Half marathon

Half marathon

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. 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.

A half marathon world record is officially recognised by World Athletics. The men's world record time is 57:30, set by Yomif Kejelcha in 2024 in Valencia, Spain. Jacob Kiplimo ran 56:42 in Barcelona 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. In a female-only race, the women's world record is 1:05:16, set by Peres Jepchirchir of Kenya in October 2020.

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

Half marathon

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. 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	56:42	Jacob Kiplimo (UGA)	16 February 2025	Barcelona
2	57:30	Yomif Kejelcha (ETH)	27 October 2024	Valencia
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	58:07	Abel Kipchumba (KEN)	24 October 2021	Valencia
10	58:10	Isaia Kipkoech Lasoi (KEN)	15 September 2024	Copenhagen
11	58:11	Philemon Kiplimo (KEN)	6 December 2020	Valencia
12	58:17	Daniel Mateiko (KEN)	27 October 2024	Valencia
13	58:23	Zersenay Tadese (ERI)	21 March 2010	Lisbon
Nicholas Kipkorir Kimeli (KEN)	14 September 2025	Copenhagen
Birhanu Balew (BHR)	14 February 2026	Ras Al Khaimah
16	58:24	Vincent Kibet Langat (KEN)	14 September 2025	Copenhagen
17	58:27	Gilbert Kipkosgei Kiprotich (KEN)	23 March 2025	Malaga
18	58:28	Kennedy Kimutai (KEN)	24 October 2021	Valencia
19	58:33	Samuel Wanjiru (KEN)	17 March 2007	The Hague
Jemal Yimer (ETH)	28 October 2018	Valencia
21	58:35	Kenneth Kiprop Renju (KEN)	19 February 2022	Ras al-Khaimah
22	58:36	Seifu Tura Abdiwak (ETH)	19 February 2022	Ras al-Khaimah
23	58:38	Rodrigue Kwizera (BDI)	26 October 2025	Valencia
Gideon Kipkertich Rono (KEN)	14 February 2026	Ras Al Khaimah
25	58:39	Gemechu Dida (ETH)	27 October 2024	Valencia
Brian Kibor (KEN)	26 October 2025	Valencia

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 Chepngetich (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

Season's bests

Half marathon

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.

