Kiplimo finished the race with a time of 56:42 and smashed the previous world record by 48 seconds, the biggest ever single improvement on the men’s half marathon world record. Prior to Kiplimo’s incredible run, Ethiopian athlete Yomif Kejelcha held the record with a time of 57:30.

The half marathon world record now begins with a 56. Jacob Kiplimo of Uganda took a whopping 48 seconds off the previous record Sunday morning at the 2025 Barcelona Half Marathon, clocking 56:42 to become the first man to ever break 57 minutes.

Jacob Kiplimo set a stunning world half marathon record of 56:42 at the eDreams Mitja Marató Barcelona by Brooks