Article · Wikipedia archive · Last revised Jul 18, 2026

Half marathon

A half marathon is a road running event of 21.0975 kilometres —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.

Last revised
Jul 18, 2026
Read time
≈ 13 min
Length
3,065 w
Citations
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Source
Athletics
Half marathon
Half marathon runners in the 2024 Dallas Marathon
World records
MenUganda Jacob Kiplimo 57:20 (2026)
WomenMx: Ethiopia Letesenbet Gidey 1:02:52 (2021)
Wo: Kenya Peres Jepchirchir 1:05:16 (2020)

A half marathon is a road running event of 21.0975 kilometres (c. 13 mi 192.5 yd)—half the distance of a marathon.1 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.2 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.34 The men's world record time is 57:20, set by Jacob Kiplimo in 2026 in Lisbon. Kiplimo also ran 56:42 in Barcelona but this mark was not ratified by World Athletics due to his proximity to the lead car.5 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 2020.6

Participation in half marathons has grown steadily since 2003,7 partly because it is a challenging distance, but does not require the same level of training that a marathon does.7 In 2008, Running USA reported that the half marathon was the fastest-growing type of race.7

History

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 1995.8 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

  • Updated 20 May 2026.910
Area Men Women
Time Season Athlete Time Season Athlete
World 57:20 2026  Jacob Kiplimo (UGA) 1:02:52 Mx 2021  Letesenbet Gidey (ETH)
Area records
Africa (records) 57:20 2026  Jacob Kiplimo (UGA) 1:02:52 Mx 2021  Letesenbet Gidey (ETH)
Asia (records) 58:23 2026  Birhanu Balew (BHR) 1:05:22 Mx 2017  Violah Jepchumba (BHR)
Europe (records) 58:41 2025  Andreas Almgren (SWE) 1:05:15 Mx 2018  Sifan Hassan (NED)
North, Central America
and Caribbean
(records)
59:15 2025  Conner Mantz (USA) 1:06:04 2026  Weini Kelati (USA)
Oceania (records) 59:47 2015  Zane Robertson (NZL) 1:07:11 2011  Kimberley Smith (NZL)
South America (records) 59:33 2007  Marílson Gomes dos Santos (BRA) 1:09:21 2025  Florencia Borelli (ARG)

All-time top 25

Men

  • Correct as of May 2026.1112
Rank Time Athlete Date Place Ref
1 56:42a  Jacob Kiplimo (UGA) 16 February 2025 Barcelona 13
2 57:30  Yomif Kejelcha (ETH) 27 October 2024 Valencia 14
3 57:32  Kibiwott Kandie (KEN) 6 December 2020 Valencia 15
4 57:41  Hagos Gebrhiwet (ETH) 22 October 2023 Valencia 16
5 57:50  Selemon Barega (ETH) 22 October 2023 Valencia 16
6 57:59  Alexander Mutiso (KEN) 6 December 2020 Valencia 15
7 58:01  Geoffrey Kamworor (KEN) 15 September 2019 Copenhagen 17
8 58:02  Sabastian Sawe (KEN) 6 March 2022 Rome–Ostia 18
9 58:07  Abel Kipchumba (KEN) 24 October 2021 Valencia 19
10 58:08  Nicholas Kipkorir Kimeli (KEN) 8 March 2026 Lisboa 20
11 58:10  Isaia Kipkoech Lasoi (KEN) 15 September 2024 Copenhagen 21
12 58:11  Philemon Kiplimo (KEN) 6 December 2020 Valencia 15
13 58:16  Rodrigue Kwizera (BDI) 28 March 2026 Prague 22
14 58:17  Daniel Mateiko (KEN) 27 October 2024 Valencia 23
15 58:23  Zersenay Tadese (ERI) 21 March 2010 Lisbon 24
 Birhanu Balew (BHR) 14 February 2026 Ras Al Khaimah 25
17 58:24  Vincent Kibet Langat (KEN) 14 September 2025 Copenhagen 26
18 58:27  Gilbert Kipkosgei Kiprotich (KEN) 23 March 2025 Malaga 27
19 58:28  Kennedy Kimutai (KEN) 24 October 2021 Valencia 19
20 58:33  Samuel Wanjiru (KEN) 17 March 2007 The Hague 28
 Jemal Yimer (ETH) 28 October 2018 Valencia 29
22 58:35  Kenneth Kiprop Renju (KEN) 19 February 2022 Ras al-Khaimah 30
23 58:36  Seifu Tura Abdiwak (ETH) 19 February 2022 Ras al-Khaimah 31
24 58:38  Gideon Kipkertich Rono (KEN) 14 February 2026 Ras Al Khaimah 25
25 58:39  Gemechu Dida (ETH) 27 October 2024 Valencia 32
 Brian Kibor (KEN) 26 October 2025 Valencia 33

