Ethiopia’s Yomif Kejelcha has regained the men’s half-marathon world record after running 56:51 at the Media Maratón Ciudad de Buenos Aires on Sunday, 23 August.
The 29-year-old took 29 seconds off the 57:20 mark set by Uganda’s Jacob Kiplimo in Lisbon in March. World Athletics has listed Kejelcha’s performance as a world record pending the usual ratification procedure.
It marks a return to the top of the record books for Kejelcha, who set a 57:30 world record in Valencia in October 2024. Kiplimo later ran 56:42 in Barcelona in 2025, but that performance could not be ratified because the course conditions did not fully comply with World Athletics requirements.
Ethiopian sweep in Buenos Aires
Kejelcha’s record was the centrepiece of a strong Ethiopian performance in Argentina. Tadese Worku finished second in 59:20 and Bereket Nega took third in 1:00:20, completing an Ethiopian sweep of the men’s podium.
The women’s race also produced an Ethiopian victory. Fotyen Tesfay won in 1:03:57, ahead of Kenya’s Nelvin Jepkemboi and Catherine Amanang’ole.
According to World Athletics’ official race report, Kejelcha accelerated through the closing stages and covered the final kilometre in 2:32 to secure the record.
Another landmark in Kejelcha’s career
The result adds another major achievement to a career that has included world indoor titles, global championship medals and success across track and road racing. World Athletics now lists 56:51 as Kejelcha’s half-marathon personal best and pending world and African record.
The official Buenos Aires results confirm Kejelcha’s victory and the Ethiopian podium sweep.
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