New half marathon record in Buenos Aires

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 23rd August.

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.