The Barcelona Half Marathon returns ready to prove it is "the best in the world"

BarcelonaThe Barcelona Half Marathon reaches its 37th edition, firmly established as one of the world's premier races, boasting its largest ever participation this year with 36,000 runners. The race follows a very fast course, the same one that saw Ugandan Jacob Kiplimo set a new world record a year ago with a time of 56 minutes and 40 seconds. However, just days ago, World Athletics, the governing body for athletics worldwide, announced it would not validate the record, arguing that Kiplimo benefited from the presence of a vehicle, running behind it for a while. Thus, the decision was made that the time remains official as the best in the Barcelona race but is not considered a world record. A decision that Barcelona City Council's Sports Councillor, David Escudé, described as "difficult to understand." "We will fight to get a change of opinion," he said during the race presentation. "From the Barcelona City Council, we will go all the way. We understand absolutely nothing: neither the delay, nor the result, nor the lack of information, nor why the best time is recognized, but not the record," said Escudé, who suggested that behind this decision there was pressure from those in charge of the Valencia Half Marathon, since Kejelcha's world record was set in Valencia in 2024 with a time of 57 minutes and 30 seconds.

This year, the main favorite in the men's category will be Ethiopian Hagos Gebrhiwet, one of only four athletes in history to have broken the 58-minute barrier in the half marathon. In the women's category, Kenyan Loice Chemmung will be the favorite, with Americans Weini Kelati and Taylor Roe among her rivals. The race will maintain last year's route, starting at 8:30 a.m. on Passeig de Picasso at the intersection with Passeig Mercantil, next to Parc de la Ciutadella. From the Columbus Monument, the route heads towards Paral·lel, up Ronda de Sant Pau and Sepúlveda to Gran Via. It then passes through Poblenou, along Rambla de Prim to the Fòrum, and along the coast to the finish line at Passeig de Pujades and Carrer de Nàpoli. Forty percent of the registered runners are women, and another 40% are from other countries. At the presentation, Escudé explained: "We could aim for 40,000 entries like that Berlin race, but we need to focus on balanced growth. We have the best and fastest course; it's the best half marathon in the world," he concluded.