Half marathon

Athletics
Half marathon
Half marathon runners in the 2024 Dallas Marathon
World records
Men Yomif Kejelcha (ETH) 56:51 (2026)
WomenMx:
 Letesenbet Gidey (ETH) 1:02:52 (2021)
Wo:
 Agnes Jebet Ngetich (KEN) 1:05:15 (2026)

A half marathon is a road running event of 21.0975 kilometres (c. 13 mi 192.5 yd)—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.[circular reference] If finisher medals are awarded, the medal or ribbon may differ from those for the full marathon. The half marathon is also known by its rounded distance: a 21K, a 21.1K, or 13.1 miles.

A half marathon world record is officially recognised by World Athletics. The men's world record time is 56:51, set by Yomif Kejelcha in 2026 in Buenos Aires. Jacob Kiplimo ran 56:42 in Barcelona in 2025, but this mark was not ratified by World Athletics due to his proximity to the lead car. 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. The world record for the women's only race is 1:05:15, set by Agnes Jebet Ngetich of Kenya in September 2026.

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

History

Races close to the official half marathon distance of 21.0975 km (13.1094 mi) have taken place throughout the early 20th century, and athletes have also been timed at the midpoint of full marathons. The 1946 Central American and Caribbean Games in Barranquilla, Colombia featured a road race that is listed at exactly the modern half marathon distance, referred to as the "Carrera Centroamericana y del Caribe: (21 kms. 97,5 metros)". The 1952 South American Championships in Athletics in Buenos Aires, Argentina featured a road race that was 21.097km, referred to as "la media maratón" ('the half marathon') by the Chilean newspaper La Nación.

The earliest half marathon recognised by the ARRS is the 1960 Romford Half Marathon in England, though it was short of the full half marathon distance. The earliest half marathon recognised by World Athletics is the 1965 Feckleton Half Marathon in England. 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.

Area records

Area Men Women
Time Season Athlete Time Season Athlete
World 56:512026 Yomif Kejelcha (ETH) 1:02:52 Mx2021 Letesenbet Gidey (ETH)
Area records
Africa (records) 56:512026 Yomif Kejelcha (ETH) 1:02:52 Mx2021 Letesenbet Gidey (ETH)
Asia (records) 58:232026 Birhanu Balew (BHR) 1:05:22 Mx2017 Violah Jepchumba (BHR)
Europe (records) 58:062026 Andreas Almgren (SWE) 1:05:15 Mx2018 Sifan Hassan (NED)
North, Central America
and Caribbean (records)		 59:152025 Conner Mantz (USA) 1:06:042026 Weini Kelati (USA)
Oceania (records) 59:472015 Zane Robertson (NZL) 1:07:112011 Kimberley Smith (NZL)
South America (records) 59:332007 Marílson Gomes dos Santos (BRA) 1:09:212025 Florencia Borelli (ARG)

All-time top 25

Men

Rank Time Athlete Date Place Ref.
1 56:42  Jacob Kiplimo (UGA) 16 February 2025 Barcelona
2 56:51  Yomif Kejelcha (ETH) 23 August 2026 Buenos Aires
3 57:32  Kibiwott Kandie (KEN) 6 December 2020 Valencia
4 57:41  Hagos Gebrhiwet (ETH) 22 October 2023 Valencia
5 57:50  Selemon Barega (ETH) 22 October 2023 Valencia
6 57:59  Alexander Mutiso (KEN) 6 December 2020 Valencia
7 58:01  Geoffrey Kamworor (KEN) 15 September 2019 Copenhagen
8 58:02  Sabastian Sawe (KEN) 6 March 2022 Rome–Ostia
9 58:06  Andreas Almgren (SWE) 20 September 2026 Copenhagen
10 58:07  Abel Kipchumba (KEN) 24 October 2021 Valencia
11 58:08  Nicholas Kipkorir Kimeli (KEN) 8 March 2026 Lisboa
12 58:10  Isaia Kipkoech Lasoi (KEN) 15 September 2024 Copenhagen
13 58:11  Philemon Kiplimo (KEN) 6 December 2020 Valencia
14 58:16  Rodrigue Kwizera (BDI) 28 March 2026 Prague
15 58:17  Daniel Mateiko (KEN) 27 October 2024 Valencia
16 58:23  Zersenay Tadese (ERI) 21 March 2010 Lisbon
 Birhanu Balew (BHR) 14 February 2026 Ras Al Khaimah
18 58:24  Vincent Kibet Langat (KEN) 14 September 2025 Copenhagen
19 58:26  Joshua Cheptegei (UGA) 20 September 2026 Copenhagen
20 58:27  Gilbert Kipkosgei Kiprotich (KEN) 23 March 2025 Malaga
21 58:28  Kennedy Kimutai (KEN) 24 October 2021 Valencia
22 58:33  Samuel Wanjiru (KEN) 17 March 2007 The Hague
 Jemal Yimer (ETH) 28 October 2018 Valencia
24 58:35  Kenneth Kiprop Renju (KEN) 19 February 2022 Ras al-Khaimah
 Tadese Worku (ETH) 20 September 2026 Copenhagen

