Kejelcha Reclaims World Half Marathon Record with Stunning 56:51 in Buenos Aires

Ethiopian Star Returns to the Top of Road Running

Ethiopia’s Yomif Kejelcha delivered a masterclass in distance running at the Media Maratón Ciudad de Buenos Aires on Sunday, clocking an extraordinary 56:51 to reclaim the men’s world half marathon record. The performance, which shatters the previous global mark, reasserts Kejelcha’s status as the premier force in one of road racing’s most fiercely contested events.

A Record-Breaking Morning in Argentina

Competing on the fast, flat streets of the Argentine capital, Kejelcha carved his name back into the record books with a time that is being recognized as the new world half marathon standard. The 56:51 effort underlines both the depth of his talent and the quality of the Buenos Aires course, which has long been a favorite for athletes seeking quick times. Race organizers and the global athletics community immediately hailed the run as a landmark moment in the sport.

The Media Maratón Ciudad de Buenos Aires, a World Athletics Label road race, provided the perfect stage. Kejelcha’s pace from the early kilometers signaled his intent, and as the miles ticked by, the chasing pack fell away, leaving the 27-year-old to duel with the clock and his own ambition. The result was a performance that not only secured victory by a wide margin but also eclipsed the record he had previously held and then lost.

Reclaiming the Throne

The story of Kejelcha’s record is one of resilience. Having set a world half marathon best in Valencia in 2022 with a time of 57:30, he watched that mark fall to Uganda’s Jacob Kiplimo in November 2023, when Kiplimo clocked 57:31 on the same Spanish course. Kejelcha’s new 56:51 now moves the standard into uncharted territory, making him the first man to break the 57-minute barrier in a record-eligible race.

“Regaining the record means everything,” Kejelcha told World Athletics. “I knew I was capable of this, and Buenos Aires gave me the platform to show it.” The time is subject to the usual ratification process by World Athletics, but with the meticulous timing and course certification in place, the governing body is expected to confirm the mark in the coming weeks.

Elevating a Storied Career

Yomif Kejelcha is no stranger to the spotlight. A two-time world indoor champion at 3000 meters and a former world junior record holder on the track, his transition to the roads has been seamless. The half marathon record adds another bullet point to a résumé that already includes a 5000m personal best of 12:41.73 and a 10,000m best of 26:31.01. His ability to carry speed from the track to the longer road distances speaks to his exceptional endurance and tactical intelligence.

Kejelcha’s coach, Haji Adilo, described the record as the result of months of dedicated preparation. “Yomif has been focused on this race since the start of the year. He knew the record was within reach, and he executed the plan perfectly.” The Ethiopian federation celebrated the achievement as a sign of the nation’s continuing dominance in distance running, following in the footsteps of legends like Haile Gebrselassie and Kenenisa Bekele.

Buenos Aires as a Record Capital

The Media Maratón Ciudad de Buenos Aires has increasingly become a destination for world-class performances. Its looped city-center course, typically run at the tail end of summer in the Southern Hemisphere, offers cool temperatures and minimal elevation change – ideal conditions for fast times. Kejelcha’s record is the latest in a series of notable marks set on Argentine soil, reinforcing the event’s reputation on the global road racing calendar.

For Kejelcha, the triumph in Buenos Aires is also a statement of intent. As the countdown continues toward the next Olympic cycle and the World Athletics Road Running Championships, his newfound status as the fastest half marathoner in history positions him as a favorite for any title he pursues. Whether he will target the full marathon distance next remains an open question, but for now, the road running world belongs to him.

The full race report and official results are available on the World Athletics website, where further updates on the record ratification process will be published.