A half marathon is a road running event of 21.0975 kilometres (13 miles 192.5 yards)—half the distance of a marathon.[2] 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.[3] 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]
| Athletics Half marathon | |
|---|---|
 Runners in the 2008 New York City Half Marathon | |
| World records | |
| Men |  Jacob Kiplimo 57:31 (2021) |
| Women | mixed gender race: Letesenbet Gidey 1:02:52 (2021)women only race:  Peres Jepchirchir 1:05:16 (2020)[1] |
A half marathon world record is officially recognised by the International Association of Athletics Federations.[4][5] The official IAAF world record for men is 57:31, set by Jacob Kiplimo of Uganda in November 2021 in Lisbon, Portugal,[6] and for women is 1:04:02, set by Ruth Chepng'etich of Kenya on April 4, 2021, in Istanbul, Turkey.[7]Participation in half marathons has grown steadily since 2003,[8] partly because it is a challenging distance, but does not require the same level of training that a marathon does.[8] In 2008, Running USA reported that the half marathon is the fastest-growing type of race.[8]
All-time top 25
Men
| Rank | Time | Athlete | Date | Place | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 57:31 | Jacob Kiplimo (UGA) | 21 November 2021 | Lisbon | [11] |
| 2 | 57:32 | Kibiwott Kandie (KEN) | 6 December 2020 | Valencia | [6] |
| 3 | 57:41 | Yomif Kejelcha (ETH) | 22 October 2023 | Valencia | [12] |
| Hagos Gebrhiwet (ETH) | [12] | ||||
| – | 57:49[a] | Rhonex Kipruto (KEN) | 6 December 2020 | Valencia | [6] |
| 5 | 57:50 | Selemon Barega (ETH) | 22 October 2023 | Valencia | [12] |
| 6 | 57:59 | Alexander Mutiso (KEN) | 6 December 2020 | Valencia | [6] |
| 7 | 58:01 | Geoffrey Kamworor (KEN) | 15 September 2019 | Copenhagen | [13] |
| 8 | 58:02 | Sabastian Sawe (KEN) | 6 March 2022 | Rome–Ostia | [14] |
| 9 | 58:07 | Abel Kipchumba (KEN) | 24 October 2021 | Valencia | [15] |
| 10 | 58:11 | Philemon Kiplimo (KEN) | 6 December 2020 | Valencia | [6] |
| 11 | 58:23 |  Zersenay Tadese (ERI) | 21 March 2010 | Lisbon | |
| 12 | 58:26 | Daniel Mateiko (KEN) | 24 October 2021 | Valencia | [15] |
| 13 | 58:28 | Kennedy Kimutai (KEN) | 24 October 2021 | Valencia | [15] |
| 14 | 58:30 | Rodgers Kwemoi (KEN) | 19 February 2022 | Ras al-Khaimah | [16] |
| 15 | 58:33 | Samuel Wanjiru (KEN) | 17 March 2007 | The Hague | |
| Jemal Yimer (ETH) | 28 October 2018 | Valencia | [17] | ||
| 17 | 58:35 | Kenneth Kiprop Renju (KEN) | 19 February 2022 | Ras al-Khaimah | [18] |
| 18 | 58:36 | Seifu Tura Abdiwak (ETH) | 19 February 2022 | Ras al-Khaimah | [19] |
| 19 | 58:40 |  Abraham Cheroben (BHR) | 17 September 2017 | Copenhagen | |
| Muktar Edris (ETH) | 24 October 2021 | Valencia | [15] | ||
| Amdework Walelegn Tadese (ETH) | 19 February 2022 | Ras al-Khaimah | [20] | ||
| 22 | 58:42 | Bedan Karoki Muchiri (KEN) | 9 February 2018 | Ras al-Khaimah | [21] |
| Eric Kiptanui (KEN) | 8 April 2018 | Berlin | [22] | ||
| Stephen Kiprop (KEN) | 8 February 2019 | Ras al-Khaimah | [23] | ||
| Kelvin Kiptum (KEN) | 6 December 2020 | Valencia | [6] |
Notes
Below is a list of other times equal or superior to 58:43:
- Jacob Kiplimo also ran 57:37 (2020) and 57:56 (2022).
- Kibiwott Kandie also ran 57:40 (2023), 58:10 (2022) and 58:38 (2020).[24]
- Abraham Kiptum ran 58:18,[4] but it was expunged for doping.[25]
- Sabastian Sawe also ran 58:24 (2024), 58:29 (2023).
- Zersenay Tadese also ran 58:30 (2011).[26]
- Yomif Kejelcha also ran 58:32 (2022).
- Philemon Kiplimo also ran 58:34 (2021).
- Daniel Mateiko also ran 58:40 (2022).