Notes

Below is a list of other times equal or superior to 58:35:

Performance annulled due to doping offences:

Time Athlete Date Place Ref.
57:49  Rhonex Kipruto (KEN) 6 December 2020 Valencia
58:30  Rodgers Kwemoi (KEN) 19 February 2022 Ras al-Khaimah

Women

Rank Time Athlete Date Place Ref.
1 1:02:52 Mx  Letesenbet Gidey (ETH) 24 October 2021 Valencia
2 1:03:04 Mx  Agnes Jebet Ngetich (KEN) 27 October 2024 Valencia
3 1:03:21 Mx  Fotyen Tesfay (ETH) 27 October 2024 Valencia
4 1:03:32 Mx  Lilian Kasait Rengeruk (KEN) 27 October 2024 Valencia
5 1:03:51 Mx  Yalemzerf Yehualaw (ETH) 24 October 2021 Valencia
6 1:04:01 Mx  Loice Chemnung (KEN) 15 February 2026 Barcelona
7 1:04:02 Mx  Ruth Chepng'etich (KEN) 4 April 2021 Istanbul
8 1:04:13 Mx  Joyciline Jepkosgei (KEN) 16 February 2025 Barcelona
9 1:04:14 Mx  Girmawit Gebrzihair (ETH) 19 February 2022 Ras al-Khaimah
10 1:04:14 Mx  Ejgayehu Taye (ETH) 27 October 2024 Valencia
11 1:04:21  Tsigie Gebreselama (ETH) 9 March 2025 Lisboa
12 1:04:22 Mx  Hellen Obiri (KEN) 19 February 2022 Ras al-Khaimah
13 1:04:31 Mx  Ababel Yeshaneh (ETH) 21 February 2020 Ras al-Khaimah
14 1:04:36 Mx  Sheila Chepkirui (KEN) 19 February 2022 Ras al-Khaimah
15 1:04:37  Irine Kimais (KEN) 19 February 2023 Barcelona
16 1:04:37 Mx  Sutume Kebede (ETH) 14 January 2024 Houston
17 1:04:40 Mx  Senbere Teferi (ETH) 11 February 2024 Barcelona
18 1:04:44  Likina Amebaw (ETH) 14 September 2025 Copenhagen
19 1:04:46  Margaret Kipkemboi (KEN) 22 October 2023 Valencia
20 1:04:49 Mx  Brigid Kosgei (KEN) 21 February 2020 Ras al-Khaimah
 Fantaye Belayneh (ETH) 11 January 2026 Houston
22 1:04:52  Fancy Chemutai (KEN) 9 February 2018 Ras al-Khaimah
23 1:04:53  Irine Chepet Cheptai (KEN) 22 October 2023 Valencia
24 1:04:55  Mary Keitany (KEN) 9 February 2018 Ras al-Khaimah
25 1:05:00  Sharon Lokedi (KEN) 14 September 2025 Copenhagen

Notes

Below is a list of other times equal or superior to 1:05:00:

World leading times

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.

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.