<table><thead><tr><th>Year</th><th>Mark</th><th>Men</th><th>Place</th><th>Mark</th><th>Women</th><th>Place</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>1970</td><td>1:03:53</td><td> Derek Graham (GBR)</td><td>Belfast</td><td></td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>1971</td><td>1:05:25</td><td> Ron Hill (GBR)</td><td>Freckleton</td><td>1:23:56</td><td> Kathy Gibbons (USA)</td><td>Phoenix</td></tr><tr><td>1972</td><td>1:04:23</td><td> Víctor Manuel Mora (COL)</td><td>Coamo</td><td>1:31:55</td><td> Nadia Garcia (USA)</td><td>San Diego</td></tr><tr><td>1973</td><td>1:05:07</td><td> Mario Cuevas (MEX)</td><td>Maracaibo</td><td></td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>1974</td><td>1:04:45</td><td> Vladimir Merkushin (URS)</td><td>Wieze</td><td>1:23:11</td><td> Chantal Langlacé (FRA)</td><td>Ay</td></tr><tr><td>1975</td><td>1:05:08</td><td> Paul Angenvoorth (FRG)</td><td>Grevenmacher</td><td></td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>1976</td><td>1:03:46</td><td> Rafael Pérez (CRC)</td><td>Coamo</td><td>1:29:43</td><td> Rita Borralho (POR)</td><td>Nazaré</td></tr><tr><td>1977</td><td>1:02:37</td><td> Toshihiro Matsumoto (JPN)</td><td>Beppu</td><td>1:22:05</td><td> Silvana Cruciata (ITA)</td><td>Milan</td></tr><tr><td>1978</td><td>1:02:47</td><td> Tony Simmons (GBR)</td><td>Welwyn Garden City</td><td>1:15:04</td><td> Marty Cooksey (USA)</td><td>San Diego</td></tr><tr><td>1979</td><td>1:02:32</td><td> Kirk Pfeffer (USA)</td><td>Las Vegas</td><td>1:14:03</td><td> Patti Catalano (USA)</td><td>Manchester</td></tr><tr><td>1980</td><td>1:02:16</td><td> Stan Mavis (USA)</td><td>New Orleans</td><td>1:13:59</td><td> Marja Wokke (NED)</td><td>The Hague</td></tr><tr><td>1981</td><td>1:01:47</td><td> Herb Lindsay (USA)</td><td>Manchester</td><td>1:11:16</td><td> Joan Samuelson (USA)</td><td>San Diego</td></tr><tr><td>1982</td><td>1:01:36</td><td> Michael Musyoki (KEN)</td><td>Philadelphia</td><td>1:09:57</td><td> Grete Waitz (NOR)</td><td>Gothenburg</td></tr><tr><td>1983</td><td>1:01:32</td><td> Paul Cummings (USA)</td><td>Dayton</td><td>1:09:10</td><td> Joan Samuelson (USA)</td><td>Philadelphia</td></tr><tr><td>1984</td><td>1:01:52</td><td> Alberto Cova (ITA)</td><td>Milan</td><td>1:08:34</td><td> Joan Samuelson (USA)</td><td>Philadelphia</td></tr><tr><td>1985</td><td>1:00:55</td><td> Mark Curp (USA)</td><td>Philadelphia</td><td>1:09:44</td><td> Joan Samuelson (USA)</td><td>Philadelphia</td></tr><tr><td>1986</td><td>1:00:43</td><td> Michael Musyoki (KEN)</td><td>South Shields</td><td>1:09:03</td><td> Ingrid Kristiansen (NOR)</td><td>Drammen</td></tr><tr><td>1987</td><td>1:01:04</td><td> Carl Thackery (GBR)</td><td>Barnsley</td><td>1:06:40</td><td> Ingrid Kristiansen (NOR)</td><td>Sandnes</td></tr><tr><td>1988</td><td>1:01:00</td><td> John Treacy (IRL)</td><td>South Shields</td><td>1:08:49</td><td> Grete Waitz (NOR)</td><td>South Shields</td></tr><tr><td>1989</td><td>1:01:10</td><td> Matthews Temane (RSA)</td><td>Durban</td><td>1:08:31</td><td> Ingrid Kristiansen (NOR)</td><td>New Bedford</td></tr><tr><td>1990</td><td>1:00:34</td><td> Steve Moneghetti (AUS)</td><td>South Shields</td><td>1:09:33</td><td> Rosa Mota (POR)</td><td>South Shields</td></tr><tr><td>1991</td><td>1:00:51</td><td> Moses Tanui (KEN)</td><td>Milan</td><td>1:07:59</td><td> Elana Meyer (RSA)</td><td>East London</td></tr><tr><td>1992</td><td>1:00:24</td><td> Benson Masya (KEN)</td><td>South Shields</td><td>1:08:42</td><td> Liz McColgan (GBR)</td><td>Dundee</td></tr><tr><td>1993</td><td>59:47</td><td> Moses Tanui (KEN)</td><td>Milan</td><td>1:09:35</td><td> Valentina Yegorova (RUS)</td><td>St Petersburg</td></tr><tr><td>1994</td><td>1:00:02</td><td> Benson Masya (KEN)</td><td>South Shields</td><td>1:07:59</td><td> Uta Pippig (GER)</td><td>Kyoto</td></tr><tr><td>1995</td><td>1:00:26</td><td> Simon Lopuyet (KEN)</td><td>Lisbon</td><td>1:07:59</td><td> Uta Pippig (GER)</td><td>Kyoto</td></tr><tr><td>1996</td><td>1:00:31</td><td> Paul Koech (KEN)</td><td>Ivry-sur-Seine</td><td>1:09:15</td><td> Nadia Prasad (NCL)</td><td>Paris</td></tr><tr><td>1997</td><td>59:56</td><td> Shem Kororia (KEN)</td><td>Košice</td><td>1:07:36</td><td> Elana