Jacob Kiplimo set a new world record in the 15-kilometre race with victory at the 2023 ZevenHeubenloop 7 Hills race in Nijmegen, Netherlands, on Sunday, November 19, 2023.
The Ugandan long-distance athlete crossed the finish line with a time of 41:05 minutes.
This remarkable feat matches the record set five years ago by his compatriot Joshua Cheptegei, underscoring Kiplimo’s prowess in long-distance running.
His fellow Ugandan Rogers Kibet came in second with a time of 42:44 minutes, and Amos Serem, a Kenyan athlete, took third place with a time of 43:07 minutes.
Kiplimo got off to a cautious start, letting other competitors get an early advantage. However, a strenuous climb between 3.5 and 5 kilometres highlighted Kiplimo’s advantages. He ran this section with ease and reached the 3km mark in 8:42, only 20 seconds slower than Cheptegei’s 2018 run record.
Kiplimo was initially behind, but he caught up quickly. He began to pull away by the 5km mark, which was completed in 14:24, making it difficult for fellow countryman Rogers Kibet to keep up. Kiplimo took over the race at this point and increased his lead steadily.
His phenomenal performance culminated in a 2:31 final kilometre, the fastest of the race, propelling him to finish in 41:05. This not only secured his victory but also saw him equal Cheptegei’s world-best time.