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ Not ratified as a world record due to the runner's proximity to the lead pace car
  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.
  3. 1 2 Emeterio Valiente (28 October 2018). "Kiptum breaks world half marathon record in Valencia with 58:18". IAAF. Retrieved 29 October 2018.
  4. ↑ "Records by discipline: Women's outdoor half marathon". IAAF. Retrieved 2015-05-01.
  5. ↑ "World Athletics borra el récord mundial de medio maratón de Jacob Kiplimo por aprovechar el rebufo de un coche". Runner's World (in European Spanish). 2026-02-03. Retrieved 2026-02-03.
  6. ↑ Watta, Evelyn (20 September 2026). "World Athletics Road Running Championships Copenhagen 2026: Kenya's Agnes Jebet Ngetich sets new half marathon world record – "This is for my mum"". Olympics.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  7. 1 2 3 Hanc, John (July 24, 2008). "Sometimes Half Is Better Than Whole". NY Times. Retrieved 2009-02-09.
  8. ↑ "V JUEGOS DEPORTIVOS CENTROAMERICANOS Y DEL CARIBE BARRANQUILLA COLOMBIA 1946" (PDF). Retrieved 14 August 2026.
  9. ↑ "Chile Classifico A Siete Campeones" (PDF). La Nación. 12 May 1952. p. 2.
  10. ↑ "Athletics Weekly" (PDF). 14 April 1962. p. 21. Retrieved 14 August 2026.
  11. ↑ "Men's Half Marathon | Records". worldathletics.org. World Athletics. Retrieved 12 May 2026.
  12. ↑ "Women's Half Marathon | Records". worldathletics.org. World Athletics. Retrieved 12 May 2026.
  13. ↑ "Men's Half Marathon All-time toplist". World Athletics. Retrieved 8 December 2020.
  14. ↑ "All-time men's best half-marathon". alltime-athletics.com. 8 December 2020. Retrieved 8 December 2020.
  15. ↑ Valiente, Emeterio (February 16, 2025). "Kiplimo obliterates world half marathon record in Barcelona, Kejelcha and Eisa impress in Castellón". World Athletics. Retrieved February 16, 2025.
  16. ↑ "Kejelcha regains world half marathon record with 56:51 in Buenos Aires". worldathletics.org. Retrieved 23 August 2026.
  17. 1 2 3 4 Emeterio Valiente (6 December 2020). "57:32! Kandie crushes half marathon world record in Valencia". World Athletics. Retrieved 8 December 2020.
  18. 1 2 "Kandie and Chelimo victorious in Valencia | REPORTS | World Athletics". worldathletics.org. Retrieved 2023-10-25.
  19. ↑ "Kenya's Geoffrey Kamworor smashes half marathon world record". bbc.co.uk. 15 September 2019. Retrieved 16 September 2019.
  20. ↑ "Mokoka breaks world 50km record with 2:40:13 in Gqeberha". World Athletics. 6 March 2022. Retrieved 3 April 2022.
  21. ↑ "Men's Half Marathon Results" (PDF). World Athletics. Retrieved 16 October 2026.
  22. 1 2 "Gidey smashes world half marathon record in Valencia". World Athletics. 24 October 2021. Retrieved 7 November 2021.
  23. ↑ "EDP Lisbon Half Marathon". Retrieved 22 April 2026.
  24. ↑ "Sawe and Kipkemboi claim Copenhagen Half Marathon crowns". World Athletics. 15 September 2024. Retrieved 29 September 2024.
  25. ↑ "Generali Prague Half Marathon". World Athletics. Retrieved 22 April 2026.
  26. ↑ "Half Marathon - men - senior - all". worldathletics.org. Retrieved 2024-10-27.
  27. ↑ "Zersenay TADESE Profile". Retrieved 21 February 2026.
  28. ↑ "Men's Half Marathon Results". World Athletics. Retrieved 21 February 2026.
  29. ↑ "Men's Half Marathon Results". cphhalf.dk. Retrieved 28 November 2025.
  30. ↑ "Men's Half Marathon Results" (PDF). World Athletics. Retrieved 16 October 2026.
  31. ↑ "Men's Half Marathon Results". World Athletics. Retrieved 28 November 2025.
  32. ↑ "Samuel Kamau WANJIRU Profile". Retrieved 21 February 2026.
  33. ↑ Emeterio Valiente (28 October 2018). "Kiptum breaks world half marathon record in Valencia with 58:18". IAAF. Retrieved 29 October 2018.
