Running at an average pace of 2:41 per kilometer, Kejelcha accelerated in the final stretch to break the previous record. He thus surpasses the 57:20 set by Jacob Kiplimo in Lisbon.
This victory marks the return of the record to Kejelcha's hands, who had previously set it in Valencia in October 2024 with 57:30. On that occasion, he beat Kiplimo's 57:31 mark from Lisbon in 2021.
The rivalry between these two distance runners continues. It is worth noting that Jacob Kiplimo recorded a time of 56:42 at the Barcelona Half Marathon in 2025, but this mark was not homologated as a world record because he ran behind a vehicle.
With this new record, Kejelcha solidifies his position as a leading figure in global distance running. He also demonstrated his versatility by completing his marathon debut in London in 1:59:41, breaking the two-hour barrier for the first time. He holds the 10K world record (26:31 in Castellón de la Plana in February 2025) and is scheduled to compete in the Valencia Marathon in December.