Women
| Rank | Time | Athlete | Date | Place | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1:02:52 Mx | Letesenbet Gidey (ETH) | 24 October 2021 | Valencia | [29] |
| 2 | 1:03:51 Mx | Yalemzerf Yehualaw (ETH) | 24 October 2021 | Valencia | [30] |
| 3 | 1:04:02 Mx | Ruth Chepng'etich (KEN) | 4 April 2021 | Istanbul | [31] |
| 4 | 1:04:14 Mx | Girmawit Gebrzihair (ETH) | 19 February 2022 | Ras al-Khaimah | [32] |
| 5 | 1:04:22 Mx | Hellen Obiri (KEN) | 19 February 2022 | Ras al-Khaimah | [33] |
| 6 | 1:04:29 Mx | Joyciline Jepkosgei (KEN) | 11 February 2024 | Barcelona | [34] |
| 7 | 1:04:31 Mx | Ababel Yeshaneh (ETH) | 21 February 2020 | Ras al-Khaimah | [35] |
| 8 | 1:04:36 Mx | Sheila Chepkirui (KEN) | 19 February 2022 | Ras al-Khaimah | [36] |
| 9 | 1:04:37 | Irine Kimais (KEN) | 19 February 2023 | Barcelona | [37] |
| 1:04:37 Mx | Sutume Kebede (ETH) | 14 January 2024 | Houston | [38] | |
| 11 | 1:04:40 Mx | Senbere Teferi (ETH) | 11 February 2024 | Barcelona | [39] |
| 12 | 1:04:46 | Margaret Kipkemboi (KEN) | 22 October 2023 | Valencia | [12] |
| 13 | 1:04:49 | Brigid Kosgei (KEN) | 21 February 2020 | Ras al-Khaimah | [40] |
| 14 | 1:04:52 | Fancy Chemutai (KEN) | 9 February 2018 | Ras al-Khaimah | [41] |
| 15 | 1:04:53 | Irene Chepet Cheptai (KEN) | 22 October 2023 | Valencia | [12] |
| 16 | 1:04:55 | Mary Keitany (KEN) | 9 February 2018 | Ras al-Khaimah | [42] |
| 17 | 1:05:01 Mx | Tsehay Gemechu (ETH) | 28 August 2022 | Larne | [43] |
| 18 | 1:05:03 Mx | Vicoty Chepngeno (KEN) | 16 January 2022 | Houston | [44] |
| 19 | 1:05:04 | Joan Chelimo (KEN) | 7 April 2018 | Prague | [45] |
| 20 | 1:05:06 | Peres Jepchirchir (KEN) | 10 February 2017 | Ras al-Khaimah | |
| 21 | 1:05:07 | Caroline Chepkoech Kipkirui (KEN) | 9 February 2018 | Ras al-Khaimah | [46] |
| 22 | 1:05:09 | Florence Kiplagat (KEN) | 15 February 2015 | Barcelona | |
| 23 | 1:05:14 Mx | Tsigie Gebreselama (ETH) | 24 February 2024 | Ras al-Khaimah | [47] |
| 24 | 1:05:15 |  Sifan Hassan (NED) | 16 September 2018 | Copenhagen | [48] |
| Janeth Chepngetich (KEN) | 22 October 2023 | Valencia | [12] |
Notes
Below is a list of other times equal or superior to 1:05:15:
- Yalemzerf Yehualaw also ran 1:03:44 Mx a (2021, not legal),[49] 1:04:22 Mx (2022),[50] 1:04:40 Mx (2021), 1:04:46 (2020).
- Brigid Kosgei also ran 1:04:28 Mx a (2019).
- Hellen Obiri also ran 1:04:48 (2022), 1:04:51 Mx (2021).[51]
- Joyciline Jepkosgei also ran 1:04:46 (2023), 1:04:51 (2017),[52] 1:04:52 (2017).
- Sheila Chepkirui also ran 1:04:53 Mx (2021).
- Ruth Chepngetich also ran 1:05:06 (2020).
- Tsehay Gemechu also ran 1:05:08 Mx (2021).
- Joan Chelimo also ran 1:05:09 Mx (2021).
- Florence Jebet Kiplagat also ran 1:05:12 (2014).
- Mary Jepkosgei Keitany also ran 1:05:13 (2017).
Season's bests
This table lists the best half marathon performances per year since 1970, as recorded by the ARRS.[53]
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.[55][56]
See also
Notes
References
Further reading
- Nilson, Finn; Lundkvist, Erik; Wagnsson, Stefan; Gustafsson, Henrik (2019-12-19). "Has the second 'running boom' democratized running? A study on the sociodemographic characteristics of finishers at the world's largest half marathon". Sport in Society. 24 (4): 659–669. doi:10.1080/17430437.2019.1703687. ISSN 1743-0437.
External links
