A strong Kenyan charge led by Napoli Half Marathon champion Emmanuel Wafula will be out to derail world record holder Jacob Kiplimo of Uganda when they line up for the Buenos Aires Half Marathon on August 24.
Organisers had initially billed Kiplimo as the star attraction for this year’s race, but Kenya’s elite will be intent on stealing the spotlight.
"Again, the fastest will be present at the Buenos Aires Half Marathon. Seven men running under the hour will challenge for the world record," the organisers said in a statement.
The men’s course record stands at 59:05, set by Bedan Karoki in 2019, a mark that could be under serious threat. Wafula arrives in Argentina in blistering form, fresh from a dominant 2025 campaign. He kicked off his season with a dominant victory at the Napoli Half Marathon on February 23, stopping the clock in 59:42.
He spearheaded a Kenyan podium with Simon Maiywa (1:00:26) and Edward Koonyo (1:00:47) in second and third place, respectively.
He followed it up with yet another half-marathon victory in Maranello, clocking 59:20 with Cosmas Boi (1:00:07) and Simon Ekidor (1:01:23) completing the podium. Backing him up is Weldon Langat, who will be hunting his first podium of the season.
Langat's 2025 campaign has seen him place fourth at the Hong Kong Half Marathon, clocking 1:02:57 before producing a dismal performance in Lisbon, where he finished 17th in 1:02:11.
Joining the duo is Vinicent Nyageo, chasing his second victory over 21km after opening his campaign with victory in Sevilla (59:33) in January. Adding more Kenyan firepower to the field are Shanghai Half Marathon third-place finisher Isaac Kipkemboi and Madrid Half Marathon champion Levy Kibet.
However, they face a towering challenge in Kiplimo, who has been nothing short of phenomenal this year. The Ugandan obliterated the world record in Barcelona on February 16, stopping the clock at 56:42 to become the first man to dip under 57 minutes. In that race, he left Geoffrey Kamworor (58:44) and Samwel Mailu (59:40) in his wake.
Kiplimo then made a stunning full marathon debut in London on April 27, finishing second in 2:03:37 behind Sebastian Sawe (2:02:27). In the women's race, Catherine Reline headlines the charge, chasing her second half-marathon victory of the season.
Reline kicked off her campaign in Meishan, China, clocking 1:06:42 for fifth place before winning in Yangzhou in 1:07:05. She will be joined by Jesca Chelangat, Veronica Loleo, Maurine Toroitich and Gladys Cherop.
