Valencia Half Marathon 2024: Yomif Kejelcha breaks men's world record as Agnes Ngetich goes second on women's all-time list
Kejelcha took one second off Jacob Kiplimo's three-year-old mark, with Kenyan Ngetich 12 seconds outside Letesenbet Gidey's women's record in Spain.
Athletics
Yomif Kejelcha broke the men's world record at the 2024 Valencia Half Marathon on Sunday (27 October).
The Ethiopian crossed the line in 57:30, just one second inside Jacob Kiplimo's mark set in Lisbon in November 2021.
This was the fourth world record set in Valencia in seven years after Joyciline Jepkosgei (women's 2017), Kibiwott Kandie (men's 2020) and Letesenbet Gidey (women's 2021). Abraham Kiptum also ran a world-record time in 2018 but his mark was annulled due to a doping violation.
The 27-year-old was 47 seconds clear of Kenya's Daniel Mateiko with Isaia Kipkoech Lasoi third. Kejelcha's compatriot, Tokyo 2020 10,000m gold medallist Selemon Barega, was sixth.
A world record also looked possible in the women's race as half-marathon debutant Agnes Ngetich went through the first 10km in a rapid 29:18. She slowed in the second half of the race and took victory in 63:04, 12 seconds outside Gidey's winning time from three years ago and the second-fastest time in history.
The Kenyan was 17 seconds ahead of Ethiopia's Fotyen Tesfay with another Kenyan, Lilian Kasait, in third.
New shoe technology has seen a succession of long-distance world records fall in recent years. Kejelcha's feat comes just two weeks after Ruth Chepngetich became the first woman to break two hours and 10 minutes for the marathon in Chicago.
Results from 2024 Valencia Half Marathon (top 10):
Men
- Yomif Kejelcha (ETH) 57:30
- Daniel Mateiko (KEN) 58:17
- Isaia Kipkoech Lasoi (KEN) 58:21
- Gemechu Dida (ETH) 58:39
- Vincent Langat (KEN) 58:41
- Selemon Barega (ETH) 58:57
- Birhanu Balew (BRN) 59:41
- Thierry Ndikumwenayo (ESP) 59:42
- Etienne Daguinos (FRA) 59:46
- Bastien Augusto (FRA) 60:18
Women
- Agnes Ngetich (KEN) 63:04
- Fotyen Tesfay (ETH) 63:21
- Lilian Kasait (KEN) 63:32
- Ejgayehu Taye (ETH) 64:14
- Tsigie Gebreselama (ETH) 65:18
- Sheila Chelangat (KEN) 66:08
- Jesca Chelangat (KEN) 66:13
- Viola Chepngeno (KEN) 66:55
- Konstance Klosterhalfen (GER) 67:07
- Eva Dieterich (GER) 68:26