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Below you’ll find tables detailing several half marathon superlatives:
- the 10 fastest half marathoners in history on record-eligible courses;
- the 10 fastest American half marathoners in history on record-eligible courses;
- the 10 fastest performances on record-eligible courses;
- the progression of the world records since 2004, when the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) first ratified half marathon times on record-eligible courses as world records.
Note that we said “on record-eligible courses.” Some well-known fast times, such as Galen Rupp’s 59:47 at the Ostia Half Marathon in 2018, aren’t listed below, because they were achieved on a course with too much net elevation drop and/or too much separation between the start and finish.
Each half marathoner appears on the first list, for the fastest performers in history, only once. The third set of tables, for fastest performances in history, allows for a runner to appear more than once. For example, world record-holder Jacob Kiplimo occupies three spots on the men’s fastest-performances list.
More From Runner's World
The tables are current as of February 20, 2023.
Looking for 26.2? We also have a list of the world’s fastest marathoners (and marathons).
10 Fastest Half Marathoners on Record-Eligible Course: Women
| Runner | Finish Time | Pace/Mile | Half Marathon |
| Letensebet Gidey (Ethiopia) | 62:52 | 4:47.7 | Valencia, 2021 |
| Yalemzerf Yehualaw (Ethiopia) | 63:51 | 4:52.2 | Valencia, 2021 |
| Ruth Chepngetich (Kenya) | 64:02 | 4:53.1 | Istanbul, 2021 |
| Girmawit Gebrhizair (Ethiopia) | 64:12 | 4:53.8 | RAK, 2022 |
| Hellen Obiri (Kenya) | 64:22 | 4:54.6 | RAK, 2022 |
| Ababel Yeshaneh (Ethiopia) | 64:31 | 4:55.3 | RAK, 2020 |
| Sheila Chepkirui (Kenya) | 64:36 | 4:55.7 | RAK, 2022 |
| Irine Kimais (Kenya) | 64:37 | 4:55.8 | Barcelona, 2023 |
| Joyciline Jepkosgei (Kenya) | 64:46 | 4:56.6 | Barcelona, 2023 |
| Brigid Kosgei (Kenya) | 64:49 | 4:56.7 | RAK, 2022 |
10 Fastest Half Marathoners on Record-Eligible Course: Men
| Runner | Finish Time | Pace/Mile | Half Marathon |
| Jacob Kiplimo (Uganda) | 57:31 | 4:23.2 | Lisbon, 2021 |
| Kibiwott Kandie (Kenya) | 57:32 | 4:23.3 | Valencia, 2020 |
| Rhonex Kipruto (Kenya) | 57:49 | 4:24.6 | Valencia, 2020 |
| Alexander Mutiso (Kenya) | 57:59 | 4:25.4 | Valencia, 2020 |
| Geoffrey Kamworor (Kenya) | 58:01 | 4:25.5 | Copenhagen, 2019 |
Abel Kipchumba (Kenya) | 58:07 | 4:26.0 | Valencia, 2021 |
| Philemon Kiplimo (Kenya) | 58:11 | 4:26.3 | Valencia, 201 |
| Zersenay Tadese (Eritrea) | 58:23 | 4:27.2 | Lisbon, 2010 |
| Daniel Mataiko (Kenya) | 58:26 | 4:27.4 | Valencia, 2021 |
| Kennedy Kimutai (Kenya) | 58:28 | 4:27.6 | Valencia, 2021 |
10 Fastest American Half Marathoners on Record-Eligible Course: Women
| Runner | Finish Time | Pace/Mile | Half Marathon |
| Emily Sisson | 66:52 | 5:06.1 | Houston, 2023 |
| Sara Hall | 67:15 | 5:07.8 | Houston, 2022 |
| Molly Huddle | 67:25 | 5:08.6 | Houston, 2018 |
| 67:34 | 5:09.2 | Berlin, 2006 | |
| Fiona O’Keeffe | 67:42 | 5:09.9 | Houston, 2022 |
| Emily Durgin | 67:54 | 5:10.8 | Houston, 2022 |
| Keira D’Amato | 67:55 | 5:10.8 | Mortgage Network, 2021 |
| 67:55 | 5:10.8 | Prague, 2017 | |
| 68:05 | 5:11.6 | Chicago, 2009 | |
| Betsy Saina | 68:25 | 5:13.2 | Seville, 2023 |
10 Fastest American Half Marathoners on Record-Eligible Course: Men
| Runner | Finish Time | Pace/Mile | Half Marathon |
| 59:43 | 4:33.3 | Houston, 2007 | |
| Leonard Korir | 59:52 | 4:34.0 | New Delhi, 2017 |
| 60:00 | 4:34.6 | World Championships, 2009 | |
| Galen Rupp | 60:22 | 4:36.3 | Row River, 2020 |
| 60:37 | 4:37.4 | Houston, 2018 | |
| Biya Simbassa | 60:37 | 4:37.4 | Valencia, 2022 |
