LISBON (World-Track, March 8) — Uganda’s Jacob Kiplimo reclaimed his place in the record books on Sunday, winning the EDP Lisbon Half Marathon in 57 minutes 20 seconds to set a new world record and reaffirm his dominance on the road five years after first breaking the mark at the same venue. The event holds World Athletics Elite Label road race status.
The 23-year-old three-time world cross-country champion sliced 10 seconds off the previous record held by Ethiopia’s Yomif Kejelcha, who clocked 57:30 in Valencia last year. Kiplimo had been the record-holder before that, with a 57:31 run in Lisbon in 2021.
Unlike many record attempts, Sunday’s race unfolded without pacemakers. Kiplimo led from the start, hitting the 5km mark in 13:28 and the halfway point in 27 minutes flat, closely shadowed by Kenya’s Nicholas Kipkorir and Gilbert Kiprotich. When Kiprotich began to drop back before 15km, Kiplimo forged ahead, quickening the tempo through the final stretch.
“I’m so happy to break the world record,” Kiplimo said, as quoted by the World Athletics website. “After the first 10km, I thought the world record was possible. I tried to keep pushing the pace in the final two kilometres.”
Kiplimo ran 56:42 for the distance in Barcelona last year, but that performance was not ratified as a world record because the race conditions did not fully comply with World Athletics rules.
In the women’s race, Ethiopia’s Tsige Gebreselama retained her Lisbon title in 1:04:48. Kenya’s Janeth Chepngetich was second in 1:06:50, followed by compatriot Regina Wambui in 1:07:10, with all the leading women inside 68 minutes.
2026 EDP Lisbon Half Marathon Top 10 Results
Men’s half marathon
- Jacob Kiplimo, Uganda, 57:20 (world record)
- Nicholas Kipkorir, Kenya, 58:08
- Gilbert Kipkosgei Kiprotich, Kenya, 58:59
- Benard Langat, Kenya, 59:31
- Mohamed Ismail, Djibouti, 59:45
- Oscar Chelimo, Uganda, 1:00:12
- Stanley Waithaka Mburu, Kenya, 1:00:17
- Esau Kipkorir Kemboi, Kenya, 1:00:19
- Egide Ntakarutimana, Burundi, 1:00:34
- Célestin Ndikumana, Burundi, 1:00:34
Women’s half marathon
- Tsige Gebreselama, Ethiopia, 1:04:48
- Janeth Chepngetich, Kenya, 1:06:50
- Regina Wambui, Kenya, 1:07:10
- Tabithanjeri Kamau, Kenya, 1:07:22
- Girmawit Gebrzihair, Ethiopia, 1:07:30
- Emeline Imanizabayo, Rwanda, 1:07:35
- Mekdes Woldu, France, 1:08:20
- Selah Busienei, Ethiopia, 1:09:54
- Mariana Machado, Portugal, 1:10:10
- Clémence Calvin, France, 1:10:10