Jacob Kiplimo Shatters 15km World Record at NN Zevenheuvelenloop in Nijmegen

Jacob Kiplimo, the reigning world cross-country champion, shattered the 15km world best-known time at the NN Zevenheuvelenloop in Nijmegen, Holland, clocking an impressive 40:27. This performance matches his split time from his record-setting half marathon in Lisbon in 2021, underscoring his consistency and dominance in long-distance running.

The Ugandan athlete, who had set a previous course record at the same event last year with a time of 41:05, defended his title with a commanding lead from start to finish. Kiplimo's strategy was clear from the onset as he quickly distanced himself from the competition, achieving a significant gap by the 10km mark at 27:15, which was 34 seconds faster than his pace the previous year.

This year's race saw Kiplimo extend his lead to over a half-kilometer ahead of the nearest challenger by the midpoint, demonstrating his outstanding endurance and speed. His final time of 40:42 is officially the fastest ever recorded in a standalone 15km race, further establishing him as a formidable force in the world of distance running.

Behind Kiplimo, the competition for the remaining podium spots was fierce. Mike Foppen of the Netherlands secured a second-place finish with a time of 43:19, closely followed by Great Britain's Marc Scott, who completed the race in 43:21. This year's event continued the tradition of Ugandan dominance, with Ugandan men winning the men’s race at the eight most recent editions of the Zevenheuvelenloop.

In the women’s competition, Ethiopia’s Mizan Alem emerged victorious, marking a strong debut in road racing with a winning time of 46:51. Alem's race was tactically sound, as she initially held back, allowing Diane van Es of the Netherlands to lead early on. However, Alem made her move before the 4km mark and maintained the lead for the remainder of the race, showcasing her strategic racing acumen.

Alem's victory was by a margin of exactly one minute over Van Es, who finished in 47:51. The race was a significant achievement for Alem, positioning her among the fastest in the event’s history, though still trailing the record times set by Letesenbet Gidey and Tirunesh Dibaba.

MEN'S 15KM LEADNG RESULTS:

WOMEN'S 15KM LEADNG RESULTS: