Uganda’s Jacob Kiplimo underlined his dominance over the half-marathon distance with a commanding victory at the 21K de Buenos Aires on Sunday, setting a new course record of 58:29.
The world record-holder and two-time world cross-country champion broke clear just before the 10km mark.
He never looked back, eventually taking 36 seconds off the previous best despite battling strong winds and cool conditions in the Argentine capital.
Ethiopia’s Seifu Tura finished second in 59:56, just edging Kenya’s Vincent Nyamongo (59:57) in a sprint finish, while former pacemaker Bereket Nega of Ethiopia placed fourth in 1:00:03.
Kiplimo, who already owns three of the five fastest half-marathon times in history, looked comfortable throughout.
He went through 10km in 27:25 with a nine-second lead over Kenya’s Emmanuel Wafula, then surged again to hit 15km in 41:03, opening a decisive gap that stretched to nearly a minute. By the closing kilometres, only the clock stood between him and another record.
“I felt great throughout, but the wind affected me,” Kiplimo said afterwards. “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. 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, Kenya’s Veronica Loleo held off late pressure from Ethiopia’s Ftaw Zeray to win in 1:06:58. Zeray followed in 1:07:07, with Kenya’s Catherine Amanangole third in 1:07:13.
The Buenos Aires performances reinforce Kiplimo’s status as the leading half-marathon runner of his era, as he now turns his focus to October’s Chicago Marathon.
Leading results
Men
1. Jacob Kiplimo (UGA) – 58:29
2. Seifu Tura (ETH) – 59:56
3. Vincent Nyamongo (KEN) – 59:57
4. Bereket Nega (ETH) – 1:00:03
5. Isaac Kipkemboi (KEN) – 1:00:03
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
