The world record in the half marathon has been officially recognized since 1 January 2004 by the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF), the international governing body for the sport of athletics. A total of five men's world records and six women's world records have been officially ratified since that date. The IAAF officially recognized the fastest times before that date as a "world best" from 1 January 2003 onwards. Before that date, the IAAF did not recognize any road running world records, [2] though the concept of a world record was recognized by other organizations, such as the Association of Road Racing Statisticians (ARRS). [3]
The men's half-marathon world record is 57:31, set by Ugandan Jacob Kiplimo on 21 November 2021 during the Lisbon Half Marathon. [4]
The women's record is 1:02:52, set by Letesenbet Gidey on 24 October 2021, at the Valencia Half Marathon. The previous record of 1:04:02 was set by Ruth Chepngetich of Kenya on 4 April 2021, in Istanbul, Turkey. On 8 September 2019, Brigid Kosgei ran a time of 64:28 minutes at the 2019 Great North Run in Newcastle, England, 23 seconds faster than previous best, however the Great North Run is not eligible for record purposes. [5] The IAAF has since 2011 also kept records for the fastest time run by women in women-only races (i.e. without male pacemakers). The best time for that category is held by Peres Jepchirchir, who ran 1:05:16 in Gdynia on 17 October 2020. There was some criticism of this change, as the IAAF originally intended to downgrade world records set in mixed-gender races to "world best" status. Still, in response the organization agreed to maintain historic marks as official. [6]
Races close to the official half marathon distance of 21.0975 kilometers (13.1094 mi) had taken place throughout the early 20th century, and athletes had also been timed at the midpoint of full marathons, but the first half marathon races proper emerged in the 1960s. Some of that era, such as the Route du Vin Half Marathon and San Blas Half Marathon (which both took the official distance in 1966) are extant today. [7] [8] The earliest half marathon world record accepted by the Association of Track and Field Statisticians is that of 67:01 minutes run by Englishman Brian Hill-Cottingham in Romford in 1960. [9] [10] For women, the earliest ARRS-recognised time is that of American Kathy Gibbons, who finished the distance in 83:56 on 7 March 1971 in Phoenix, Arizona. [3] The earliest men's and women's marks recognized as world records by the IAAF are 65:44 set by Ron Hill in 1965 and 75:04 set by Marty Cooksey in 1978. [2]
On 30 March 1991, Arturo Barrios ran a world record distance of 21.101 km in one hour, becoming the first man to run the half marathon distance in under one hour. [11] On 3 April 1993, Moses Tanui became the first man to run a half marathon race in under one hour, with a time of 59:47. [12]
Key:
Listed by the World Athletics as a world best prior to official acceptance [2]
Ratified by the World Athletics as a world best (since 1 January 2003) or world record (since 1 January 2004) [2]
- pending ratification by World Athletics Recognized by the Association of Road Racing Statisticians [3]
Time | Name | Nationality | Date | Event/Place | Source | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1:07:01 | Brian Hill-Cottingham | United Kingdom | 9 April 1960 | Romford | ARRS [3] | |
1:05:44 | Ron Hill | United Kingdom | 19 June 1965 | Freckleton | IAAF, [2] ARRS [3] | |
1:05:42 | Pete Ravald | United Kingdom | 18 June 1966 | Freckleton | IAAF, [2] ARRS [3] | |
1:04:28 | Abebe Bikila | Ethiopia | 21 October 1964 | Tokyo | IAAF [2] | [Note 1] [Note 2] |
1:03:22 | Derek Clayton | Australia | 3 December 1967 | Fukuoka Marathon | IAAF [2] | [Note 1] [Note 2] |
