Yomif Kejelcha eyes World 10km Record in Spain

World Half Marathon record holder, Yomif Kejelcha has set his eyes on another world record at the 14th edition of the Castellón Marathon set for February 16, 2025 in Castellón de la Plana, Spain.

The 27-year-old may have lost his world Indoor Mile Record last Saturday, but he has now shifted his focus on attacking the world 10km record of 26:24, set by Joshua Cheptegei of Uganda in October 2020.

Kejelcha who will be paced by Burundi’s Rodrigue Kwizera,who has been tasked with reaching the halfway point in 13:12, will also have to get past Kenya’s world cross country bronze medallist and 2021 world U20 5000m champion Benson Kiplangat who holds a life time of 12:58.78 for 5000m and 26:55.09 for 10,000m.

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The two will also face off with Daniel Kinyanjui from Kenya, who ran 27:06 for 10km last month in Valencia, and Brian Kibor, a 27:31 performer.

Ethiopian teenagers Yismaw Dillu and Kuma Girma. The former finished fourth in the U20 race at last year’s World Cross Country Championships and has a 27:08.85 PB for 10,000m, while Girma who is the younger brother of former World Indoor 3000m record-holder Lamecha Girma, will be making his debut over the distance and is a 12:58 performer for 5km.

European 3000m steeplechase silver medallist Djilali Bedrani  from France, European half marathon silver medallist Pietro Riva of Italy and Scottish record holder in the 3000, 5000 and 10000m, Andy Butchart have also been included in the deep elite field.

These deep elite field will also be chasing after the course record of 2:07.25, set last year by Kibrom Weldemicael of Eritrea.