On Sunday morning at the NN Zevenheuvelenloop (Seven Hills Race), in Nijmegen, Netherlands, Uganda’s Jacob Kiplimo clocked a speedy 40:42, a world-best time that also lowered his own 15K course record by 23 seconds.
Kiplimo, the reigning world cross-country champion, faced a loaded field, including his half-brother and reigning marathon world champion Victor Kiplangat; Ugandan athletes have won the past eight editions of the race.
Kiplimo surged early and left the competition behind, opening up a two-minute lead over the rest of the competition by the 10K mark. Mike Foppen of the Netherlands following Kiplimo in 43:19, and the U.K.’s Marc Scott rounding out the podium in 43:21.
Record-breaking performance
24-year-old Kiplimo already boasts a remarkable list of achievements, and won the 2023 edition of the race in 41:05; when he tied compatriot Joshua Cheptegei‘s then-record of 41:05.
While Kiplimo’s time on Sunday is the fastest time ever in a standalone 15K race, although in Lisbon in 2021 he notably passed through the 15K mark in 40:27, en route to what was then a world record-setting half marathon time of 57:32.
World record for Jacob Kiplimo. Still slower his 15k split during Lisbon half 21, but 20 seconds faster than Cheptegei’s result from 2018. pic.twitter.com/5OLlX19q24
— Konstantin Kan (@knstntn_kan) November 17, 2024
Women’s race
In the women’s race, Ethiopia’s Mizan Alem marked an impressive debut on the roads by claiming victory in 46:51. The 2021 World U20 5,000m champion started conservatively, allowing the Netherlands’ Diane van Es to take a nine-second lead by the 2K mark. Alem then steadily reeled in van Es, catching up at around 3.5km to finish a full minute ahead of van Es, who captured second in 47:52. Ethiopia’s Enyish Mengie was third in 49:21.
Alem’s winning time ranks among the fastest in the event’s history; only Letesenbet Gidey and Tirunesh Dibaba have posted quicker winning times at the Zevenheuvelenloop.
For full results of the 2024 NN Zevenheuvelenloop, head here.
