Kejelcha, a record holder marred by a controversial past

Yomif Kejelcha27 years old, achieved in Half Marathon of Valencia the world record for one second 57’30 and the biggest success of his career. He hits the road after a fruitful career on the track, where his personal bests shine brighter than his results in major championships. In this sense, it shares similarities with Eliud Kipchogewho went from being a great track athlete to being the best on the road. Kejelcha He was runner-up in the world 10,000m in Doha 2019 and world indoor champion in Portland 2016 and Birmingham 2018. He has stratospheric personal bests of 3’31”25 in the 1,500m; 7’23”64 at 3,000m; 12’38″95 at 5,000m and 26’31″01 at 10,000m.

Kejelcha the chosen companion 20 years to be the generational replacement of Mr. Farah (14 years older), flagship of Nike. The Ethiopian raised spirits when he was proclaimed the indoor 3,000m world champion in Portland World Cup 2016 at the age of 18 only. Salazar saw in him a diamond in the rough to polish and shape into a legend, just as he had done in his day himself. Farah, Galen Rupp or Sifan Hassan.

Alberto Salazarborn in Cuba (1958) and with a North American passport, is an outstanding long-distance athlete, triple champion of New York Marathon in 1980, 1981 and 1982. He was one of the ‘causators’ of the first severe fever in the 80s and a mass phenomenon in the United States. As a coach, he is always closely related Nikewhose dream is to develop top-level North American athletes who can uphold Africa’s dominance in long-distance events.

So was born Nike Oregon Projectwhose biggest success came at the 2012 London Games, with a historic double in the first track final in the 10,000m with gold for Mr. Farah and money for Galen Rupp. In addition, Farah achieved a double with another gold in the 5,000m and Salazar became the world’s most admired coach. Their athletes have never tested positive in any anti-doping control, but the shadow of suspicion always passes over their figure, for always holding the limit of legality and for the complaints of some athletes in the group like of Kara Goucher.

In 2019, during the celebration of the World Athletics Championships DohaThe United States Anti-Doping Agency allowed Salazarcoach of Nike Oregon Projectand the team doctor, Jeffrey Brown. Both are accused of violating the World Anti-Doping Code of using prohibited methods, manipulating anti-doping controls and trafficking testosterone. Farah left the team and moved from Portland to London. Kejelcha He also avoided himself as much as possible from any suspicion, leaving Portland and Nike to start running with Adidas.

Running at 22km/h

The act of Yomif Kejelcha in Valencia it is huge, with an average speed of 2.44 per kilometer or what is the same, running at a sustainable speed of 22km/h in 57’30 minutes to complete 21,097 minutes of the route. Something that only a select few throughout history could achieve. Making fiction, if the Ethiopian can sustain that pace for a full marathon, he will cross the finish line with a time of 1h55’20, something totally unthinkable.

Yomif Kejelcha Partials in Valencia

Speed: 2.44/km

5k: 13’38

10k: 27’13

15k: 40’57

20k: 54’32

Goal: 57’30

Dominion of Africa

African athletes are the clear dominators of long-distance events and, among those 10 fastest athletes in history In the half marathon, we will see three nationalities represented, Ethiopia, Kenya and Uganda. Brands established between 2019 and 2024, popularizing shoes with carbon plates, which help you run faster and with less waste of muscle and energy. A rebound effect led World Athletics to establish specific regulations to set limits on technological aids. Since this advance came out, the world record has gone from 58’33 Samuel Wanjiru in The Hague 2007 in 57’30 from Kejelcha in Valencia. More than a minute of improvement and there are 15 athletes running below that limit. Furthermore, on the all-time table there are seven runners under 58 minutes.

The 10 fastest athletes in the world in the half marathon

1) Yomif Kejelcha (ETH) 57’30

2) Jacob Kiplimo (UGA) 57’31

3) Kibiwott Kandie (KEN) 57’32

4) Hagos Gebrhiwet (ETH) 57’41

5) Rhonex Kipruto (KEN) 57’49

6) Selemon Barega (ETH) 57’50

7) Alexander Munyao (KEN) 57’59

8) Geoffrey Kamworor (KEN) 58’01

9) Sabastian Sawe (KEN) 58’05

10) Abel Kipchumba (KEN) 58’07