In an electrifying performance this Sunday, Uganda's Jacob Kiplimo smashed the half-marathon world record in Barcelona, completing the race in an astounding 56 minutes and 41 seconds. This new record beats the previous mark set by Ethiopia's Yomif Kejelcha by 49 seconds, marking the greatest single improvement in the men's half marathon record, according to World Athletics.
Twice world cross country champion Kiplimo described the day as \"the perfect race.\" He praised the ideal temperature, absence of wind, and a fantastic circuit that all contributed to his stellar performance. 🏅
\"I found myself full of energy and decided to inject a brisker rhythm from the third kilometer, but I never imagined to perform under the 57-minute barrier, that's astonishing. I won't compete any more until my marathon debut in London on April 27,\" Kiplimo shared.
Not to be outdone, Japan's Toshikazu Yamanishi also made headlines by breaking the men's 20-kilometer race walk world record earlier the same day, finishing in 1:16:10 in Kobe. Yamanishi beat the previous record set by his compatriot Yusuke Suzuki in 2015 by 26 seconds.
\"I'm glad 'time' came along with my efforts today,\" Yamanishi said. \"The guys made a good rhythm in the first half of the race and I figured I'd make a move in the latter part of the race. My movement didn't really feel right in the beginning, it wasn't easy, but I was able to make the adjustments to find the right rhythm. When I was planning my race, whatever happened in the race I was aiming for the world record. With my performance today, I was able to express my appreciation towards my supporters who stuck along even during the last season when I was struggling.\" 💪
Reference(s):
Uganda's Jacob Kiplimo smashes half marathon world record in 56:41
cgtn.com