Notes

Below is a list of other times equal or superior to 58:39:

Performance annulled due to doping offences:

Time Athlete Date Place Ref
57:49  Rhonex Kipruto (KEN) 6 December 2020 Valencia 15
58:30  Rodgers Kwemoi (KEN) 19 February 2022 Ras al-Khaimah 37

Women

  • Correct as of February 2026.

38 39

Rank Time Athlete Date Place Ref
1 1:02:52 Mx  Letesenbet Gidey (ETH) 24 October 2021 Valencia 40
2 1:03:04 Mx  Agnes Jebet Ngetich (KEN) 27 October 2024 Valencia 41
3 1:03:21 Mx  Fotyen Tesfay (ETH) 27 October 2024 Valencia 41
4 1:03:32 Mx  Lilian Kasait Rengeruk (KEN) 27 October 2024 Valencia 41
5 1:03:51 Mx  Yalemzerf Yehualaw (ETH) 24 October 2021 Valencia 40
6 1:04:01 Mx  Loice Chemnung (KEN) 15 February 2026 Barcelona 4243
7 1:04:02 Mx  Ruth Chepng'etich (KEN) 4 April 2021 Istanbul 44
8 1:04:13 Mx  Joyciline Jepkosgei (KEN) 16 February 2025 Barcelona 45
9 1:04:14 Mx  Girmawit Gebrzihair (ETH) 19 February 2022 Ras al-Khaimah 46
10 1:04:14 Mx  Ejgayehu Taye (ETH) 27 October 2024 Valencia 41
11 1:04:21  Tsigie Gebreselama (ETH) 9 March 2025 Lisboa 47
12 1:04:22 Mx  Hellen Obiri (KEN) 19 February 2022 Ras al-Khaimah 46
13 1:04:31 Mx  Ababel Yeshaneh (ETH) 21 February 2020 Ras al-Khaimah 48
14 1:04:36 Mx  Sheila Chepkirui (KEN) 19 February 2022 Ras al-Khaimah 46
15 1:04:37  Irine Kimais (KEN) 19 February 2023 Barcelona 49
16 1:04:37 Mx  Sutume Kebede (ETH) 14 January 2024 Houston 50
17 1:04:40 Mx  Senbere Teferi (ETH) 11 February 2024 Barcelona 51
18 1:04:44  Likina Amebaw (ETH) 14 September 2025 Copenhagen 52
19 1:04:46  Margaret Kipkemboi (KEN) 22 October 2023 Valencia 53
20 1:04:49 Mx  Brigid Kosgei (KEN) 21 February 2020 Ras al-Khaimah 48
 Fantaye Belayneh (ETH) 11 January 2026 Houston 54
22 1:04:52  Fancy Chemutai (KEN) 9 February 2018 Ras al-Khaimah 55
23 1:04:53  Irine Chepet Cheptai (KEN) 22 October 2023 Valencia 53
24 1:04:55  Mary Keitany (KEN) 9 February 2018 Ras al-Khaimah 55
25 1:05:00  Sharon Lokedi (KEN) 14 September 2025 Copenhagen 52

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. source ↗
Runners taking part in the Bristol Half Marathon source ↗

This table lists the best half marathon performances per year since 1970, as recorded by the ARRS.58

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 2000.6061

See also

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

References

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Further reading

Further reading

External links