Overview:
Jacob Kiplimo also set a world record of 56:42 earlier this year, and holds three of the five fastest ever times for the distance.
21K de Buenos Aires
- Winner: Jacob Kiplimo (Uganda) – 58:29
Uganda’s world half marathon record holder Jacob Kiplimo delivered a sensational performance on Sunday, 24th August 2025, winning the 21K de Buenos Aires—a World Athletics Label Road race—in the Argentine capital.
The two-time World Cross Country champion crossed the finish line in 58:29, smashing the previous course record despite strong winds and chilly temperatures of about 8°C.
Setting a blistering pace early on, the lead group covered the first 5km in 13:42, with Kiplimo and Kenya’s Emmanuel Wafula right behind the pacemaker.
About 19 minutes into the race, Kiplimo and Walufa overtook the pacemaker, but the Kenyan was only able to latch on to Kiplimo for just a couple more kilometres.
Having built up a clear lead at 9km, Kiplimo went through 10km in 27:25, nine seconds ahead of Wafula.
Pacemaker Bereket Nega Batebo clocked 27:59 at 10km, leading Kenyan trio Vincent Nyamongo Nyageo, Isaac Kipkemoi and Solomon Kirwa plus Ethiopia’s Seifu Tura (28:14).
Kiplimo maintained his relentless pace and covered the third km section in 13:38, reaching 15km in 41:03, at which point the 2021 Olympic bronze medallist had a 55-second lead over Wafula.
Despite the challenging wind in the closing stages, Kiplimo still managed to take 36 seconds off the course record, winning in 58:29.
A fading Wafula was reeled in by his pursuers with little more than a kilometre to go.
Tura prevailed in a sprint finish over Nyamongo, both athletes finishing inside 60 minutes.
Kiplimo, who holds three of the five fastest ever times for the distance topped by his monster WR of 56:42 set last February in Barcelona remarked.
I felt great throughout, but the wind affected me. My main target for today was to simply enjoy the experience, and I did that. As a fan of Lionel Messi, I was eager to come to Buenos Aires. My build-up for the Chicago Marathon is going very well. I have heard there will be a world record pace there; I plan to run more conservatively but I would like to be close to the world record in the end.
Jacob Kiplimo
In the women’s race, world half marathon bronze medallist Catherine Amanangole, fellow Kenyan Veronica Loleo and Ethiopia’s Ftaw Zeray went through the opening 5km in a swift 15:17 but the pace dropped leading up to 10km, reached in 31:18.
As was the case in the men’s race, the pace dropped further in the closing stages, ruling out an attack on the course record, but Loleo held on to win in 1:06:58 ahead of Zeray (1:07:07) and Amanangole.
Top Five per gender:
Men
1 Jacob Kiplimo (UGA) 58:29
2 Seifu Tura (ETH) 59:56
3 Vinicent Nyamongo (KEN) 59:57
4 Bereket Nega (ETH) 1:00:03
5 Isaac Kipkemboi (KEN) 1:00:03
Women
1 Veronica Loleo (KEN) 1:06:58
2 Ftaw Zeray (ETH) 1:07:07
3 Catherine Amanangole (KEN) 1:07:13
4 Jesca Chelangat (KEN) 1:07:41
5 Ludwina Chepngetich (KEN) 1:07:44
Additional reporting by Emeterio Valiente for World Athletics
