Half marathon world record progression

The world record in the half marathon has been officially recognised 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 recognised the fastest times prior to that date as a "world best" from 1 January 2003 onwards. Before that date, the IAAF did not recognise any road running world records,[1] though the concept of a world record was recognised by other organisations, such as the Association of Road Racing Statisticians (ARRS).[2]

Abraham Kiptum, the former holder of the men's half marathon world record.

The men's half-marathon world record is 58:01 minutes, by Kenyan Geoffrey Kamworor on 15 September 2019 at the Copenhagen Half Marathon.[3]

The women's record is 1:04:31, set by Ababel Yeshaneh on 21 February 2020, at the Ras Al Khaimah Half Marathon in the United Arab Emirates. The previous record of 1:04:51 was set by Joyciline Jepkosgei of Kenya on 22 October 2017, in Valencia, Spain. 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.[4] 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 Kenyan-born Dutchwoman Lornah Kiplagat, who ran 66:25 minutes at the 2007 IAAF World Road Running Championships in Udine on 14 October.[5][6] 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, but in response the organisation agreed to maintain historic marks as official.[7]

Races close to the official half marathon distance of 21.0975 kilometres (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.[8][9] The earliest half marathon world record accepted by the Association of Track and Field Statisticians is that of 67:01 minutes ran by Englishman Brian Hill-Cottingham in Romford in 1960.[10][11] 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.[2] The earliest men's and women's marks recognised as world records by the IAAF are 65:44 set by Ron Hill in 1965 and 75:04 set by Marty Cooksey in 1978.[1]

World record progression

Key:
  Listed by the IAAF as a world best prior to official acceptance[1]
  Ratified by the IAAF as a world best (since 1 January 2003) or world record (since 1 January 2004)[1]
  Recognized by the Association of Road Racing Statisticians[2]

Men
Time Name Nationality Date Event/Place Source Notes
1:07:01Brian Hill-Cottingham United Kingdom9 April 1960RomfordARRS[2]
1:05:44Ron Hill United Kingdom19 June 1965FreckletonIAAF,[1] ARRS[2]
1:05:42Pete Ravald United Kingdom18 June 1966FreckletonIAAF,[1] ARRS[2]
1:04:28Abebe Bikila Ethiopia21 October 1964TokyoIAAF[1][Note 1][Note 2]
1:03:22Derek Clayton Australia3 December 1967Fukuoka MarathonIAAF[1][Note 1][Note 2]
1:04:45Ron Hill United Kingdom21 June 1969FreckletonIAAF,[1] ARRS[2]
1:03:53Derek Graham United Kingdom2 May 1970BelfastIAAF,[1] ARRS[2]
1:03:46Juan Rafael Angel Perez Costa Rica8 February 1976CoamoIAAF,[1] ARRS[2]
1:03:46Jose Reveyn Belgium27 March 1976The HagueIAAF[1]
1:02:57Miruts Yifter Ethiopia6 February 1977CoamoIAAF[1]IAAF notes unrounded time as 1:02:56.3
1:02:37Toshihiro Matsumoto Japan6 February 1977Beppu, ŌitaARRS[2]
1:02:47Tony Simmons United Kingdom24 June 1978Welwyn Garden CityIAAF[1]
1:02:36Nick Rose United Kingdom14 October 1979DaytonIAAF,[1] ARRS[2]
1:02:32Kirk Pfeffer United States7 December 1979Las VegasIAAF,[1] ARRS[2]
1:02:16Stan Mavis United States27 January 1980New OrleansIAAF,[1] ARRS[2]
1:01:47Herb Lindsay United States20 September 1981Manchester, VermontIAAF[1]
1:01:36Michael Musyoki Kenya19 September 1982PhiladelphiaIAAF,[1] ARRS[2]
1:01:32Paul Cummings United States25 September 1983DaytonIAAF,[1] ARRS[2]
1:01:14Steve Jones United Kingdom11 August 1985BirminghamIAAF,[1] ARRS[2]
1:00:55Mark Curp United States15 September 1985PhiladelphiaIAAF,[1] ARRS[2]
1:00:43Michael Musyoki Kenya8 June 1986South ShieldsIAAF[1][Note 1]
1:00:10Matthews Temane South Africa25 July 1987East LondonIAAF[1][Note 1]
1:00:46Dionicio Cerón Mexico16 September 1990PhiladelphiaARRS[2]
1:00:06Steve Moneghetti Australia24 January 1993TokyoIAAF[1][Note 1]
1:00:24Benson Masya Kenya3 April 1993The HagueARRS[2]
59:47Moses Tanui Kenya3 April 1993MilanIAAF[1]
1:00:13Paul Tergat Kenya15 April 1993MilanARRS[2]
59:56Shem Kororia Kenya4 October 1997KošiceARRS[2]
59:43António Pinto Portugal15 March 1998LisbonIAAF[1][Note 1]
59:17Paul Tergat Kenya4 April 1998MilanIAAF,[1] ARRS[2]
59:06Paul Tergat Kenya26 March 2000LisbonIAAF[1][Note 1]
59:16Samuel Wanjiru Kenya11 September 2005RotterdamIAAF,[1] ARRS[2]ARRS notes unrounded time as 59:15.8
59:05Zersenay Tadese Eritrea18 September 2005South ShieldsIAAF[1][Note 1]
58:55Haile Gebrselassie Ethiopia15 January 2006TempeIAAF[1]Disputed by ARRS due to advantage of wind-shielding by a vehicle[2]
59:07Paul Malakwen Kosgei Kenya2 April 2006BerlinARRS[2]
58:53Samuel Wanjiru Kenya9 February 2007Ras al-KhaimahIAAF,[1] ARRS[2]
58:33Samuel Wanjiru Kenya17 March 2007The HagueIAAF,[1] ARRS[2]ARRS notes time as 58:35
58:23Zersenay Tadese Eritrea21 March 2010LisbonIAAF,[12] ARRS[2]
58:18 Abraham Kiptum Kenya28 October 2018ValenciaIAAF[3][13]suspended for doping (26 April 2019)
58:01Geoffrey Kamworor Kenya15 September 2019CopenhagenIAAF [14]

