Jacob Kiplimo has won the EDP Lisbon Half Marathon on March 8, 2026, in Lisbon, Portugal, clocking a world-record time of 57 minutes and 20 seconds without pacemakers. This shaved 10 seconds off Ethiopia’s Yomif Kejelcha’s previous record of 57:30 set in Valencia in 2024, reclaiming the mark Kiplimo first held at 57:31 from Lisbon in 2021.
Kiplimo led from the start, hitting 5km in 13:28 and 10km in 27:00 alongside Kenya’s Nicholas Kipkorir and Gilbert Kiprotich. He surged after 15km (40:52), covering the next 5km in 13:31 to finish strongly. Kipkorir took second in 58:08, with Kiprotich third at 58:59.
Kiplimo said, “I’m so happy to break the world record. After the first 10km, I thought it was possible. I tried to keep pushing the pace in the final two kilometres.” His 56:42 from Barcelona last year wasn’t ratified due to non-compliant conditions.
Ethiopia’s Tsigie Gebreselama defended her title in 1:04:48, ahead of Kenya’s Janeth Chepngetich (1:06:50) and Regina Wambui (1:07:10). She aimed for sub-64 minutes and noted it was her second straight win in Lisbon.
This victory raises bars for Uganda’s status in long-distance running, following Kiplimo’s cross-country titles and alongside stars like Joshua Cheptegei.
