World records set by Jacob Kiplimo, Ja’Kobe Tharp, and Emmanuel Wanyonyi earlier this year have been ratified by World Athletics.
Kiplimo achieved his 57:20 half marathon record at the EDP Lisbon Half Marathon on 8 March, the same venue where he set his first world record for the distance back in 2021.
His astonishing performance took 10 seconds off the previous ratified world record of 57:30, set by Ethiopia’s Yomif Kejelcha in Valencia on 27 October 2024.
The Ugandan passed 5km in 13:28 and reached 10km alongside Nicholas Kipkorir in 27:00. The pair were still together at 15km in 40:52, but Kiplimo then increased the pace, covering the next 5km in 13:31 before going on to win in 57:20.
However, Kejelcha has since surpassed Kiplimo’s record, clocking 56:51 at the Media Maratón Ciudad de Buenos Aires on 23 August to take 29 seconds off Kiplimo’s mark. Kejelcha’s 56:51 remains subject to the standard ratification process.
On the track, Tharp broke one of the longest-standing men’s track world records when he clocked 12.75 (1.0m/s) in the 110m hurdles at the NCAA Championships in Eugene on 10 June.
The 20-year-old got off to a solid start in the semifinals, maintaining his rhythm to the finish line with fire in his veins.
His 12.75 was a massive improvement on his previous personal best of 13.01 and took 0.05 off the world record of 12.80 set by fellow US hurdler Aries Merritt in Brussels on 7 September 2012.
In the final ratified record, Wanyonyi became the first athlete in almost 27 years to break the men’s 1000m world record when he clocked 2:11.83 at the Wanda Diamond League meeting in Monaco on 10 July.
Making his debut at the distance, the Kenyan followed the pacemakers through 400m in 50.95 and 800m in 1:45.11 before taking over at the front.
He held off a strong challenge from Britain’s Jake Wightman on the home stretch to win in 2:11.83, with Wightman finishing second in 2:12.77.
Wanyonyi’s performance took 0.13 off the previous world record of 2:11.96, set by fellow Kenyan Noah Ngeny in Rieti on 5 September 1999.
Official Ratified Records:
Men’s Half Marathon: 57:20
Jacob Kiplimo (UGA), Lisbon, 8 March 2026
Men’s 110m Hurdles: 12.75
Ja’Kobe Tharp (USA), Eugene, 10 June 2026
Men’s 1000m: 2:11.83
Emmanuel Wanyonyi (KEN), Monaco, 10 July 2026
Note: Additional information provided by World Athletics.
