Once A Star…Always? Uganda’s Jacob Kiplimo Sets New Record In Netherlands

By Frank Kamuntu 

Two-time world cross-country champion Jacob Kiplimo took 23 seconds off his own course record to win over 15km at the NN Zevenheuvelenloop in Nijmegen on Sunday (17).

His winning mark of 40:42 is the fastest time ever recorded in a standalone 15km race, though Kiplimo clocked a 40:27 split en route to his 57:31 half marathon performance, then a world record, in Lisbon in 2021.

Kiplimo, who won here in 41:05 last year, set out with intent. By the time the Ugandan reached 2km (5:26), he already had a clear lead over the rest of the field. That lead continued to grow as the race progressed, and Kiplimo reached 5km in 13:44.

The world and Olympic medallist went even faster for the next 5km, reaching 10km in 27:15 – 34 seconds up on his pace from last year and two minutes ahead of the chase pack.

Kiplimo maintained his relentless pace through the closing stages, crossing the line in 40:42. The men’s race at the eight most recent editions of the Zevenheuvelenloop have now been won by Ugandan men.

Mike Foppen of the Netherlands emerged from the chase pack to take second place in 43:19, two seconds ahead of Britain’s Marc Scott.

In the women’s race, Ethiopia’s Mizan Alem made a strong road-racing debut to take the title in 46:51.

The 2021 world U20 5000m champion held back slightly during the early stages, allowing Diane van Es of the Netherlands to carve out a nine-second lead by 2km. But Alem gradually made up ground and caught the Dutch runner at about 3.5km.

From there on, Alem could not be caught. She passed through 5km in 15:54 and 10km in 31:27 before going on to cross the finish line in 46:51, winning by exactly one minute from Van Es.

Only Letesenbet Gidey (44:20) and Tirunesh Dibaba (46:29) have ever recorded faster winning times at this race.

Leading Results

Women

1 Mizan Alem (ETH) 46:51

2 Diane van Es (NED) 47:51

3 Enyish Mengie (ETH) 49:21

4 Fionnuala McCormack (IRL) 49:22

5 Haruka Ogawa (JPN) 49:39

Men

1 Jacob Kiplimo (UGA) 40:42

2 Mike Foppen (NED) 43:19

3 Marc Scott (GBR) 43:21

4 Rui Aoki (JPN) 43:23

5 Matthew Kiplimo (KEN) 43:24