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,IAAF Statistics Book – IAAF World Championships Beijing 2015. IAAF (2015), pp. 684-5, 805-6. Retrieved on 19 February 2017 though the concept of a world record was recognized by other organizations, such as the Association of Road Racing Statisticians (ARRS).World Best Progressions- Road. Association of Road Racing Statisticians. Retrieved on 19 February 2017.

The men's world record in the half marathon was set at a time of 56:51 by Yomif Kejelcha of Ethiopia on August 23, 2026, at the Buenos Aires Half Marathon. Yomif Kejelcha reclaimed the record from Jacob Kiplimo of Uganda who previously set the record at 57:20 during the March 8, 2026 EDP Lisbon Half Marathon. Yomif Kejelcha's previous 57:30 world record was set at the Valencia Half Marathon. A time of 56:42, set by Jacob Kiplimo of Uganda on 16 February 2025 in the Barcelona Half Marathon, was not ratified due to illegal pacing.

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. 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.Paula Radcliffe keeps her marathon world record in IAAF about-turn . The Guardian (10 November 2011). Retrieved on 19 February 2017.

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.Route du Vin Half Marathon. ARRS. Retrieved on 19 February 2017.San Blas Half Marathon. ARRS. Retrieved on 19 February 2017. 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.Doing Things By Half. SPIKES Magazine (29 March 2016). Retrieved on 19 February 2017.Robinson, Roger (28 July 2010). Footsteps: Historic half-Marathon. Runner's World. Retrieved on 19 February 2017. 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. 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.

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. 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.

World record progression Key:

Men TimePace (km)NameNationalityDateEvent/PlaceSourceNotes 3:10 Brian Hill-Cottingham Romford ARRS 3:07 Ron Hill Freckleton IAAF, ARRS   3:07 Pete Ravald Freckleton IAAF, ARRS   3:03 Abebe Bikila Tokyo IAAF 3:00 Derek Clayton Fukuoka Marathon IAAF 3:02 Derek Graham Belfast IAAF, ARRS   3:01 Juan Rafael Angel Perez Coamo IAAF, ARRS   3:01 Jose Reveyn The Hague IAAF   2:59 Miruts Yifter Coamo IAAF IAAF notes unrounded time as 1:02:56.3 2:58 Toshihiro Matsumoto Beppu, Ōita ARRS 2:59 Tony Simmons Welwyn Garden City IAAF   2:58 Nick Rose Dayton IAAF, ARRS   2:58 Kirk Pfeffer Las Vegas IAAF, ARRS   2:57 Stan Mavis New Orleans IAAF, ARRS   2:56 Herb Lindsay Manchester, Vermont IAAF   2:55 Michael Musyoki Philadelphia IAAF, ARRS   2:55 Paul Cummings Dayton IAAF, ARRS   2:54 Steve Jones Birmingham IAAF, ARRS   2:53 Mark Curp Philadelphia IAAF, ARRS   2:53 Michael Musyoki South Shields IAAF 2:51 Matthews Temane East London IAAF 2:53 Dionicio Cerón Philadelphia ARRS 2:51 Steve Moneghetti Tokyo IAAF 2:52 Benson Masya The Hague ARRS 2:50 Moses Tanui Milan IAAF   2:51 Paul Tergat Milan ARRS 2:50 Shem Kororia Košice ARRS 2:50 António Pinto Lisbon IAAF 2:49 Paul Tergat Milan IAAF, ARRS 2:48 Paul Tergat Lisbon IAAF 2:48 Samuel Wanjiru Rotterdam IAAF, ARRS ARRS notes unrounded time as 59:15.8 2:48 Zersenay Tadese South Shields IAAF 2:47 Haile Gebrselassie Tempe IAAF Disputed by ARRS due to advantage of wind-shielding by a vehicle 2:48 Paul Malakwen Kosgei Berlin ARRS 2:47 Samuel Wanjiru Ras al-Khaimah IAAF, ARRS   2:46 Samuel Wanjiru The Hague IAAF, ARRS ARRS notes time as 58:35 2:46 Zersenay Tadese Lisbon IAAF, ARRS 2:46 Abraham Kiptum Valencia IAAF suspended for doping (26 April 2019) 2:45 Geoffrey Kamworor Copenhagen IAAF 2:43 Kibiwott Kandie Valencia World Athletics Banned for refusing a doping test in 2025 2:43 Jacob Kiplimo Lisbon World Athletics 2:43 Yomif Kejelcha Valencia World Athletics  2:43 Jacob Kiplimo Lisbon World Athletics 2:42 Yomif Kejelcha Buenos Aires World Athletics Pending Ratification

Women TimePace (km)NameNationalityDateEvent/PlaceSourceNotes 3:59 Kathy Gibbons Phoenix, Arizona ARRS 3:57 Chantal Langlacé Aÿ-Champagne ARRS 3:53 Silvana Cruciata Milan ARRS 3:47 Marja Wokke Egmond aan Zee ARRS 3:44 Silvana Cruciata Milan ARRS 3:43 Jean Abare Coronado, California ARRS 3:34 Marty Cooksey San Diego IAAF 3:41 Daniele Justin Nazaré, Portugal ARRS 3:36 Miki Gorman Pasadena IAAF, ARRS   3:33 Ellison Goodall Winston-Salem IAAF, ARRS   3:33 Kathy Mintie San Diego IAAF 3:31 Patti Catalano Manchester, Vermont IAAF, ARRS ARRS notes time as 1:14:03 3:30 Marja Wokke The Hague IAAF, ARRS   3:29 Joan Benoit New Orleans IAAF, ARRS   3:23 Joan Benoit San Diego IAAF, ARRS   3:19 Grete Waitz Gothenburg IAAF, ARRS   3:17 Joan Benoit Philadelphia IAAF, ARRS ARRS notes time as 1:09:10 3:15 Joan Benoit Philadelphia IAAF, ARRS 3:10 Ingrid Kristiansen Sandnes IAAF, ARRS 3:15 Ingrid Kristiansen New Bedford IAAF   3:13 Elana Meyer East London IAAF   3:13 Uta Pippig Kyoto IAAF   3:13 Uta Pippig Kyoto IAAF   3:12 Elana Meyer Kyoto IAAF   3:12 Elana Meyer Kyoto IAAF   3:10 Elana Meyer Tokyo IAAF 3:07 Susan Chepkemei Lisbon IAAF 3:07 Paula Radcliffe South Shields IAAF IAAF notes unrounded time as 1:05:39.6 3:09 Lornah Kiplagat World RR Champs, Udine IAAF, ARRS First world record recognized by the International Association of Athletics Federations. Mark also recognized as official world record. 3:07 Mary Keitany Ras al-Khaimah IAAF 3:05 Florence Kiplagat Barcelona IAAF 3:05 Florence Kiplagat Barcelona IAAF 3:05 Peres Jepchirchir Ras al-Khaimah IAAF 3:04 Joyciline Jepkosgei Prague IAAF 3:04 Joyciline Jepkosgei Valencia IAAF 3:08 Netsanet Gudeta World HM Champs, Valencia IAAF 3:03 Ababel Yeshaneh Ras al-Khaimah IAAF 3:06 Peres Jepchirchir Prague World Athletics 3:06 Peres Jepchirchir Gdynia World Athletics 3:02 Ruth Chepngetich Istanbul World Athletics 3:01 Yalemzerf Yehualaw Larne World Athletics 2:59 Letesenbet Gidey Valencia World Athletics

Notes

References

External links

Association of Track and Field Statisticians website