1:03:53 | Derek Graham | United Kingdom | 2 May 1970 | Belfast | IAAF, [2] ARRS [3] | |
1:03:46 | Juan Rafael Angel Perez | Costa Rica | 8 February 1976 | Coamo | IAAF, [2] ARRS [3] | |
1:03:46 | Jose Reveyn | Belgium | 27 March 1976 | The Hague | IAAF [2] | |
1:02:57 | Miruts Yifter | Ethiopia | 6 February 1977 | Coamo | IAAF [2] | IAAF notes unrounded time as 1:02:56.3 |
1:02:37 | Toshihiro Matsumoto | Japan | 6 February 1977 | Beppu, Ōita | ARRS [3] | |
1:02:47 | Tony Simmons | United Kingdom | 24 June 1978 | Welwyn Garden City | IAAF [2] | |
1:02:36 | Nick Rose | United Kingdom | 14 October 1979 | Dayton | IAAF, [2] ARRS [3] | |
1:02:32 | Kirk Pfeffer | United States | 7 December 1979 | Las Vegas | IAAF, [2] ARRS [3] | |
1:02:16 | Stan Mavis | United States | 27 January 1980 | New Orleans | IAAF, [2] ARRS [3] | |
1:01:47 | Herb Lindsay | United States | 20 September 1981 | Manchester, Vermont | IAAF [2] | |
1:01:36 | Michael Musyoki | Kenya | 19 September 1982 | Philadelphia | IAAF, [2] ARRS [3] | |
1:01:32 | Paul Cummings | United States | 25 September 1983 | Dayton | IAAF, [2] ARRS [3] | |
1:01:14 | Steve Jones | United Kingdom | 11 August 1985 | Birmingham | IAAF, [2] ARRS [3] | |
1:00:55 | Mark Curp | United States | 15 September 1985 | Philadelphia | IAAF, [2] ARRS [3] | |
1:00:43 | Michael Musyoki | Kenya | 8 June 1986 | South Shields | IAAF [2] | [Note 1] |
1:00:10 | Matthews Temane | South Africa | 25 July 1987 | East London | IAAF [2] | [Note 1] |
1:00:46 | Dionicio Cerón | Mexico | 16 September 1990 | Philadelphia | ARRS [3] | |
1:00:06 | Steve Moneghetti | Australia | 24 January 1993 | Tokyo | IAAF [2] | [Note 1] |
1:00:24 | Benson Masya | Kenya | 3 April 1993 | The Hague | ARRS [3] | |
59:47 | Moses Tanui | Kenya | 3 April 1993 | Milan | IAAF [2] | |
1:00:13 | Paul Tergat | Kenya | 15 April 1994 | Milan | ARRS [3] | |
59:56 | Shem Kororia | Kenya | 4 October 1997 | Košice | ARRS [3] | |
59:43 | António Pinto | Portugal | 15 March 1998 | Lisbon | IAAF [2] | [Note 1] |
59:17 | Paul Tergat | Kenya | 4 April 1998 | Milan | IAAF, [2] ARRS [3] | |
59:06 | Paul Tergat | Kenya | 26 March 2000 | Lisbon | IAAF [2] | [Note 1] |
59:16 | Samuel Wanjiru | Kenya | 11 September 2005 | Rotterdam | IAAF, [2] ARRS [3] | ARRS notes unrounded time as 59:15.8 |
59:05 | Zersenay Tadese | Eritrea | 18 September 2005 | South Shields | IAAF [2] | [Note 1] |
58:55 | Haile Gebrselassie | Ethiopia | 15 January 2006 | Tempe | IAAF [2] | Disputed by ARRS due to advantage of wind-shielding by a vehicle [3] |
59:07 | Paul Malakwen Kosgei | Kenya | 2 April 2006 | Berlin | ARRS [3] | |
58:53 | Samuel Wanjiru | Kenya | 9 February 2007 | Ras al-Khaimah | IAAF, [2] ARRS [3] | |
58:33 | Samuel Wanjiru | Kenya | 17 March 2007 | The Hague | IAAF, [2] ARRS [3] | ARRS notes time as 58:35 |
58:23 | Zersenay Tadese | Eritrea | 21 March 2010 | Lisbon | IAAF, [13] ARRS [3] | |
58:18 | Abraham Kiptum | Kenya | 28 October 2018 | Valencia | IAAF [14] [15] | suspended for doping (26 April 2019) |
58:01 | Geoffrey Kamworor | Kenya | 15 September 2019 | Copenhagen | IAAF [16] | |
57:32 | Kibiwott Kandie | Kenya | 6 December 2020 | Valencia | World Athletics [17] | |
57:31 | Jacob Kiplimo | Uganda | 21 November 2021 | Lisbon | World Athletics [4] |
Time | Name | Nationality | Date | Event/Place | Source | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1:23:56 | Kathy Gibbons | United States | 7 March 1971 | Phoenix, Arizona | ARRS [3] | |
1:23:11 | Chantal Langlacé | France | 8 September 1974 | Aÿ-Champagne | ARRS [3] | |
1:22:05 | Silvana Cruciata | Italy | 3 April 1977 | Milan | ARRS [3] | |
1:19:45 | Marja Wokke | Netherlands | 8 January 1978 | Egmond aan Zee | ARRS [3] | |
1:18:44 | Silvana Cruciata | Italy | 16 April 1978 | Milan | ARRS [3] | |
1:18:30 | Jean Abare | United States | 4 July 1978 | Coronado, California | ARRS [3] | |
