Half marathon

Athletics
Half marathon
Half marathon runners in the 2024 Dallas Marathon
World records
MenEthiopia Yomif Kejelcha 57:30 (2024)
WomenMx: Ethiopia Letesenbet Gidey 1:02:52 (2021)
Wo: Kenya Peres Jepchirchir 1:05:16 (2020)

A half marathon is a road running event of 21.0975 kilometres (13 miles 192.5 yards)—half the distance of a marathon.[1] 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.[2] 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.[examples needed]

A half marathon world record is officially recognised by World Athletics.[3][4] The men's world record time, pending ratification, is 57:30, set by Yomif Kejelcha of Ethiopia in October 2024 in Valencia, Spain.[5] The women's world record, in a mixed-gender race, is 1:02:52, set by Letesenbet Gidey of Ethiopia in October 2021 in Valencia, Spain. In a female-only race, the women's world record is 1:05:16, set by Peres Jepchirchir of Kenya in October 2020.[6]

Participation in half marathons has grown steadily since 2003,[7] partly because it is a challenging distance, but does not require the same level of training that a marathon does.[7] In 2008, Running USA reported that the half marathon is the fastest-growing type of race.[7]

History

The concept of the half-marathon emerged in the 1960s. The first half marathon was the Route du Vin Half Marathon founded in 1961. Although the race was technically not the official current distance until it was standardized in 1995.[8] The event grew in popularity leading to the eventual establishment of the World Athletics Road Running Championships in 1992, originally titled the IAAF World Half Marathon Championships.

All-time top 25

Men

Rank Time Athlete Date Place Ref
1 57:30  Yomif Kejelcha (ETH) 27 October 2024 Valencia [11]
2 57:31  Jacob Kiplimo (UGA) 21 November 2021 Lisbon [12]
3 57:32  Kibiwott Kandie (KEN) 6 December 2020 Valencia [13]
4 57:41  Hagos Gebrhiwet (ETH) 22 October 2023 Valencia [14]
– 57:49[a]  Rhonex Kipruto (KEN) 6 December 2020 Valencia [13]
5 57:50  Selemon Barega (ETH) 22 October 2023 Valencia [14]
6 57:59  Alexander Mutiso (KEN) 6 December 2020 Valencia [13]
7 58:01  Geoffrey Kamworor (KEN) 15 September 2019 Copenhagen [15]
8 58:02  Sabastian Sawe (KEN) 6 March 2022 Rome–Ostia [16]
9 58:07  Abel Kipchumba (KEN) 24 October 2021 Valencia [17]
10 58:10  Isaia Kipkoech Lasoi (KEN) 15 September 2024 Copenhagen [18]
11 58:11  Philemon Kiplimo (KEN) 6 December 2020 Valencia [13]
12 58:17  Daniel Mateiko (KEN) 27 October 2024 Valencia [19]
13 58:23  Zersenay Tadese (ERI) 21 March 2010 Lisbon
14 58:28  Kennedy Kimutai (KEN) 24 October 2021 Valencia [17]
15 58:30  Rodgers Kwemoi (KEN) 19 February 2022 Ras al-Khaimah [20]
16 58:33  Samuel Wanjiru (KEN) 17 March 2007 The Hague
 Jemal Yimer (ETH) 28 October 2018 Valencia [21]
18 58:35  Kenneth Kiprop Renju (KEN) 19 February 2022 Ras al-Khaimah [22]
19 58:36  Seifu Tura Abdiwak (ETH) 19 February 2022 Ras al-Khaimah [23]
20 58:39  Gemechu Dida (ETH) 27 October 2024 Valencia [24]
21 58:40  Abraham Cheroben (BHR) 17 September 2017 Copenhagen
 Muktar Edris (ETH) 24 October 2021 Valencia [17]
 Amdework Walelegn Tadese (ETH) 19 February 2022 Ras al-Khaimah [25]
24 58:41  Vincent Langat (KEN) 27 October 2024 Valencia [26]
25 58:42  Bedan Karoki Muchiri (KEN) 9 February 2018 Ras al-Khaimah [27]
 Eric Kiptanui (KEN) 8 April 2018 Berlin [28]
 Stephen Kiprop (KEN) 8 February 2019 Ras al-Khaimah [29]
 Kelvin Kiptum (KEN) 6 December 2020 Valencia [13]

Notes

Below is a list of other times equal or superior to 58:43:

