20K run

The 20K run (20 kilometres, or approximately 12.4 miles) is a long distance foot race. It is a rarely held race that is not recognized as an Olympic event. The event held IAAF world championship status in 2006 only, when the existing IAAF World Half Marathon Championships briefly hosted the shorter distance.IAAF World Half Marathon Championships Copenhagen 2014 Facts & Figures Incorporating the IAAF World Half Marathon Championships (1992-2005/2008-2010-2012) IAAF World Road Running Championships 2006/2007. IAAF. Retrieved 2019-07-06.

The world best for men is held by Zersenay Tadese of Eritrea who ran a time of 56:01 at the 2006 IAAF World Road Running Championships in Debrecen, Hungary.Turner, Chris (2006-10-08). Tadesse's 'solo' last 10k secures emphatic victory – Men’s 20km, Debrecen 2006. IAAF. Retrieved 2019-07-06. The women's world best is held by Florence Kiplagat of Kenya who ran a time of 1:01:54 at the 2015 Barcelona Half Marathon in Barcelona, Spain.Minshull, Phil (2015-02-16). Florence Kiplagat flies to half marathon world record of 1:05:12 in Barcelona. IAAF. Retrieved 2019-07-06. IAAF records require the 20 km distance to be run on a course without a significant drop in elevation between the start and finish points and where the birds-eye distance between the start of finish points is less than ten kilometres. The Association of Road Racing Statisticians has an additional criteria in that it requires records to be set in competitions of the given distance, thus it does not recognise Kiplagat's run due to it being recorded en route to a longer distance. The ARRS-recognised world record is 1:03:21 by Lornah Kiplagat of the Netherlands, who also recorded her time at the 2006 World Championships.ARRS ROAD RECORDS. ARRS. Retrieved 2019-07-06.

Road races

There are several annual road running competitions over the 20 km distance, mostly based in Western Europe, the United States, and Japan.Road 20 km Race Histories. Association of Road Racing Statisticians. Retrieved 2019-07-06.

Europe 20 van Alphen 20 km of Brussels 20 Kilomètres de Paris 20 km of Tours 20 km of Lausanne 20 km of Maroilles Behobia-San Sebastián Friedeslauf 20 km Marseille-Cassis Classique Internationale Zilveren Molenloop

Japan Hakone Ekiden Yosenkai Takashimadaira 20 km

United States New Haven Road Race John F Kennedy Memorial 20 km Vestal XX Penn Relays 20 km

The Kanaguri Hai Tamana Half Marathon, Dam to Dam Half Marathon and Ogden Newspapers Classic Half Marathon were all previously 20 km races for much of their history.

All-time top 25 + = en route to longer performance Mx = mixed gender race Wo = women only race

Men Correct as of September 2026Senior Outdoor 20 Kilometres Men. IAAF. Retrieved 2019-07-06.

RankTimeAthleteNationDateRaceLocation153:42Jacob KiplimoUganda16 February 2025Barcelona Half MarathonBarcelona254:02Yomif KejelchaEthiopia23 August 202621K Buenos AiresBuenos Aires354:36Kibiwott KandieKenya22 October 2023Valencia Half MarathonValenciaHagos GebrhiwetEthiopia22 October 2023Valencia Half MarathonValencia554:42Selemon BaregaEthiopia22 October 2023Valencia Half MarathonValencia654:50Rhonex KiprutoKenya6 December 2020Valencia Half MarathonValencia754:57Alexander MutisoKenya6 December 2020Valencia Half MarathonValencia855:00Geoffrey KamwororKenya15 September 2019Copenhagen Half MarathonCopenhagen955:03Nicholas KimeliKenya8 March 2026Lisbon Half MarathonLisbon1055:04Abel KipchumbaKenya24 October 2021Valencia Half MarathonValencia1155:07Philemon KiplimoKenya6 December 2020Valencia Half MarathonValencia1255:11Daniel MateikoKenya27 October 2024Valencia Half MarathonValenciaIsaia Kipkoech LasoiKenya27 October 2024Valencia Half MarathonValencia1455:13Sabastian SaweEthiopia15 September 2024Copenhagen Half MarathonCopenhagen1555:14Kennedy KimutaiKenya24 October 2021Valencia Half MarathonValencia1655:18Abraham KiptumKenya28 October 2018Valencia Half MarathonValencia1755:21Zersenay TadeseEritrea21 March 2010Lisbon Half MarathonLisbon,1855:22Birhanu BalewBahrain14 February 2026Ras Al Khaimah Half MarathonRas Al Khaimah1955:24Mathew KimeliKenya24 October 2021Valencia Half MarathonValencia2055:26Rodgers KwemoiKenya19 February 2022Ras Al Khaimah Half MarathonRas al-KhaimahVincent LangatKenya14 September 2025Copenhagen Half MarathonCopenhagen2255:30Jemal Yimer MekonnenEthiopia28 October 2018Valencia Half MarathonValencia2355:31Samuel WanjiruKenya17 March 2007The Hague2455:32Muktar EdrisEthiopia24 October 2021Valencia Half MarathonValenciaAmos KurgatKenya15 September 2024Copenhagen Half MarathonCopenhagen