1:15:04 | Marty Cooksey | United States | 26 August 1978 | San Diego | IAAF [2] | [Note 1] |
1:17:48 | Daniele Justin | Belgium | 12 November 1978 | Nazaré, Portugal | ARRS [3] | |
1:15:58 | Miki Gorman | United States | 19 November 1978 | Pasadena | IAAF, [2] ARRS [3] | |
1:15:01 | Ellison Goodall | United States | 10 March 1979 | Winston-Salem | IAAF, [2] ARRS [3] | |
1:14:50 | Kathy Mintie | United States | 25 August 1979 | San Diego | IAAF [2] | [Note 1] |
1:14:04 | Patti Catalano | United States | 23 September 1979 | Manchester, Vermont | IAAF, [2] ARRS [3] | ARRS notes time as 1:14:03 |
1:13:59 | Marja Wokke | Netherlands | 29 March 1980 | The Hague | IAAF, [2] ARRS [3] | |
1:13:26 | Joan Benoit | United States | 18 January 1981 | New Orleans | IAAF, [2] ARRS [3] | |
1:11:16 | Joan Benoit | United States | 7 March 1981 | San Diego | IAAF, [2] ARRS [3] | |
1:09:57 | Grete Waitz | Norway | 15 May 1982 | Gothenburg | IAAF, [2] ARRS [3] | |
1:09:14 | Joan Benoit | United States | 18 September 1983 | Philadelphia | IAAF, [2] ARRS [3] | ARRS notes time as 1:09:10 |
1:08:34 | Joan Benoit | United States | 16 September 1984 | Philadelphia | IAAF, [2] ARRS [3] | |
1:06:40 | Ingrid Kristiansen | Norway | 5 April 1987 | Sandnes | IAAF, [2] ARRS [3] | [Note 1] |
1:08:32 | Ingrid Kristiansen | Norway | 19 March 1989 | New Bedford | IAAF [2] | |
1:07:59 | Elana Meyer | South Africa | 18 May 1991 | East London | IAAF [2] | |
1:07:59 | Uta Pippig | Germany | 20 March 1994 | Kyoto | IAAF [2] | |
1:07:58 | Uta Pippig | Germany | 19 March 1995 | Kyoto | IAAF [2] | |
1:07:36 | Elana Meyer | South Africa | 9 March 1997 | Kyoto | IAAF [2] | |
1:07:29 | Elana Meyer | South Africa | 8 March 1998 | Kyoto | IAAF [2] | |
1:06:44 | Elana Meyer | South Africa | 15 January 1999 | Tokyo | IAAF [2] | |
1:05:44 | Susan Chepkemei | Kenya | 1 April 2001 | Lisbon | IAAF [2] | [Note 1] |
1:05:40 | Paula Radcliffe | United Kingdom | 21 September 2003 | South Shields | IAAF [2] | IAAF notes unrounded time as 1:05:39.6 [Note 1] |
1:06:25 (women only) | Lornah Kiplagat | Netherlands | 14 October 2007 | World RR Champs, Udine | IAAF, [2] ARRS [3] | First world record recognized by the International Association of Athletics Federations. Mark also recognized as official world record. |
1:05:50 (mixed gender) | Mary Keitany | Kenya | 18 February 2011 | Ras al-Khaimah | IAAF [18] | |
1:05:12 (mixed gender) | Florence Kiplagat | Kenya | 16 February 2014 | Barcelona | IAAF [2] | |
1:05:09 (mixed gender) | Florence Kiplagat | Kenya | 15 February 2015 | Barcelona | IAAF [2] | |
1:05:06 (mixed gender) | Peres Jepchirchir | Kenya | 10 February 2017 | Ras al-Khaimah | IAAF | |
1:04:52 (mixed gender) | Joyciline Jepkosgei | Kenya | 1 April 2017 | Prague | IAAF | |
1:04:51 (mixed gender) | Joyciline Jepkosgei | Kenya | 22 October 2017 | Valencia | IAAF | |
1:06:11 (women only) | Netsanet Gudeta | Ethiopia | 24 March 2018 | World HM Champs, Valencia | IAAF | |
1:04:31 (mixed gender) | Ababel Yeshaneh | Ethiopia | 21 February 2020 | Ras al-Khaimah | IAAF | |
1:05:34 (women only) | Peres Jepchirchir | Kenya | 5 September 2020 | Prague | World Athletics [19] | |
1:05:16 (women only) | Peres Jepchirchir | Kenya | 17 October 2020 | Gdynia | World Athletics [20] | |
1:04:02 (mixed gender) | Ruth Chepngetich | Kenya | 4 April 2021 | Istanbul | World Athletics [21] | |
1:03:44 (mixed gender) | Yalemzerf Yehualaw | Ethiopia | 29 August 2021 | Larne | World Athletics [22] | |
1:02:52 (mixed gender) | Letesenbet Gidey | Ethiopia | 24 October 2021 | Valencia | World Athletics [23] |
This list is a chronological progression of record times for the marathon. World records in the marathon are ratified by World Athletics, the international governing body for the sport of athletics.
