WORLD NEWS
He ran 21.0975 km in 56 minutes and 51 seconds, and the men’s half marathon world record still has an asterisk attached.
Ethiopia’s Yomif Kejelcha ran the men’s half marathon 21.0975km in 56 minutes and 51 seconds in Buenos Aires on August 23. This is 29 seconds faster than the existing world record of 57 minutes and 20 seconds.
However, World Athletics put an asterisk next to the record, indicating that the normal ratification process remains. What has now been confirmed are the official competition results and provisional world records, but final ratification has not yet been announced.
how fast is it
That pace averaged about 2 minutes 42 seconds per kilometre, or 22.3 km/h. Kejelcha passed 10 km in 27:19 and covered the 10–20 km segment in 26:45. He maintained his speed through the final 1.1 km and finished in 56:51.
What is different from the previous record?
The previous benchmark was Jacob Kiplimo’s 57:20 in Lisbon in March 2026. Kejelcha cut 29 seconds from it. He had also set a 57:30 world record in Valencia in 2024, so ratification would return the title to him.
why do you need an asterisk
Road world records are approved after checking regulations such as course distance, elevation difference, distance between start and finish points, and doping tests. World Athletics results tables and articles show WR*. An asterisk does not mean the record is fake, but that it is under review.
Things to keep in mind when comparing to other fast records
Kiplimo ran 56 minutes and 42 seconds in Barcelona in 2025, but it was not ratified as a world record because the racing conditions did not fully meet the regulations. Therefore, simply comparing the smallest amount of time can miss the meaning of official records. This 56 minutes and 51 seconds must also pass the same ratification process.
What to check next
Once ratified by World Athletics, the provisional mark on the official record list will disappear. Until then, it is accurate to divide the final world record status by the fact that the 56 minutes and 51 seconds and the 29 second reduction in the game results are confirmed facts.
Primary sources and independent checks
World Athletics official report
World Athletics official results