Ethiopian Runner Gets World Record After Year-Long Wait
Yomif Kejelcha's incredible 10km time from February 2025 is finally official after the previous record holder was disqualified for doping violations. The Ethiopian star waited over a year to claim his place in history.
After more than a year of waiting, Ethiopian distance runner Yomif Kejelcha can finally call himself a world record holder.
World Athletics officially certified Kejelcha's blistering 10km time of 26 minutes and 31 seconds on Monday. He originally ran that time at the Facsa CastellĂłn 10K in Spain back in February 2025.
The delay wasn't about questioning Kejelcha's achievement. When he crossed the finish line, Kenyan runner Rhonex Kipruto still held the official record at 26 minutes and 24 seconds from his 2020 Valencia 10K run.
Everything changed when Kipruto received a six-year suspension from World Athletics for anti-doping violations. Irregularities showed up in his blood samples dating back to 2018, and his record was officially revoked.
With the previous record removed, Kejelcha's phenomenal performance moved from second place to the top of the record books. The certification came as part of a larger announcement recognizing six new world records across professional and U20 categories.
Kejelcha has proven himself across multiple distances throughout his career. He once held the indoor world record for the mile at 3 minutes and 47.01 seconds, and he's posted a personal best of 7 minutes and 23.64 seconds in the 3,000 meters.
Most recently, the Ethiopian star turned heads at the 2026 London Marathon by finishing under two hours. His consistency at the highest level of distance running shows this world record recognition is just one highlight in an ongoing career of excellence.
Why This Inspires
Kejelcha's story reminds us that patience and clean competition matter. While he could have complained about the long wait, he kept training and racing at the highest level, eventually earning what was rightfully his.
The world of athletics took the time to get it right, ensuring the record books reflect honest achievement. That commitment to integrity makes Kejelcha's official recognition even sweeter.
His journey proves that good things come to those who play by the rules and trust the process.
Based on reporting by Google: marathon world record
This story was written by BrightWire based on verified news reports.
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