Half marathon world record progression

Abraham Kiptum, ran a half marathon in 2018 in a time of 58:18, which would have been a world record (world record 58:23), but in 2019 this world record was nullified, because of a doping violation verdict in 2019.[1]

The world record in the half marathon has been officially recognized since 1 January 2004 by World Athletics, 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, pending ratification, is 57:30, set by Yomif Kejelcha of Ethiopia on 27 October 2024 in the Valencia Half Marathon. Kejelcha broke Ugandan Jacob Kiplimo's previous world record of 57:31, set on 21 November 2021 in the Lisbon Half Marathon, by one second.[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 1:04:28 at the 2019 Great North Run in Newcastle, England. This was 23 seconds faster than the previous best, but the Great North Run was 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]

World record progression

[edit]

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]

Men

[edit]
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]
57:30 Yomif Kejelcha  Ethiopia 27 October 2024 Valencia World Athletics[18]

Women

[edit]
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[19]
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[20]
1:05:16 (women only) Peres Jepchirchir  Kenya 17 October 2020 Gdynia World Athletics[21]
1:04:02 (mixed gender) Ruth Chepngetich  Kenya 4 April 2021 Istanbul World Athletics[22]
1:03:44 (mixed gender) Yalemzerf Yehualaw  Ethiopia 29 August 2021 Larne World Athletics[23]
1:02:52 (mixed gender) Letesenbet Gidey  Ethiopia 24 October 2021 Valencia World Athletics[24]

Notes

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m Noted by the IAAF as set on an uncertified or aided course which does not fulfill the criteria specified in IAAF Rule 260.28.b or 260.28.c.
  2. ^ a b Noted by the IAAF as set en route to longer distances.

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Kenya's Kiptum gets four-year ban". BBC Sport. Retrieved 16 December 2020.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak al am an ao ap aq ar as at au av aw ax ay az ba bb bc bd be bf IAAF Statistics Book – IAAF World Championships Beijing 2015. IAAF (2015), pp. 684-5, 805-6. Retrieved on 19 February 2017
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak al am an ao ap aq ar as at World Best Progressions- Road. Association of Road Racing Statisticians. Retrieved on 19 February 2017.
  4. ^ a b "Kiplimo breaks world half marathon record in Lisbon". World Athletics. 21 November 2021. Retrieved 21 November 2021.
  5. ^ "Brigid Kosgei run fastest half-marathon ever by a woman". Athletics Weekly. 8 September 2019. Retrieved 8 September 2019.
  6. ^ Paula Radcliffe keeps her marathon world record in IAAF about-turn . The Guardian (10 November 2011). Retrieved on 19 February 2017.
  7. ^ Route du Vin Half Marathon. ARRS. Retrieved on 19 February 2017.
  8. ^ San Blas Half Marathon. ARRS. Retrieved on 19 February 2017.
  9. ^ Doing Things By Half. SPIKES Magazine (29 March 2016). Retrieved on 19 February 2017.
  10. ^ Robinson, Roger (28 July 2010). Footsteps: Historic half-Marathon. Runner's World. Retrieved on 19 February 2017.
  11. ^ IAAF (16 April 2021). "Progression of World Athletics Records (2020 edition)". Retrieved 11 May 2021.
  12. ^ IAAF (16 April 2021). "Progression of World Athletics Records (2020 edition)". Retrieved 11 May 2021.
  13. ^ IAAF (10 May 2010). "World Records Ratified". Monte Carlo. Retrieved 26 June 2011.
  14. ^ Valiente, Emeterio (28 October 2018). "FLASH: Kiptum breaks world half marathon record in Valencia with 58:18". IAAF. Retrieved 28 October 2018.
  15. ^ IAAF (6 December 2018). "World record ratified". Retrieved 8 December 2018.
  16. ^ Jon Mulkeen (15 September 2019). "Kamworor breaks world half marathon record in Copenhagen with 58:01". IAAF. Retrieved 27 September 2019.
  17. ^ Emeterio Valiente (6 December 2020). "57:32! Kandie crushes half marathon world record in Valencia". World Athletics. Retrieved 8 December 2020.
  18. ^ "Kejelcha breaks world half marathon record in Valencia | REPORTS | World Athletics". worldathletics.org. Retrieved 27 October 2024.
  19. ^ "Keitany smashes half marathon world record in Ras Al Khaimah". IAAF. 18 February 2011. Retrieved 3 May 2015.
  20. ^ "Jepchirchir smashes women-only half marathon world record in Prague". World Athletics. 5 September 2020. Retrieved 11 September 2020.
  21. ^ "Peres Jepchirchir breaks women's half-marathon world record". BBC. 17 October 2020. Retrieved 17 October 2020.
  22. ^ "Chepngetich smashes world half marathon record in Istanbul". World Athletics. 4 April 2021.
  23. ^ "Yehualaw smashes world half marathon record in Larne". World Athletics. 29 August 2021. Retrieved 29 August 2021.
  24. ^ "Gidey smashes world half marathon record in Valencia". World Athletics. 24 October 2021. Retrieved 6 November 2021.
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