Ugandan Jacob Kiplimo has reclaimed the men’s half-marathon world record. He won the Lisbon Half Marathon in a jaw-dropping 57 minutes and 20 seconds to take 10 seconds off the time set by Ethiopia’s Yomif Kejelcha two years ago at the 2024 Valencia Half Marathon.
In a race without pacemakers, Kiplimo covered the first 5 km on Sunday in a snappy 13:28 with Kenyans Nicholas Kipkorir and Gilbert Kiprotich nipping at his heels. After the trio reached 10 km (6.2 miles) in 27:00, Kiprotich faded.
Kiplimo put the hammer down at 15 km in 40:52 and aimed for that record and finish line full-on. He sped up, running the next 5 km in 13:31, a pace he maintained to the end.
He had previously set the record at 57:31 on the same Lisbon course in 2021 before Kejelcha shaved off one second in Valencia.
The 25-year-old has also run a 56:42 in Barcelona. The performance was a pending world record, but it will not be ratified, as World Athletics found that he benefited from the pace car breaking the wind for him.
He has won bronze at the 2021 Tokyo Olympic Games and 2022 Eugene World Athletics Championships in the 10,000m.
He is a four-time gold medallist at the World Cross Country Championships. He also earned a silver. Kiplimo also earned two gold and one bronze at the Commonwealth Games.
Five men ran under 60 minutes.
It is unlikely that Kiplimo’s agent had to say, “Help me, help you,” as per Tom Cruise in 1996’s Jerry Maguire. The course is fast, the prize money is large, and the world record money is larger.
Women
Tsigie Gebreselama won the women’s race in a fast time as well, clocking 64:48. Like the men’s race, the next three finishers were Kenyan, but the race wasn’t even close.
Janeth Chepngetich clocked in a tidy 66:50 performance. Twenty seconds back of her was Regina Wambui for third. The third Kenyan and fourth athlete was Tabithanjeri Kamau, who finished 12 seconds back of her.
While Gebreselama’s result is fast, 30 performances are quicker, including the current world record by fellow Ethiopian Letesenbet Gidey in 62:52 from her 2021 Valencia run.
Eight women finished sub-70 minutes.
Follow the money
Winners of the EDP Lisbon Half Marathon can earn significant prize money, with a €50,000 bonus specifically set aside for breaking the world record. In some instances, the event has offered up to a €150,000 bounty for new world records. In 2026, Jacob Kiplimo broke the world record at this event, winning with a time of 57:20.
Based on current exchange rates, 200,000 Euros (EUR) is approximately $316,000 – $317,000 Canadian Dollars (CAD) and roughly $210,000 – $215,000 US Dollars (USD)
Results
Men
| Pos | Athlete | Country | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jakob Kiplimo | Uganda | 57:20 WR |
| 2 | Nicholas Kipkorir | Kenya | 58:08 |
| 3 | Gilbert Kipkosgei Kiprotich | Kenya | 58:59 |
| 4 | Benard Langat | Kenya | 59:31 |
| 5 | Mohamed Ismail | Djibouti | 59:45 |
| 6 | Oscar Chelimo | Uganda | 1:00:12 |
| 7 | Stanley Waithaka Mburu | Kenya | 1:00:17 |
| 8 | Esau Kipkorir Kemboi | Kenya | 1:00:19 |
| 9 | Egide Ntakarutimana | Burundi | 1:00:34 |
| 10 | Célestin Ndikumana | Burundi | 1:00:34 |
Women
| Pos | Athlete | Country | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tsigie Gebreselama | Ethiopia | 1:04:48 |
| 2 | Janeth Chepngetich | Kenya | 1:06:50 |
| 3 | Regina Wambui | Kenya | 1:07:10 |
| 4 | Tabithanjeri Kamau | Kenya | 1:07:22 |
| 5 | Girmawit Gebrzihair | Ethiopia | 1:07:30 |
| 6 | Emeline Imanizabayo | Rwanda | 1:07:35 |
| 7 | Mekdes Woldu | France | 1:08:20 |
| 8 | Selah Busienei | Ethiopia | 1:09:54 |
| 9 | Mariana Machado | Portugal | 1:10:10 |
| 10 | Clémence Calvin | France | 1:10:10 |
