Kejelcha breaks half-marathon world record with 56:51 in Buenos Aires

0

Ethiopia’s Yomif Kejelcha has reclaimed the half-marathon world record after running 56 minutes and 51 seconds in Buenos Aires, Argentina on Sunday 23 August, 2026.

The 29-year-old took 29 seconds off the mark of 57:20 set by Uganda’s Jacob Kiplimo in Lisbon in March, which is still awaiting ratification.

Yomif Kejelcha had previously held the record himself, after running 57:30 in Valencia in October 2024. His new time is also 39 seconds faster than his previous personal best.

Kiplimo ran 56:42 in Barcelona last year, but that time was never recognised as a record because the race did not fully comply with World Athletics rules.

Kejelcha’s run came at the Media Maratón Ciudad de Buenos Aires, a World Athletics Label road race. Conditions were good, with a start temperature of 6C and only a light breeze.

Kejelcha had said before the race that he wanted to finish inside 58 minutes. Two pacemakers, Uganda’s Dillon Kipyeko and Kenya’s Brian Kipmwetich Kipkore, were told to set an early pace of 2:45 per kilometre.

Kipkore reached 5km in 13:45, with Kejelcha close behind and fellow Ethiopian Tadese Worku a couple of seconds back.

Kejelcha passed 10km in 27:19, which was still 19 seconds slower than Kiplimo’s split on his way to the Lisbon record. But a 13:22 split between 10km and 15km took him to 40:41, 11 seconds ahead of Kiplimo’s time at the same point.

Helped by a following wind, he ran at about 2:40 per kilometre over the next stretch and reached 20km in 54:04. His final kilometre took just 2:32.

Worku finished second in 59:20, with Bereket Nega third in 1:00:20, completing an Ethiopian clean sweep of the podium.

Kejelcha became the fastest marathon debutant in history in London in April, when he ran 1:59:40.

“I’m over the moon,” said Kejelcha. “I had planned to run conservatively over the early stages, but I felt good and decided to give it my all.”

He said the long journey from Ethiopia had left him tired in his first few days in Argentina, but that he felt “full of beans” on race day.

“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 wins women’s race by a distance

In the women’s race, Ethiopia’s Fotyen Tesfay won comfortably in 1:03:57.

Her pacemaker, Gebretsadik Abraha, led the field through 5km in 15:28, with five women still in the leading group.

The tempo then quickened to about three minutes per kilometre, and Tesfay’s rivals began to fall away. She broke clear around the ninth kilometre and reached 10km in 30:31, three seconds ahead of Kenyans Nelvin Jepkemboi and Catherine Amanang’ole.

Tesfay, 28, was 38 seconds clear by 15km and ran the closing kilometres at about 3:03 per kilometre. It was the third-fastest time of her career.

Jepkemboi took second in 1:05:06, five seconds ahead of Amanang’ole.

It was only Tesfay’s second race of the year. In March, she became the fastest woman to make her marathon debut, running 2:10:51 in Barcelona.

“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.”

Selected Results – Media Maratón Ciudad de Buenos Aires

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

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