A half marathon is a road running event of 21.0975 kilometres —half the distance of a marathon. It is common for a half marathon event to be held concurrently with a marathon or a 5K race, using almost the same course with a late start, an early finish or shortcuts. If finisher medals are awarded, the medal or ribbon may differ from those for the full marathon. The half marathon is also known as a 21K, 21.1K, or 13.1 miles, although these values are rounded and not formally correct.
The following tables are an overview of all current national records in the marathon, as compiled by the International Association of Athletics Federations and other authoritative sources of road racing statistics.
The 10K run is a long-distance road running competition over a distance of ten kilometres. Also referred to as the 10K road race, 10 km, or simply 10K, it is one of the most common types of road running event, alongside the shorter 5K and longer half marathon and marathon. It is usually distinguished from the 10,000 metres track running event by stating the distance in kilometres, rather than metres.
The Prague Half Marathon is an annual half marathon road running event which takes place in Spring on the city streets of Prague, Czech Republic, first held in 1999. It is managed by the same organisation that holds the Prague Marathon in May. The race has a loop course, starting and ending in Jan Palach Square near the Rudolfinum, and largely follows the Vltava river. The competition has enjoyed an increasing level of participation, with around 6500 participants in 2009 and almost 8500 runners taking part in the 2010 event.
The official world records in the 10,000 metres are held by Ugandan Joshua Cheptegei with 26:11.00 minutes for men and Ethiopian Letesenbet Gidey with 29:01.03 for women.
Joshua Kiprui Cheptegei is a Ugandan long-distance runner. Cheptegei is the current world record holder for the 5000 metres and the 10,000 metres, and holds the world best time over the 15 kilometres distance. Cheptegei is the reigning Olympic champion in the 5000 m and the reigning three-time World champion in the 10,000 m. Cheptegei also won a gold medal in the 5000 m and 10,000 m at the 2018 Commonwealth Games and at the 2019 IAAF World Cross Country Championships.
Peres Jepchirchir is a Kenyan professional long-distance runner who competes mainly in road running competitions. She won the gold medal in the women's marathon at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. Jepchirchir was the champion at the 2016 and 2020 World Half Marathon Championships. She claimed victories at the 2021 New York City and 2022 Boston Marathon and finished third at the 2023 London Marathon.
The 15K run is a long distance foot race. It is a rarely held race that is not recognized as an Olympic event. The overall world best time for men was set by Jacob Kiplimo en route the Lisbon Half Marathon. Excluding en route times both the world best for men and women were set at the Zevenheuvelenloop in Nijmegen, Netherlands. The world best for men is held by Joshua Cheptegei of Uganda who ran a time of 41:05. The women's world best is held by Letesenbet Gidey of Ethiopia who ran a time of 44:20.
Letesenbet Gidey is an Ethiopian long-distance runner who holds two world records and one world best. In the 10,000 metres, she is the 2020 Tokyo Olympic bronze medallist, 2019 World silver medallist, and 2022 World champion.
Brigid Jepchirchir Kosgei is a Kenyan long-distance runner who specialises in the marathon. She won the 2018 and 2019 Chicago Marathons, the 2019 and 2020 London Marathons and the 2021 Tokyo Marathon. Kosgei was the marathon world record holder for women running in a mixed-sex race, with a time of 2:14:04 achieved on 13 October 2019 at the Chicago Marathon. She won the silver medal in the marathon event at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
The 10-mile run is a long-distance running event over a distance of ten miles (16.1 kilometres). It can be held on a road course or on a running track. Also referred to as a 10-miler or 10 miles run, it is a relatively common distance in countries that use the mile as a unit of measure. Ten miles is roughly an intermediate distance between the 10K run and the half marathon (21.1 km). The level of endurance required to run the distance means it attracts more seasoned runners than shorter events and usually requires a period of preparation for first-time attempts.
The 20K run is a long distance foot race. It is a rarely held race that is not recognized as an Olympic event. The event held IAAF world championship status in 2006 only, when the existing IAAF World Half Marathon Championships briefly hosted the shorter distance.
The 25K run is a long distance running footrace that is between the distance of a half marathon and a marathon. It was formerly an official world record distance in road running by World Athletics, but has since been downgraded to world best status. Separately, the Association of Road Racing Statisticians retains world records in the 25K distance. The ARRS holds different standards for records than World Athletics, with exclusions for certain point-to-point races and mixed sex races. As a result its women's world record is 1:26:34 by Nancy Conz, set in 1982.