Notes Below is a list of other times equal or superior to 55:32: Jacob Kiplimo also ran 54:23 (2026), 54:29 (2021), 54:42 (2020), 54:53 (2022) and 55:13 (2024). Yomif Kejelcha also ran 54:32 (2024), 54:38 (2023). Kibiwott Kandie also ran 54:43 (2022), 55:08 (2022). Hagos Gebrhiwet also ran 55:02 (2026). Rhonex Kipruto also ran 55:04 (2021). Isaia Kipkoech Lasoi also ran 55:13 (2024). Geoffrey Kamworor also ran 55:13 (2026). Daniel Mateiko also ran 55:17 (2021). Sabastian Sawe also ran 55:17 (2023). Philemon Kiplimo also ran 55:19 (2021). Nicholas Kimeli also ran 55:27 (2025).

Women Updated September 2026Senior Outdoor 20 Kilometres Women. IAAF. Retrieved 2019-07-06.

RankTimeAthleteNationDateRaceLocation159:35 Letesenbet GideyEthiopia24 October 2021Valencia Half MarathonValencia259:42 Agnes NgetichKenya27 October 2024Valencia Half MarathonValencia359:56 Fotyen TesfayEthiopia27 October 2024Valencia Half MarathonValencia41:00:09 Lilian KasaitKenya27 October 2024Valencia Half MarathonValencia51:00:24 Yalemzerf YehualawEthiopia24 October 2021Valencia Half MarathonValencia61:00:41 Ejgayehu TayeEthiopia27 October 2024Valencia Half MarathonValencia71:00:42 Loice ChemnungKenya15 February 2026Barcelona Half MarathonBarcelona81:00:43 Ruth Chepng'etichKenya4 April 2021Istanbul Half MarathonIstanbul91:01:03 Joyciline JepkosgeiKenya11 February 2024Barcelona Half MarathonBarcelona101:01:04 Girmawit GebrzihairEthiopia19 February 2022Ras Al Khaimah Half MarathonRas al-KhaimahHellen ObiriKenya19 February 2022Ras Al Khaimah Half MarathonRas al-Khaimah121:01:11 Ababel YeshanehEthiopia21 February 2020Ras Al Khaimah Half MarathonRas Al Khaimah131:01:16 Sheila ChepkiruiKenya19 February 2022Ras Al Khaimah Half MarathonRas Al Khaimah141:01:18 Sutume KebedeEthiopia14 January 2024Houston Half MarathonHoustonSenbere TeferiEthiopia11 February 2024Barcelona Half MarathonBarcelona161:01:19Irine Jepchumba KimaisKenya19 February 2023Barcelona Half MarathonBarcelona171:01:20 Brigid KosgeiKenya8 September 2019Great North RunNewcastle-South Shields181:01:21 Likina AmebawEthiopia14 September 2025Copenhagen Half MarathonCopenhagen191:01:23 Tsigie GebreselamaEthiopia8 March 2026Lisbon Half MarathonLisbon201:01:27 Margaret KipkemboiKenya22 October 2023Valencia Half MarathonValencia211:01:28 Irene Chepet CheptaiKenya22 October 2023Valencia Half MarathonValencia221:01:35 Sharon LokediEthiopia14 September 2025Copenhagen Half MarathonCopenhagen231:01:41 Joan ChelimoKenya4 April 2021Istanbul Half MarathonIstanbul241:01:42 Janeth ChepngetichKenya22 October 2023Valencia Half MarathonValenciaNevin CanTurkey23 August 202621K Buenos AiresBuenos Aires

Notes Below is a list of other times equal or superior to 1:01:42:: Fotyen Tesfay also ran 1:00:42 (2026). Yalemzerf Yehualaw also ran 1:01:05 (2021). Hellen Obiri also ran 1:01:18 (2021). Joyciline Jepkosgei also ran 1:01:22 (2023), 1:01:25 (2017), 1:01.28 (2017). Sheila Chepkirui also ran 1:01:26 (2021). Brigid Kosgei also ran 1:01:29 (2020). Margaret Kipkemboi also ran 1:01:42 (2024).

Notes

References