Meyer (RSA)</td><td>Kyoto</td></tr><tr><td>1998</td><td>59:17</td><td> Paul Tergat (KEN)</td><td>Milan</td><td>1:07:29</td><td> Elana Meyer (RSA)</td><td>Kyoto</td></tr><tr><td>1999</td><td>59:22</td><td> Paul Tergat (KEN)</td><td>Milan</td><td>1:06:44</td><td> Elana Meyer (RSA)</td><td>Tokyo</td></tr><tr><td>2000</td><td>1:00:30</td><td> Kenichi Takahashi (JPN)</td><td>Tokyo</td><td>1:07:07</td><td> Paula Radcliffe (GBR)</td><td>South Shields</td></tr><tr><td>2001</td><td>59:52</td><td> Fabián Roncero (ESP)</td><td>Berlin</td><td>1:06:47</td><td> Paula Radcliffe (GBR)</td><td>Bristol</td></tr><tr><td>2002</td><td>59:41</td><td> Haile Gebrselassie (ETH)</td><td>Lisbon</td><td>1:07:19</td><td> Sonia O'Sullivan (IRL)</td><td>South Shields</td></tr><tr><td>2003</td><td>1:00:01</td><td> Hendrick Ramaala (RSA)</td><td>South Shields</td><td>1:05:39</td><td> Paula Radcliffe (GBR)</td><td>South Shields</td></tr><tr><td>2004</td><td>59:37</td><td> Dejene Berhanu (ETH)</td><td>South Shields</td><td>1:07:55</td><td> Benita Johnson (AUS)</td><td>South Shields</td></tr><tr><td>2005</td><td>59:05</td><td> Zersenay Tadese (ERI)</td><td>South Shields</td><td>1:07:33</td><td> Derartu Tulu (ETH)</td><td>South Shields</td></tr><tr><td>2006</td><td>58:55</td><td> Haile Gebrselassie (ETH)</td><td>Tempe</td><td>1:07:16</td><td> Edith Masai (KEN)</td><td>Berlin</td></tr><tr><td>2007</td><td>58:35</td><td> Samuel Wanjiru (KEN)</td><td>The Hague</td><td>1:06:25</td><td> Lornah Kiplagat (NED)</td><td>Udine</td></tr><tr><td>2008</td><td>59:15</td><td> Haile Gebrselassie (ETH)  Deriba Merga (ETH)</td><td>Lisbon New Delhi</td><td>1:07:57</td><td> Philes Ongori (KEN)</td><td>Marugame</td></tr><tr><td>2009</td><td>58:52</td><td> Patrick Makau (KEN)</td><td>Ras al-Khaimah</td><td>1:06:36</td><td> Mary Keitany (KEN)</td><td>Birmingham</td></tr><tr><td>2010</td><td>58:23</td><td> Zersenay Tadese (ERI)</td><td>Lisbon</td><td>1:07:07</td><td> Elvan Abeylegesse (TUR)</td><td>Ras al-Khaimah</td></tr><tr><td>2011</td><td>58:30</td><td> Zersenay Tadese (ERI)</td><td>Lisbon</td><td>1:05:50</td><td> Mary Keitany (KEN)</td><td>Ras al-Khaimah</td></tr><tr><td>2012</td><td>58:47</td><td> Atsedu Tsegay (ETH)</td><td>Prague</td><td>1:06:49</td><td> Mary Keitany (KEN)</td><td>Ras al-Khaimah</td></tr><tr><td>2013</td><td>58:54</td><td> Geoffrey Kipsang (KEN)</td><td>Ras al-Khaimah</td><td>1:06:09</td><td> Lucy Kabuu (KEN)</td><td>Ras al-Khaimah</td></tr><tr><td>2014</td><td>58:48</td><td> Abraham Cheroben (KEN)</td><td>Valencia</td><td>1:05:12</td><td> Florence Kiplagat (KEN)</td><td>Barcelona</td></tr><tr><td>2015</td><td>59:10</td><td> Abraham Cheroben (KEN)</td><td>Valencia</td><td>1:05:09</td><td> Florence Kiplagat (KEN)</td><td>Barcelona</td></tr><tr><td>2016</td><td>58:44</td><td> Solomon Yego (KEN)</td><td>Ostia</td><td>1:05:51</td><td> Violah Jepchumba (KEN)</td><td>Prague</td></tr><tr><td>2017</td><td>58:40</td><td> Abraham Cheroben (BHR)</td><td>Copenhagen</td><td>1:04:51</td><td> Joyciline Jepkosgei (KEN)</td><td>Valencia</td></tr><tr><td>2018</td><td>58:18</td><td> Abraham Kiptum (KEN)</td><td>Valencia</td><td>1:04:52</td><td> Fancy Chemutai (KEN)</td><td>Ras al-Khaimah</td></tr><tr><td>2019</td><td>58:01</td><td> Geoffrey Kamworor (KEN)</td><td>Copenhagen</td><td>1:05:28</td><td> Brigid Kosgei (KEN)</td><td>Manama</td></tr><tr><td>2020</td><td>57:32</td><td> Kibiwott Kandie (KEN)</td><td>Valencia</td><td>1:04:31</td><td> Ababel Yeshaneh (ETH)</td><td>Ras al-Khaimah</td></tr><tr><td>2021</td><td>57:31</td><td> Jacob Kiplimo (UGA)</td><td>Lisbon</td><td>1:02:52</td><td> Letesenbet Gidey (ETH)</td><td>Valencia</td></tr><tr><td>2022</td><td>57:56</td><td> Jacob Kiplimo (UGA)</td><td>Ras al-Khaimah</td><td>1:04:14</td><td> Girmawit Gebrzihair (ETH)</td><td>Ras al-Khaimah</td></tr><tr><td>2023</td><td>57:40</td><td> Kibiwott Kandie (KEN)</td><td>Valencia</td><td>1:04:37</td><td> Irine Kimais (KEN)</td><td>Barcelona</td></tr><tr><td>2024</td><td>57:30</td><td> Yomif Kejelcha (ETH)</td><td>Valencia</td><td>1:03:04</td><td> Agnes Ngetich (KEN)</td><td>Valencia</td></tr></tbody></table>

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.