Jacob Kiplimo wins the Lisbon Half Marathon (© Organisers)
Uganda’s world half marathon record-holder Jacob Kiplimo will have his eye on another record – an Indian all-comers' mark – when he takes to the start line of the Vedanta Delhi Half Marathon, a World Athletics Elite Label road race, on Sunday 16 October.
The 21-year-old is the reigning world half marathon champion and last year ran his phenomenal world record time of 57:31 in Lisbon.
Kiplimo has already had an outstanding 2022, winning both the RAK Half Marathon in Ras Al Khaimah in February in a world-leading 57:56 and then the Great North Run half marathon last Sunday. Between those two races, Kiplimo focused on the track and won a 10,000m bronze medal at the World Athletics Championships Oregon22 and then a memorable golden 5000m and 10,000m double at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham.
Ethiopia’s Amedework Walelegn improved the Delhi course record to 58:53 in 2020, but Kiplimo believes he can run the fastest half marathon ever seen on Indian soil during his first visit to the country next month.
"I have been told that the Vedanta Delhi Half Marathon course is a quick one and the record suggests that you can run fast times there. It is always dangerous to make predictions about what you are going to do, but what I can say is that with a month to go to the race I am in good shape, and I will focus on preparing specifically for the race over the next few weeks," he said.
"I had a successful track season, although I would have liked to have done a little better at the World Championships. But I have not raced too much this year, so I am still fresh and I want to show the people of Delhi and India what I am capable of."
