BUENOS AIRES, RUNNING SPACE - Elite Ethiopian runner, Yomif Kejelcha, has etched his name back into the annals of world athletics. Kejelcha completed the Media Maratón Ciudad de Buenos Aires 2026 with a phenomenal time of 56 minutes 51 seconds on Sunday (August 23, 2026).
This record marks Kejelcha's return to the world record in the men's half marathon, although the result still needs to go through the official ratification procedure by World Athletics.
Yomif Kejelcha Breaks Half Marathon World Record 56:51
Kejelcha delivered an outstanding performance in the 21.0975 kilometers race on the streets of Buenos Aires, Argentina. He crossed the finish line in 56:51, cutting 29 seconds from the previous record of 57:20 held by Ugandan runner, Jacob Kiplimo, set in Lisbon in March 2026.
The result in Buenos Aires also marks Kejelcha's return to the pinnacle of the world half marathon scene.
Previously, the Ethiopian runner held the world record after clocking 57:30 at the Valencia Half Marathon in October 2024. This record was later ratified by World Athletics.
The record then passed to Kiplimo before Kejelcha reclaimed it in Buenos Aires.
Running in adidas Adizero Adios Pro Evo 3
In his remarkable achievement in Buenos Aires, Kejelcha was seen wearing adidas Adizero Adios Pro Evo 3.
adidas Running celebrated their athlete's achievement through a social media post with the message “Reclaiming the Throne”, illustrating Kejelcha's success in regaining dominance in the half marathon.
This performance also highlights the Adizero racing shoe line that Kejelcha wore while clocking 56:51.
From Valencia Record to Dominance in Buenos Aires
Kejelcha is not a new name in the world of long-distance running.
At the Valencia Half Marathon 2024, he recorded 57:30, breaking the world record at that time by just one second from Kiplimo's previous record.
The Ethiopian-born runner also boasts achievements in various track and road events. World Athletics recognizes Kejelcha as a two-time indoor world champion and a silver medalist in the World Championships.
Now, his performance of 56:51 in Buenos Aires reaffirms his status as one of the fastest long-distance runners in the world.
| Point | Cumulative Time | Segment Split |
|---|---|---|
| 5K | 13:45 | 13:45 |
| 10K | 27:19 | 13:34 |
| 15K | 40:41 | 13:22 |
| 20K | 54:04 | 13:23 |
| Finish 21.1K | 56:51 | 2:47 for ±1.1 km |
The overall average was around 2:42/km. The most impressive segment was from kilometers 10 to 15: he covered 5 km in just 13:22, approximately 2:40/km. After that, Kejelcha maintained an almost identical pace until the 20K mark.
Ethiopia's Dominance at the Buenos Aires Half Marathon
Not only Kejelcha, but Ethiopia also showcased dominance in the women's category.
Fotyen Tesfay won the women's half marathon with a time of 1 hour 3 minutes 57 seconds according to preliminary reports from World Athletics.
However, the world's attention was focused on Kejelcha after the number 56:51 appeared on the finish line.
This record signifies not just a victory in Buenos Aires, but a marker of the Ethiopian runner's return to the throne of the world half marathon.
World Athletics stated that the record is still subject to the usual ratification procedure, so the final status will be established after the verification and ratification process is completed.