  34. ↑ Jess Whittington (19 February 2022). "Kiplimo and Gebrzihair break course records in Ras Al Khaimah". World Athletics. Retrieved 19 February 2022.
  35. ↑ "Men's Half Marathon Results" (PDF). World Athletics. Retrieved 16 October 2026.
  36. ↑ "Abraham Kiptum: Kenyan runner gets four-year ban for anti-doping violation - BBC Sport". www.bbc.co.uk. Archived from the original on 16 November 2019. Retrieved 11 January 2022.
  37. ↑ "Tadese blazes 58:30 in Lisbon, second fastest Half Marathon ever | NEWS | World Athletics". Archived from the original on 2020-09-20.
  38. ↑ "Kenyan runner Kwemoi banned 6 years for blood doping". ESPN. Retrieved 27 February 2026.
  39. ↑ "Women's Half Marathon All-time toplist". World Athletics. Retrieved 26 October 2025.
  40. ↑ "All-time women's best half-marathon". alltime-athletics.com. 26 October 2025. Retrieved 26 October 2025.
  41. 1 2 "Gidey smashes world half marathon record in Valencia". World Athletics. 24 October 2021. Retrieved 6 November 2021.
  42. 1 2 3 4 Emeterio Valiente (27 October 2024). "Kejelcha breaks world half marathon record in Valencia". World Athletics. Retrieved 1 November 2024.
  43. ↑ "Weini Kelati Barcelona Half Marathon 2026 Result". mitjamarato.barcelona. 27 October 2025. Retrieved 17 February 2026.
  44. ↑ Christopher Kelsall (15 February 2026). "Ethiopian Hagos Gebrhiwet and Kenyan Loice Chemnung win the Mitja Marató de Barcelona half marathon". Retrieved 16 February 2026.
  45. ↑ "Chepngetich smashes world half marathon record in Istanbul". World Athletics. 4 April 2021. Retrieved 2 June 2021.
  46. ↑ Emeterio Valiente (16 February 2025). "Kiplimo obliterates world half marathon record in Barcelona, Kejelcha and Eisa impress in Castellón". World Athletics. Retrieved 26 February 2025.
  47. 1 2 3 Jess Whittington (19 February 2022). "Kiplimo and Gebrzihair break course records in Ras Al Khaimah". World Athletics. Retrieved 19 February 2022.
  48. ↑ "Tsigie Gebreselama pulverizou recorde pessoal na EDP Meia Maratona de Lisboa". Jogada do Mes. 10 March 2025. Retrieved 26 October 2025.
  49. 1 2 "Yeshaneh breaks half marathon world record in Ras Al Khaimah". World Athletics. 21 February 2020. Retrieved 7 March 2020.
  50. ↑ Valiente, Emeterio (19 February 2023). "Kimais, Jepkosgei and Langat brilliant in Barcelona, Obiri and Kibet reign in Ras Al Khaimah". World Athletics. Retrieved 19 February 2023.
  51. ↑ "2024 Houston Half Marathon Results". track.rtrt.me. 14 January 2024. Retrieved 14 January 2024.
  52. ↑ Emeterio Valiente (11 February 2024). "Jepkosgei and Kandie triumph in Barcelona". World Athletics. Retrieved 11 February 2024.
  53. 1 2 "Amebaw runs 1:04:44 at Copenhagen Half Marathon". World Athletics. 14 September 2025. Retrieved 26 October 2025.[dead link]
  54. 1 2 "Kipkemboi and Kandie win Valencia Half Marathon". World Athletics. 22 October 2023. Retrieved 26 October 2025.[dead link]
  55. ↑ "Ethiopia's Fantaye Belayneh wins women's Aramco Houston Half Marathon". Houston Chronicle. 11 January 2026. Retrieved 2 March 2026.
  56. 1 2 "Chemutai runs 1:04:52 at Ras Al Khaimah Half Marathon". World Athletics. 9 February 2018. Retrieved 26 October 2025.[dead link]
  57. ↑ Whittington, Jess (2022-03-27). "Obiri and Kwemoi claim half marathon crowns in Istanbul". World Athletics. Retrieved 2022-03-27.
  58. ↑ "Jepkosgei breaks world half marathon record in Valencia | REPORT | World Athletics". Archived from the original on 2020-10-23.
  59. ↑ "Yearly Ranking Leaders: Half Marathon". ARRS. Archived from the original on 2018-09-16. Retrieved 2015-05-01.
  60. ↑ "Keitany smashes half marathon world record in Ras Al Khaimah". IAAF. February 18, 2011. Retrieved 2015-05-03.
  61. ↑ "Bridge Race 2000". Archived from the original on 2004-11-19. Retrieved 2009-03-27.
  62. ↑ "Senaste". Marathon.se. 8 June 2023.

Further reading