On the crisp morning of Sunday, March 8, 2026, the streets of Lisbon bore witness to a historic athletic feat. Jacob Kiplimo, Uganda’s long-distance prodigy, crossed the finish line of the EDP Lisbon Half Marathon in 57 minutes and 20 seconds, shattering the previous world record of 57:30.
From the opening kilometer, Kiplimo established a blistering pace. Spectators watched as he maintained flawless rhythm, passing 5 km in 13:28 and 10 km in 27:00, gradually distancing himself from the competition. Kenyan runners Nicholas Kipkorir and Gilbert Kiprotich tried to keep pace, but Kiplimo’s stride was relentless.
As he crossed the finish line, the realization sank in a new world record had been set. “I’m so happy to break the world record. After the first 10 km, I thought the world record was possible. I tried to keep pushing the pace in the final two kilometres,” Kiplimo said in a post-race interview.
This record is more than just a number. It represents persistence and precision, a culmination of years of training and experience on the world stage. Kiplimo had previously run faster than official records in Barcelona 2025, but those times were not ratified due to pacing assistance. Lisbon, however, offered perfect conditions, and Kiplimo seized the moment.
Finishing second and third were Kipkorir in 58:08 and Kiprotich in 58:59, both acknowledging the extraordinary performance they had witnessed. For Uganda and the broader East African long-distance community, Kiplimo’s achievement is a testament to their ongoing dominance in the sport.
At just 25, Kiplimo’s accolades already include Olympic medals, cross-country triumphs, and previous world record performances. Yet this half marathon milestone highlights not only his speed but also his tactical mastery and unyielding determination.
Lisbon had etched a new chapter in athletics history: Jacob Kiplimo, the Ugandan runner who turned a morning race into a world record performance.
