The men’s half marathon world record moved below 57 minutes on August 23, 2026, when Ethiopia’s Yomif Kejelcha ran 56:51 at the Media Maratón Ciudad de Buenos Aires in Argentina.
World Athletics currently lists the performance as a pending world record while it goes through the standard ratification process. Kejelcha finished 29 seconds faster than Jacob Kiplimo’s 57:20 from the Lisbon Half Marathon in March 2026, which is also awaiting ratification.
A 56:51 half marathon comes out to roughly 4:20 per mile or 2:42 per kilometer for 13.1 miles. Put another way, his average pace for the half marathon was around 13:28 per 5K.
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Yomif Kejelcha’s Half Marathon World Record Splits
Kejelcha’s race became much faster after 10K. He reached 5K in 13:45 and 10K in 27:19, which left him behind the pace Kiplimo had run during his 57:20 performance in Lisbon. Then Kejelcha ran from 10K to 15K in 13:22.
His 15K split was 40:41, followed by 20K in 54:04. From 10K through 20K, he covered 10 kilometers in 26:45, an average of roughly 13:22 per 5K during the middle and later portion of a half marathon. World Athletics has the full race report and official split progression from Buenos Aires. World Athletics report on Kejelcha’s 56:51 half marathon
His official splits were:
- 5K: 13:45
- 10K: 27:19
- 15K: 40:41
- 20K: 54:04
- Finish: 56:51
Weather was almost ideal for a fast half marathon. World Athletics reported a starting temperature around 6°C, or 43°F, with only a slight breeze. The original pacing plan was around 2:45 per kilometer because Kejelcha had talked before the race about breaking 58 minutes. He ended up more than a minute under that target.
What Was the Previous Half Marathon World Record?
The men’s half marathon world record has changed several times over the last few years, and one faster performance makes the timeline slightly confusing.
Jacob Kiplimo ran 57:31 in Lisbon in 2021. Kejelcha lowered the record by one second with 57:30 in Valencia in October 2024.
Kiplimo then ran 56:42 in Barcelona in February 2025. That time was faster than Kejelcha’s new 56:51, but the Barcelona performance was not eligible for world-record ratification because the race conditions did not fully comply with World Athletics requirements.
Kiplimo returned to Lisbon on March 8, 2026, and ran 57:20, taking another 10 seconds from Kejelcha’s ratified 57:30 record. Five months later, Kejelcha ran 56:51 in Buenos Aires.
The recent progression:
- 57:31: Jacob Kiplimo, Lisbon, 2021
- 57:30: Yomif Kejelcha, Valencia, 2024
- 56:42: Jacob Kiplimo, Barcelona, 2025, not ratified as a world record
- 57:20: Jacob Kiplimo, Lisbon, March 2026, pending ratification
- 56:51: Yomif Kejelcha, Buenos Aires, August 2026, pending ratification
World Athletics currently ranks Kejelcha’s 56:51 first among men’s half marathon performances in 2026, followed by Kiplimo’s 57:20. World Athletics 2026 men’s half marathon rankings
Who Is Yomif Kejelcha?
Kejelcha is 29 and has been racing at the international level for years. His resume includes two World Indoor Championship titles, two World Championship silver medals, and fast performances across distances from the mile through the marathon.
World Athletics currently lists his 56:51 as a pending half marathon world record. His athlete profile also lists a 1:59:41 marathon personal best from April 2026. Yomif Kejelcha’s World Athletics profile
He already owned the ratified half marathon world record before Kiplimo’s March performance, which makes Buenos Aires a return to the record rather than Kejelcha’s first time holding it.
Is 56:51 Officially the Half Marathon World Record?
World Athletics currently marks Kejelcha’s 56:51 as WR*, meaning the performance is subject to the standard world-record ratification process. The official Buenos Aires results list Kejelcha first in 56:51, well ahead of Tadese Worku’s second-place 59:20. Official Buenos Aires Half Marathon results
If ratified, Kejelcha will own the first official men’s half marathon world record under 57 minutes. The way Kejelcha ran it is even more impressive. His fastest racing came after he had already covered more than six miles. We are in a fun and unique time of elite running and will likely see more world records go down!
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