Yomif Kejelcha Breaks Half Marathon World Record

Ethiopian runner Yomif Kejelcha shattered the men's half marathon world record at the Medio Maratón de Valencia, clocking 57 minutes and 30 seconds, a one-second improvement over the previous record held by Kenya's Jacob Kiplimo. In only his sixth half marathon, Kejelcha executed a strategic race, following pacemakers before breaking away around the three-kilometre mark, ultimately defeating fellow Kenyans Daniel Mateiko and Isaia Kipkoech. The women's race saw Agnes Ngetich of Kenya finish in 63:04, marking the second-fastest time in history for the women's half marathon. Kejelcha, who also holds the indoor mile record, demonstrated his prowess with impressive splits of 13:38 at 5km and 27:12 at 10km. This victory further solidifies his reputation in long-distance running, despite a less successful performance in the 10,000m at the Paris Olympics. The Valencia race continues to uphold its status as a premier event in the athletics calendar, showcasing exceptional performances in both men's and women's categories.