Ethiopia’s Yomif Kejelcha has cemented his status as one of the greatest endurance runners in history, storming to a sensational world record of 56 minutes and 51 seconds at the Media Maratón Ciudad de Buenos Aires.
Running at the World Athletics Label road race in the Argentine capital, Kejelcha completely obliterated the previous global benchmark, slicing a massive 29 seconds off the pending world record of 57:20 set by Uganda’s Jacob Kiplimo in Lisbon this past March.
Note: All performances remain subject to the standard World Athletics ratification process.
Anatomy of a Record: The Splits
Kejelcha executed a masterclass in negative-split pacing and sheer strength on the redesigned Buenos Aires course. Running behind two designated pacemakers early on, he hit the opening checkpoints right on an aggressive clip:
- 5 km: 13:45 (Pace: ~2:45/km)
- 10 km: 27:19 (5 km split: 13:34)
- 15 km: 40:41 (5 km split: 13:22)
- 20 km: 54:04 (10 km-to-20 km split: 26:45)
- Finish (21.1 km): 56:51 (Final 1.1 km sprint: 2:32)
After breaking clear of the field roughly around the 7-kilometer mark, Kejelcha covered the final 14 kilometers entirely alone. Benefiting from a favorable wind section and frequently checking his wrist split data, he hammered down a blistering 2:40 per kilometer pace through the middle stages before unleashing a searing 2:32 final kilometer to seal the historic mark.
A Reign Wrestled Back
The record-shattering performance marks the latest chapter in a fierce, trans-continental rivalry between Kejelcha and Kiplimo.
Kejelcha originally seized the world half marathon record in October 2024, clocking 57:30 in Valencia. That mark stood until earlier this year, when Kiplimo posted a 57:20 in Lisbon. (Kiplimo also notably ran a blazing 56:42 in Barcelona, though that specific time was omitted from the record books due to course regulation compliance).
By dominating the streets of Buenos Aires, Kejelcha made sure there was no doubt, returning the official crown to his head and carving 39 seconds off his own personal best from Valencia.
“I’d planned to run conservatively over the early stages, but I felt good and decided to give it my all,” a jubilant Kejelcha said after the race. “This time is unbelievable; I can’t describe it with words. The travel from Ethiopia was too long and I was tired the first days here, but later I felt better and today I was full of beans.”
Continuing a Stellar Run of Form
At 28 years old, Kejelcha is in the midst of a historic athletic peak. His historic morning in South America builds upon an already jaw-dropping year of racing milestones:
- The 10K Record: He holds the world 10K record at 26:31, set in Castellón, Spain, in February 2025.
- Sub-Two Marathon Debut: This past April, Kejelcha made his highly anticipated marathon debut at the London Marathon, running an astonishing 1:59:41. Finishing just behind Kenya’s Sabastian Sawe (1:59:30), Kejelcha became only the second man in history to officially break the elusive two-hour barrier in a record-eligible marathon.
Behind Kejelcha’s dominant performance in Buenos Aires, compatriot Tadese Worku secured second place in 59:20, with Bereket Nega taking third in 1:00:20. In the women’s division, Ethiopia’s Fotyen Tesfay triumphed with an impressive world-leading time of 1:03:57.
As the dust settles on the Argentine capital, the burning question remains: how long can Kejelcha hold off the chasing pack, and just how fast can modern distance running go? For now, the crown belongs to Ethiopia.