Women

Rank Time Athlete Date Place Ref
1 1:02:52 Mx  Letesenbet Gidey (ETH) 24 October 2021 Valencia [35]
2 1:03:04 Mx  Agnes Jebet Ngetich (KEN) 27 October 2024 Valencia [36]
3 1:03:21 Mx  Fotyen Tesfay (ETH) 27 October 2024 Valencia [37]
4 1:03:32 Mx  Lilian Kasait Rengeruk (KEN) 27 October 2024 Valencia [38]
5 1:03:51 Mx  Yalemzerf Yehualaw (ETH) 24 October 2021 Valencia [39]
6 1:04:02 Mx  Ruth Chepng'etich (KEN) 4 April 2021 Istanbul [40]
7 1:04:14 Mx  Girmawit Gebrzihair (ETH) 19 February 2022 Ras al-Khaimah [41]
1:04:14 Mx  Ejgayehu Taye (ETH) 27 October 2024 Valencia [42]
9 1:04:22 Mx  Hellen Obiri (KEN) 19 February 2022 Ras al-Khaimah [43]
10 1:04:29 Mx  Joyciline Jepkosgei (KEN) 11 February 2024 Barcelona [44]
11 1:04:31 Mx  Ababel Yeshaneh (ETH) 21 February 2020 Ras al-Khaimah [45]
12 1:04:36 Mx  Sheila Chepkirui (KEN) 19 February 2022 Ras al-Khaimah [46]
13 1:04:37  Irine Kimais (KEN) 19 February 2023 Barcelona [47]
1:04:37 Mx  Sutume Kebede (ETH) 14 January 2024 Houston [48]
15 1:04:40 Mx  Senbere Teferi (ETH) 11 February 2024 Barcelona [49]
16 1:04:46  Margaret Kipkemboi (KEN) 22 October 2023 Valencia [14]
17 1:04:49  Brigid Kosgei (KEN) 21 February 2020 Ras al-Khaimah [50]
18 1:04:52  Fancy Chemutai (KEN) 9 February 2018 Ras al-Khaimah [51]
19 1:04:53  Irene Chepet Cheptai (KEN) 22 October 2023 Valencia [14]
20 1:04:55  Mary Keitany (KEN) 9 February 2018 Ras al-Khaimah [52]
21 1:05:01 Mx  Tsehay Gemechu (ETH) 28 August 2022 Larne [53]
22 1:05:03 Mx  Vicoty Chepngeno (KEN) 16 January 2022 Houston [54]
23 1:05:04  Joan Chelimo (KEN) 7 April 2018 Prague [55]
24 1:05:06  Peres Jepchirchir (KEN) 10 February 2017 Ras al-Khaimah [33]
25 1:05:07  Caroline Chepkoech Kipkirui (KEN) 9 February 2018 Ras al-Khaimah [56]

Notes

Below is a list of other times equal or superior to 1:05:07:

Season's bests

The Chicago Half Marathon is a Chicago Marathon tune-up on Lake Shore Drive in the South Side of Chicago.
Runners taking part in the Bristol Half Marathon

This table lists the best half marathon performances per year since 1970, as recorded by the ARRS.[61]

