In a Class of His Own: Kiplimo Wins Buenos Aires Half Marathon in Record Time

Uganda’s world half marathon record-holder Jacob Kiplimo was a convincing winner of the 21K de Buenos Aires – a World Athletics Label road race – in the Argentinean capital on Sunday (24).

The two-time world cross-country champion clocked a course record of 58:29 while Kenya’s Veronica Loleo won the women’s race in 1:06:58.

Held in windy conditions and in temperatures of about 8C, the men’s field set out at 2:44/km pace. The first 5km was covered in 13:42 with Kiplimo and Kenya’s Emmanuel Wafula following the pacemaker. About 19 minutes into the race, Kiplimo and Walufa overtook the pacemaker, but the Kenyan was only able to latch on to Kiplimo for just a couple more kilometres.

Having built up a clear lead at 9km, Kiplimo went through 10km in 27:25, nine seconds ahead of Wafula. Pacemaker Bereket Nega Batebo clocked 27:59 at 10km, leading Kenyan trio Vincent Nyamongo Nyageo, Isaac Kipkemoi and Solomon Kirwa plus Ethiopia’s Seifu Tura (28:14).

Kiplimo maintained his relentless pace and covered the third km section in 13:38, reaching 15km in 41:03, at which point the 2021 Olympic bronze medallist had a 55-second lead over Wafula.

Despite the challenging wind in the closing stages, Kiplimo still managed to take 36 seconds off the course record, winning in 58:29. A fading Wafula was reeled in by his pursuers with little more than a kilometre to go. Tura prevailed in a sprint finish over Nyamongo, both athletes finishing inside 60 minutes.

Kiplimo, who holds three of the five fastest ever times for the distance topped by his monster WR of 56:42 set last February in Barcelona commented:

“I felt great throughout, but the wind affected me,” said Kiplimo, who set his world record of 56:42 earlier this year. “My main target for today was to simply enjoy the experience, and I did that. As a fan of Lionel Messi, I was eager to come to Buenos Aires.”

“My build-up for the Chicago Marathon is going very well,” he added. “I have heard there will be a world record pace there; I plan to run more conservatively but I would like to be close to the world record in the end.”

In the women’s race, world half marathon bronze medallist Catherine Amanangole, fellow Kenyan Veronica Loleo and Ethiopia’s Ftaw Zeray went through the opening 5km in a swift 15:17 but the pace dropped leading up to 10km, reached in 31:18.

As was the case in the men’s race, the pace dropped further in the closing stages, ruling out an attack on the course record, but Loleo held on to win in 1:06:58 ahead of Zeray (1:07:07) and Amanangole.

Emeterio Valiente for World Athletics

Leading results

Women
1 Veronica Loleo (KEN) 1:06:58
2 Ftaw Zeray (ETH) 1:07:07
3 Catherine Amanangole (KEN) 1:07:13
4 Jesca Chelangat (KEN) 1:07:41
5 Ludwina Chepngetich (KEN) 1:07:44

Men
1 Jacob Kiplimo (UGA) 58:29
2 Seifu Tura (ETH) 59:56
3 Vinicent Nyamongo (KEN) 59:57
4 Bereket Nega (ETH) 1:00:03
5 Isaac Kipkemboi (KEN) 1:00:03

By World Athletics