Ethiopian Runner Breaks Half-Marathon Record in 56:51

Ethiopia's Yomif Kejelcha just became the fastest half-marathoner in history, and almost nobody saw it coming.

Racing in Buenos Aires on Sunday, Kejelcha blazed through 13.1 miles in just 56 minutes and 51 seconds. The performance shattered the previous world record by a stunning 29 seconds at a race where few fans even knew he'd be competing.

Kejelcha already held the 10K world record with a time of 26:31, set in Spain earlier this year. He's also the second man in history to break two hours for the full marathon, proving his dominance across distance running.

The record books for the half-marathon have been busy lately. Kejelcha first set the mark at 57:30 in Valencia in 2024, only to see Uganda's Jacob Kiplimo break it with a 56:42 run in 2025.

But race officials couldn't ratify Kiplimo's time after video showed him running directly behind the lead pace car for much of the race. That violated rules against pacing assistance, wiping the record from the books.

Kiplimo bounced back with a 57:20 run at the Lisbon Half Marathon in March, which was still awaiting official approval when Kejelcha lined up in Argentina. Now that mark looks distant in the rearview mirror.

The Bright Side

Kejelcha's surprise appearance in Buenos Aires delivered more than just a world record. He led an Ethiopian sweep of the podium, with compatriots Tadese Worku Gebresilase finishing second and Bereket Nega Batebo taking third.

In the women's race, Ethiopia's Fotyen Tesfay dominated with a time of 1:03:57, winning by more than a minute. Her rise in distance running mirrors Kejelcha's trajectory.

Just two months ago, Tesfay made her marathon debut in Barcelona with a jaw-dropping 2:10:53. That performance made her the second-fastest woman in marathon history at the time, achieved just a month before Kejelcha earned the same distinction on the men's side.

Both athletes are rewriting what's possible in distance running. They're doing it with performances that combine meticulous preparation with raw talent, pushing the boundaries of human endurance.

Kejelcha plans to return to Valencia in December for another shot at the marathon on one of the world's fastest courses. With two world records already in his collection, a third might not be far behind.