipyeko and Kenya’s Brian Kipmwetich Kipkore. Kejelcha said prior to the race that his target was to run inside 58 minutes and so the pacemakers were tasked with setting the early tempo of 2:45 per kilometre. Kipkore managed to go through the opening 5km in 13:45, closely followed by Kejelcha, while his Ethiopian compatriot Tadese Worku ran a couple of seconds behind.
Checking his watch often, Kejelcha clearly began to speed up and the confirmation came when the 29-year-old reached the 10km mark in 27:19 after a 5km split of 13:34 – fast, but still 19 seconds slower than Kiplimo’s split on his way to his 57:20 world record.
Yet Kejelcha, who made history in London in April when he became the fastest debutant at the marathon with a stunning 1:59:40, kept on pushing and by the 15km mark the clock, after a 13:22 split for the 10km to 15km segment, was reading an incredible 40:41 – 11 seconds quicker than Kiplimo’s split in Lisbon.
Boosted by those figures and taking advantage of a following wind section, Kejelcha continued flying over the next few kilometres at 2:40 per kilometre pace to get to the 20km marker in 54:04, running a superb 26:45 split between 10km and 20km.
Fully aware that he was the new world record-holder in the making, Kejelcha even found another gear over the closing kilometre, which only took him 2:32, to reach the finish line in 56:51 – taking 29 seconds off the world record and 39 seconds off his own lifetime best. Worku took the runner-up spot in 59:20, while Bereket Nega completed the Ethiopian podium sweep in 1:00:20.
“I’m over the moon,” said Kejelcha. “I’m super happy and right now I don’t feel any tiredness. The travel from Ethiopia was too long and I was tired the first days here, but later I felt better and today I was full of beans.
“I had planned to run conservatively over the early stages, but I felt good and decided to give it my all. This time is unbelievable; I can’t describe it with words. I now hope to try the Argentinean meat, which has a very good reputation! And this afternoon I have been invited to watch the River Plate-Velez football match. I’m very grateful.”
Tesfay in a class of her own
The women’s contest kicked off at a 3:05 per kilometre rhythm, Tesfay’s pacemaker Gebretsadik Abraha taking command of the race. The opening 5km was covered in 15:28, with five women in contention – Nelvin Jepkemboi, Catherine Amanang’ole, Irine Jepchumba Kimais, Sheila Chepkirui and Tesfay.
The pace over the following kilometres increased to a 3:00 rhythm and that proved too strong for Tesfay’s rivals who began to drop from the leading pack. It was at around the ninth kilometre when Tesfay broke away, reaching the 10km point in 30:31 – three seconds ahead of Jepkemboi and Amanang’ole. As had been the case for Kejelcha, Tesfay managed to run negative splits and, always running at Abraha’s shoulder, she reached 15km in 45:27 for a 38-second advantage.
Over the closing kilometres, the 28-year-old Tesfay ran at 3:03 per kilometre pace to reach the finish line in 1:03:57 – the third-fastest performance of her career. It was only her second appearance of the year as she became the quickest marathon debutant in Barcelona in March courtesy of a 2:10:51 time.
Finishing behind her in Buenos Aires was Jepkemboi in 1:05:06, five seconds ahead of Amanang’ole.
“I’m satisfied with my performance,” said Tesfay. “I aimed to run a bit faster, but I felt some discomfort in my leg and I couldn’t run as quick as I wanted.”
Leading results
Women
1 Fotyen Tesfay (ETH) 1:03:57
2 Nelvin Jepkemboi (KEN) 1:05:06
3 Catherine Amanang’ole (KEN) 1:05:11
4 Irine Jepchumba Kimais (KEN) 1:06:04
5 Sheila Chepkirui (KEN) 1:06:13
Men
1 Yomif Kejelcha (ETH) 56:51
2 Tadese Worku (ETH) 59:20
3 Bereket Nega (ETH) 1:00:20
4 Jonathan Kipkoech Kamosong (KEN) 1:00:21
5 Simon Maywa (KEN) 1:00:57
*Subject to the usual ratification procedure
SOURCE: WORLD ATHLETICS