| Kirubel Erassa | 60:44 | 4:38.0 | Houston, 2022 |
| Diego Estrada | 60:51 | 4:38.5 | Houston, 2015 |
| Conner Mantz | 60:55 | 4:38.8 | Mortgage Network, 2021 |
| Mark Curp | 60:55 | 4:38.8 | Philadelphia, 1985 |
10 Fastest Half Marathons on Record-Eligible Course: Women
| Runner | Finish Time | Pace/Mile | Half Marathon |
| Letensebet Gidey (Ethiopia) | 62:52 | 4:47.7 | Valencia, 2021 |
| Yalemzerf Yehualaw (Ethiopia) | 63:51 | 4:52.3 | Valencia, 2021 |
| Ruth Chepngetich (Kenya) | 64:02 | 4:53.1 | Istanbul, 2021 |
| Girmawit Gebrzihair (Ethiopia) | 64:12 | 4:53.8 | RAK, 2022 |
| Yalemzerf Yehualaw (Ethiopia) | 64:22 | 4:54.6 | Antrim Coast, 2022 |
| Hellen Obiri (Ethiopia) | 64:22 | 4:54.6 | RAK, 2022 |
| Ababel Yeshaneh (Ethiopia) | 64:31 | 4:55.3 | RAK, 2020 |
| Sheila Chepkirui (Kenya) | 64:36 | 4:55.7 | RAK, 2022 |
| Irine Kimais (Kenya) | 64:37 | 4:55.8 | Barcelona, 2022 |
| Yalemzerf Yehualaw (Ethiopia) | 64:40 | 4:56.0 | Istanbul, 2021 |
10 Fastest Half Marathons on Record-Eligible Course: Men
| Runner | Finish Time | Pace/Mile | Half Marathon |
| Jacob Kiplimo (Uganda) | 57:31 | 4:23.2 | Lisbon, 2021 |
| Kibiwott Kandie (Kenya) | 57:32 | 4:23.3 | Valencia, 2020 |
| Jacob Kiplimo (Uganda) | 57:37 | 4:23.7 | Valencia, 2020 |
| Rhonex Kipruto (Kenya) | 57:47 | 4:24.6 | Valencia, 2020 |
| Jacob Kiplimo (Uganda) | 57:56 | 4:25.2 | RAK, 2022 |
| Alexander Mutiso (Kenya) | 57:59 | 4:25.4 | Valencia, 2020 |
Geoffrey Kamworor (Kenya) | 58:01 | 4:25.5 | Copenhagen, 2019 |
| Abel Kipchumba (Kenya) | 58:07 | 4:26.0 | Valencia, 2021 |
| Rhonex Kipruto (Kenya) | 58:09 | 4:26.1 | Valencia, 2021 |
| Kibiwott Kandie (Kenya) | 58:1o | 4:26.2 | Valencia, 2022 |
Progression of World Record Since 2004: Women
| Runner | Finish Time | Pace/Mile | Half Marathon |
| Elana Meyer (South Africa) | 66:44 | 5:05.4 | Tokyo, 1999 |
| Lornah Kiplagat (Netherlands) | 66:25 | 5:04.0 | Udine, 2007 |
| Mary Keitany (Kenya) | 65:50 | 5:01.3 | RAK, 2011 |
| Florence Kiplagat (Kenya) | 65:12 | 4:58.4 | Barcelona, 2014 |
| Florence Kiplagat (Kenya) | 65:09 | 4:58.1 | Barcelona, 2015 |
| Peres Jepchirchir (Kenya) | 65:06 | 4:57.9 | RAK, 2017 |
| Joyciline Jepkosgei (Kenya) | 64:52 | 4:56.9 | Prague, 2017 |
| Joyciline Jepkosgei (Kenya) | 64:51 | 4:56.8 | Valencia, 2017 |
| Ababel Yeshaneh (Ethiopia) | 64:31 | 4:55.3 | RAK, 2020 |
| Ruth Chepngetich (Kenya) | 64:02 | 4:53.1 | Istanbul, 2021 |
| Letensebet Gidey (Ethiopia) | 62:52 | 4:47.7 | Valencia, 2021 |
Progression of World Record Since 2004: Men
| Runner | Finish Time | Pace/Mile | Half Marathon |
| Paul Tergat (Kenya) | 59:17 | 4:31.3 | Milan, 1998 |
| Sammy Wanjiru (Kenya) | 59:16 | 4:31.2 | Rotterdam, 2005 |
| Haile Gebrselassie (Ethiopia) | 58:55 | 4:29.6 | Tempe, 2006 |
| Sammy Wanjiru (Kenya) | 58:53 | 4:29.5 | RAK, 2007 |
| Sammy Wanjiru (Kenya) | 58:33 | 4:28.0 | City-Pier-City, 2007 |
| Zersenay Tadese (Eretria) | 58:23 | 4:27.2 | Lisbon, 2010 |
| Abraham Kiptum (Kenya) | 58:18 | 4:26.8 | Valencia, 2018 |
| Geoffrey Kamworor (Kenya) | 58:01 | 4:25.5 | Copenhagen, 2019 |
| Kibiwott Kandie (Kenya) | 57:32 | 4:23.3 | Valencia, 2020 |
| Jacob Kiplimo (Uganda) | 57:31 | 4:23.2 | Lisbon, 2021 |
Scott is a veteran running, fitness, and health journalist who has held senior editorial positions at Runner’s World and Running Times. Much of his writing translates sport science research and elite best practices into practical guidance for everyday athletes. He is the author or coauthor of several running books, including Running Is My Therapy, Advanced Marathoning, and Meb for Mortals. Scott has also written about running for Slate, The Atlantic, the Washington Post, and other members of the sedentary media. His lifetime running odometer is past 110,000 miles, but he’s as much in love as ever.