Year Mark Men Place Mark Women Place
1970 1:03:53  Derek Graham (GBR) Belfast
1971 1:05:25  Ron Hill (GBR) Freckleton 1:23:56  Kathy Gibbons (USA) Phoenix
1972 1:04:23  Víctor Manuel Mora (COL) Coamo 1:31:55  Nadia Garcia (USA) San Diego
1973 1:05:07  Mario Cuevas (MEX) Maracaibo
1974 1:04:45  Vladimir Merkushin (URS) Wieze 1:23:11  Chantal Langlacé (FRA) Ay
1975 1:05:08  Paul Angenvoorth (FRG) Grevenmacher
1976 1:03:46  Rafael Pérez (CRC) Coamo 1:29:43  Rita Borralho (POR) Nazaré
1977 1:02:37  Toshihiro Matsumoto (JPN) Beppu 1:22:05  Silvana Cruciata (ITA) Milan
1978 1:02:47  Tony Simmons (GBR) Welwyn Garden City 1:15:04  Marty Cooksey (USA) San Diego
1979 1:02:32  Kirk Pfeffer (USA) Las Vegas 1:14:03  Patti Catalano (USA) Manchester
1980 1:02:16  Stan Mavis (USA) New Orleans 1:13:59  Marja Wokke (NED) The Hague
1981 1:01:47  Herb Lindsay (USA) Manchester 1:11:16  Joan Samuelson (USA) San Diego
1982 1:01:36  Michael Musyoki (KEN) Philadelphia 1:09:57  Grete Waitz (NOR) Gothenburg
1983 1:01:32  Paul Cummings (USA) Dayton 1:09:10  Joan Samuelson (USA) Philadelphia
1984 1:01:52  Alberto Cova (ITA) Milan 1:08:34  Joan Samuelson (USA) Philadelphia
1985 1:00:55  Mark Curp (USA) Philadelphia 1:09:44  Joan Samuelson (USA) Philadelphia
1986 1:00:43  Michael Musyoki (KEN) South Shields 1:09:03  Ingrid Kristiansen (NOR) Drammen
1987 1:01:04  Carl Thackery (GBR) Barnsley 1:06:40  Ingrid Kristiansen (NOR) Sandnes
1988 1:01:00  John Treacy (IRL) South Shields 1:08:49  Grete Waitz (NOR) South Shields
1989 1:01:10  Matthews Temane (RSA) Durban 1:08:31  Ingrid Kristiansen (NOR) New Bedford
1990 1:00:34  Steve Moneghetti (AUS) South Shields 1:09:33  Rosa Mota (POR) South Shields
1991 1:00:51  Moses Tanui (KEN) Milan 1:07:59  Elana Meyer (RSA) East London
1992 1:00:24  Benson Masya (KEN) South Shields 1:08:42  Liz McColgan (GBR) Dundee
1993 59:47  Moses Tanui (KEN) Milan[b] 1:09:35  Valentina Yegorova (RUS) St Petersburg
1994 1:00:02  Benson Masya (KEN) South Shields 1:07:59  Uta Pippig (GER) Kyoto
1995 1:00:26  Simon Lopuyet (KEN) Lisbon 1:07:59  Uta Pippig (GER) Kyoto
1996 1:00:31  Paul Koech (KEN) Ivry-sur-Seine 1:09:15  Nadia Prasad (NCL) Paris
1997 59:56  Shem Kororia (KEN) Košice 1:07:36  Elana Meyer (RSA) Kyoto
1998 59:17  Paul Tergat (KEN) Milan 1:07:29  Elana Meyer (RSA) Kyoto
1999 59:22  Paul Tergat (KEN) Milan 1:06:44  Elana Meyer (RSA) Tokyo
2000 1:00:30  Kenichi Takahashi (JPN) Tokyo 1:07:07  Paula Radcliffe (GBR) South Shields
2001 59:52  Fabián Roncero (ESP) Berlin 1:06:47  Paula Radcliffe (GBR) Bristol
2002 59:41  Haile Gebrselassie (ETH) Lisbon 1:07:19  Sonia O'Sullivan (IRL) South Shields
2003 1:00:01  Hendrick Ramaala (RSA) South Shields 1:05:39  Paula Radcliffe (GBR) South Shields
2004 59:37  Dejene Berhanu (ETH) South Shields 1:07:55  Benita Johnson (AUS) South Shields
2005 59:05  Zersenay Tadese (ERI) South Shields 1:07:33  Derartu Tulu (ETH) South Shields
2006 58:55  Haile Gebrselassie (ETH) Tempe 1:07:16  Edith Masai (KEN) Berlin
2007 58:35  Samuel Wanjiru (KEN) The Hague 1:06:25  Lornah Kiplagat (NED) Udine
2008 59:15  Haile Gebrselassie (ETH)
 Deriba Merga (ETH) 		Lisbon
New Delhi 		1:07:57  Philes Ongori (KEN) Marugame
2009 58:52  Patrick Makau (KEN) Ras al-Khaimah 1:06:36  Mary Keitany (KEN) Birmingham
2010 58:23  Zersenay Tadese (ERI) Lisbon 1:07:07  Elvan Abeylegesse (TUR) Ras al-Khaimah
2011 58:30  Zersenay Tadese (ERI) Lisbon 1:05:50[62]  Mary Keitany (KEN) Ras al-Khaimah
2012 58:47  Atsedu Tsegay (ETH) Prague 1:06:49  Mary Keitany (KEN) Ras al-Khaimah
2013 58:54  Geoffrey Kipsang (KEN) Ras al-Khaimah 1:06:09  Lucy Kabuu (KEN) Ras al-Khaimah
2014 58:48  Abraham Cheroben (KEN) Valencia 1:05:12  Florence Kiplagat (KEN) Barcelona
2015 59:10  Abraham Cheroben (KEN) Valencia 1:05:09  Florence Kiplagat (KEN) Barcelona
2016 58:44  Solomon Yego (KEN) Ostia 1:05:51  Violah Jepchumba (KEN) Prague
2017 58:40  Abraham Cheroben (BHR) Copenhagen 1:04:51  Joyciline Jepkosgei (KEN) Valencia
2018 58:18  Abraham Kiptum (KEN) Valencia 1:04:52  Fancy Chemutai (KEN) Ras al-Khaimah
2019 58:01  Geoffrey Kamworor (KEN) Copenhagen 1:05:28  Brigid Kosgei (KEN) Manama
2020 57:32  Kibiwott Kandie (KEN) Valencia 1:04:31  Ababel Yeshaneh (ETH) Ras al-Khaimah
2021 57:31  Jacob Kiplimo (UGA) Lisbon 1:02:52  Letesenbet Gidey (ETH) Valencia
2022 57:56  Jacob Kiplimo (UGA) Ras al-Khaimah 1:04:14  Girmawit Gebrzihair (ETH) Ras al-Khaimah

The largest half marathon ever held was Broloppet (the Bridge race) between Copenhagen in Denmark and Malmö in Sweden with 79,719 finishers, held in connection with the Øresund Bridge inauguration in 2000.[63][64]

See also

Notes

  1. ^ annulled due to doping violations
  2. ^ Published in IAAF documents, including IAAF top lists Archived 2009-02-16 at the Wayback Machine. The ARRS has suggested that the Stramilano half marathon course might have been short in 1993 and lists the best time for 1993 as 1:00:15 by Moses Tanui from Kenya.

References

  1. ^ "USATF: Course Measurement and Certification Procedures" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2016-06-29. Retrieved 2019-04-25.
  2. ^ "Chip timing", Wikipedia, 2023-03-28, retrieved 2023-07-16
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Further reading

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Half marathons.