Women
Time Name Nationality Date Event/Place Source Notes
1:23:56Kathy Gibbons United States7 March 1971Phoenix, ArizonaARRS[2]
1:23:11Chantal Langlacé France8 September 1974Aÿ-ChampagneARRS[2]
1:22:05Silvana Cruciata Italy3 April 1977MilanARRS[2]
1:19:45Marja Wokke Netherlands8 January 1978Egmond aan ZeeARRS[2]
1:18:44Silvana Cruciata Italy16 April 1978MilanARRS[2]
1:18:30Jean Abare United States4 July 1978Coronado, CaliforniaARRS[2]
1:15:04Marty Cooksey United States26 August 1978San DiegoIAAF[1][Note 1]
1:17:48Daniele Justin Belgium12 November 1978Nazaré, PortugalARRS[2]
1:15:58Miki Gorman United States19 November 1978PasadenaIAAF,[1] ARRS[2]
1:15:01Ellison Goodall United States10 March 1979Winston-SalemIAAF,[1] ARRS[2]
1:14:50Kathy Mintie United States25 August 1979San DiegoIAAF[1][Note 1]
1:14:04Patti Catalano United States23 September 1979Manchester, VermontIAAF,[1] ARRS[2]ARRS notes time as 1:14:03
1:13:59Marja Wokke Netherlands29 March 1980The HagueIAAF,[1] ARRS[2]
1:13:26Joan Benoit United States18 January 1981New OrleansIAAF,[1] ARRS[2]
1:11:16Joan Benoit United States7 March 1981San DiegoIAAF,[1] ARRS[2]
1:09:57Grete Waitz Norway15 May 1982GothenburgIAAF,[1] ARRS[2]
1:09:14Joan Benoit United States18 September 1983PhiladelphiaIAAF,[1] ARRS[2]ARRS notes time as 1:09:10
1:08:34Joan Benoit United States16 September 1984PhiladelphiaIAAF,[1] ARRS[2]
1:06:40Ingrid Kristiansen Norway5 April 1987SandnesIAAF,[1] ARRS[2][Note 1]
1:08:32Ingrid Kristiansen Norway19 March 1989New BedfordIAAF[1]
1:07:59Elana Meyer South Africa18 May 1991East LondonIAAF[1]
1:07:59Uta Pippig Germany20 March 1994KyotoIAAF[1]
1:07:58Uta Pippig Germany19 March 1995KyotoIAAF[1]
1:07:36Elana Meyer South Africa9 March 1997KyotoIAAF[1]
1:07:29Elana Meyer South Africa8 March 1998KyotoIAAF[1]
1:06:44Elana Meyer South Africa15 January 1999TokyoIAAF[1]
1:05:44Susan Chepkemei Kenya1 April 2001LisbonIAAF[1][Note 1]
1:05:40Paula Radcliffe United Kingdom21 September 2003South ShieldsIAAF[1]IAAF notes unrounded time as 1:05:39.6 [Note 1]
1:06:25 (women only)Lornah Kiplagat Netherlands14 October 2007World RR Champs, UdineIAAF,[1] ARRS[2]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 Kenya18 February 2011Ras al-KhaimahIAAF[15]
1:05:12 (mixed gender)Florence Kiplagat Kenya16 February 2014BarcelonaIAAF[1]
1:05:09 (mixed gender)Florence Kiplagat Kenya15 February 2015BarcelonaIAAF[1]
1:05:06 (mixed gender)Peres Jepchirchir Kenya10 February 2017Ras al-KhaimahIAAF[1]
1:04:52 (mixed gender)Joyciline Jepkosgei Kenya1 April 2017PragueIAAF[1]
1:04:51 (mixed gender)Joyciline Jepkosgei Kenya22 October 2017ValenciaIAAF[1]
1:06:11 (women only)[Note 3]Netsanet Gudeta Ethiopia24 March 2018World HM Champs, ValenciaIAAF[1]
1:04:31 (mixed gender)Ababel Yeshaneh Ethiopia21 February 2020Ras al-KhaimahIAAF[1]

