Yomif Kejelcha Breaks Half Marathon World Record in Buenos Aires
Ethiopia's Yomif Kejelcha ran an astonishing 56:51 at the Buenos Aires Half Marathon, shattering Jacob Kiplimo's previous world record.
· 4 min read · Athletics News
Yomif Kejelcha Breaks Half Marathon World Record in Buenos Aires
Yomif Kejelcha just did the unthinkable in Argentina, completely rewriting the history books for the 13.1-mile distance.
The Ethiopian star reclaimed the half marathon world record by clocking a staggering 56:51 at the Buenos Aires Half Marathon. He took a massive 29 seconds off Jacob Kiplimo's previous mark of 57:20 set in Lisbon. Kejelcha previously held the record with a 57:30 from Valencia in 2024, but this latest performance puts the world record in an entirely new stratosphere.
!Yomif Kejelcha breaking the tape
Breaking Down the Record Pace
Running 56:51 for a half marathon requires holding an average pace of 2:41 per kilometer, or 4:19 per mile. To put that into perspective, most recreational runners would struggle to hold that pace for a single 400-meter sprint on a track. Kejelcha held it for 21.1 kilometers.
Along the way to the finish line, Kejelcha also crushed the fastest-ever 15K split in history, passing the 15K mark in an absurd 40:39, besting Kiplimo's previous best of 40:42.
If you are curious how your own pacing compares, or want to see exactly what splits are required for your next race, check out our running pace calculator.
Why This Matters for Everyday Runners
While none of us will be running a 56-minute half marathon anytime soon, watching elites push the boundaries of human performance offers two practical takeaways for the rest of us:
1. Even splits win races. Kejelcha's incredible 15K split shows the power of dialed-in pacing. Elite runners do not surge randomly; they lock into a rhythm and trust their fitness. When building your own half marathon training plan, focus on practicing your goal pace so it feels automatic on race day. 2. Records are made to be broken. Kiplimo's 57:20 seemed untouchable, just as Kejelcha's 56:51 seems today. But human limits are constantly expanding. Whether you are chasing a sub-2 hour half marathon or just trying to finish, your current limits are temporary.
Find races: Browse half marathons and road races on Your Run Guide to find your next race weekend and chase your own personal bests.
Official Results
The women's race in Buenos Aires was equally impressive, with Ethiopia's Fotyen Tesfay taking a dominant victory in 1:03:57.
*(Note: The world record is subject to the usual World Athletics ratification procedures).*