October 27, (THEWILL) – Ethiopian athlete, Yomif Kejelcha, established a fresh men’s world half-marathon record in Valencia, completing the race in 57 minutes and 30 seconds, reducing the existing record by one second.
The 27-year-old world indoor mile record holder demonstrated exceptional performance in his sixth half-marathon appearance, taking the lead at the three-kilometre point and maintaining his dominant position throughout the race.
Kejelcha’s remarkable pace saw him reach significant milestones during the event, passing the 5km mark at 13:38, achieving 10km in 27:12, and crossing 15km in 40:56.
At this stage, he moved ahead of Kenyan competitors Daniel Mateiko and Isaia Kipkoech Lasoi, ultimately surpassing the previous world record set by Uganda’s Jacob Kiplimo in Lisbon in 2021.
The Valencia half marathon continues to affirm its status as a premier athletics event, attracting elite runners from across the globe and producing exceptional performances that advance the sport’s standards.
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