Notes
  1. Noted by the IAAF as set on uncertified or aided course which does not fulfill the criteria specified in IAAF Rule 260.28.b or 260.28.c.
  2. Noted by the IAAF as set en route to longer distances.
  3. Pending ratification

References
  1. IAAF Statistics Book – IAAF World Championships Beijing 2015. IAAF (2015), pp. 684-5, 805-6. Retrieved on 19 February 2017
  2. World Best Progressions- Road. Association of Road Racing Statisticians. Retrieved on 19 February 2017.
  3. Valiente, Emeterio (28 October 2018). "FLASH: Kiptum breaks world half marathon record in Valencia with 58:18". IAAF. Retrieved 28 October 2018.
  4. "Brigid Kosgei run fastest half-marathon ever by a woman". Athletics Weekly. Retrieved 8 September 2019.
  5. World Records. IAAF. Retrieved on 19 February 2017.
  6. Tim Hutchings (10 February 2017). "Jepchirchir breaks world half marathon record in Ras al-Khaimah". IAAF. Retrieved 10 February 2017.
  7. Paula Radcliffe keeps her marathon world record in IAAF about-turn . The Guardian (10 November 2011). Retrieved on 19 February 2017.
  8. Route du Vin Half Marathon. ARRS. Retrieved on 19 February 2017.
  9. San Blas Half Marathon. ARRS. Retrieved on 19 February 2017.
  10. Doing Things By Half. SPIKES Magazine (29 March 2016). Retrieved on 19 February 2017.
  11. Robinson, Roger (28 July 2010). Footsteps: Historic half Marathon. Runner's World. Retrieved on 19 February 2017.
  12. IAAF (10 May 2010). "World Records Ratified". Monte Carlo. Retrieved 26 June 2011.
  13. IAAF (6 December 2018). "World record ratified". Retrieved 8 December 2018.
  14. Jon Mulkeen (15 September 2019). "Kamworor breaks world half marathon record in Copenhagen with 58:01". IAAF. Retrieved 27 September 2019.
  15. "Keitany smashes half marathon world record in Ras Al Khaimah". IAAF. 18 February 2011. Retrieved 3 May 2015.
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