ICNX
Yomif Kejelcha

Marathon / Long Distance · ETH

@yomif_kejelcha

Yomif
Kejelcha

World Record
3World Record
World Champion
2World Champion
Never Been Done
1Never Been Done
3Legend
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Photo: Foto: Filip Bossuyt, flickr / Wikimedia Commons · CC BY 2.0

Only one man had ever broken two hours in a marathon. He was the second — in his very first attempt.

About Yomif

Yomif Kejelcha is an Ethiopian distance runner who moved from teenage track prodigy to two-time world indoor 3000m champion and multi-distance world-record breaker. He set the world indoor mile record in 2019, added the world 10km road record in 2025, and stunned the sport with a 1:59:41 marathon debut in London 2026 — the second sub-two-hour marathon in history. Months later he reclaimed the world half-marathon record in Buenos Aires, the first man ever under 57 minutes.

The moments

Iconic
achievements

Legend
2014

Kejelcha Takes World Junior 5000m Gold in 13:25.19

At the World Junior Championships in Eugene, Kejelcha claimed 5000m gold in 13:25.19, marking one of the sport's brightest teenage prospects.

World Champion
2016

Kejelcha Wins World Indoor 3000m Gold in 7:57.21

Kejelcha claimed 3000m gold at the World Indoor Championships in Portland, crossing the line in 7:57.21 to top the podium.

World Champion
2018

Kejelcha Retains World Indoor 3000m Title in 8:14.41

Kejelcha defends his World Indoor Championships 3000m crown in Birmingham, crossing the line in 8:14.41 to retain the title.

World Record
2019

Kejelcha Sets Indoor Mile World Record at 3:47.01

In Boston, Yomif Kejelcha ran 3:47.01 to claim the indoor mile world record, ending the 22-year reign of Hicham El Guerrouj's previous mark.

World Record
2025

Kejelcha Sets 10K Road World Record at 26:31

Yomif Kejelcha ran 26:31 in Castellon, Spain, to set the men's 10km road world record.

Legend
2026

Kejelcha Runs 1:59:41 in London Marathon Debut

In his marathon debut in London, Kejelcha clocked 1:59:41 — the second-fastest marathon ever run, making him the second man in history to break two hours.

The record

  1. 2014Kejelcha Takes World Junior 5000m Gold in 13:25.19Legend
  2. 2016Kejelcha Wins World Indoor 3000m Gold in 7:57.21World Champion
  3. 2018Kejelcha Retains World Indoor 3000m Title in 8:14.41World Champion
  4. 2019Kejelcha Sets Indoor Mile World Record at 3:47.01World Record
  5. 2025Kejelcha Sets 10K Road World Record at 26:31World Record
  6. 2026Yomif Kejelcha Runs 1:59:41 on Debut at the 2026 London MarathonNever Been Done
  7. 2026Kejelcha Runs 1:59:41 in London Marathon DebutLegend
  8. 2026Kejelcha Runs 56:51, First Man Under 57 in the HalfWorld RecordLegend