Half Marathon World Record 2026: Kiplimo 57:20 & Women's Marks

Half marathon world record 2026: Jacob Kiplimo 57:20 in Lisbon, women's mixed and women-only marks, progression tables, and World Athletics sources.

· 8 min read · Rankings & Data

Quick answer: the men's half marathon world record is 57:20 (Jacob Kiplimo, Lisbon, 8 Mar 2026). The women's half marathon world record (mixed-gender) is 1:02:52 (Letesenbet Gidey, Valencia, 2021). The women-only mark is 1:05:16 (Peres Jepchirchir, Gdynia, 2020).

| Category | Time | Athlete | | --- | --- | --- | | Men | 57:20 | Jacob Kiplimo | | Women, mixed | 1:02:52 | Letesenbet Gidey | | Women only | 1:05:16 | Peres Jepchirchir |

The official half is 21.0975 km / 13.1094 miles. See half marathon distance for the conversion, then browse half marathon races if you want a date on the calendar.

On March 8, 2026, Kiplimo crossed the line at the EDP Lisbon Half Marathon in 57:20, the fastest ratified half marathon in history. He ran without pacemakers on a course that met World Athletics requirements.

That backstory matters. In February 2025 he ran 56:42 in Barcelona, a number that would have crushed the record, but World Athletics did not ratify it, ruling the pacing assistance from the lead vehicle illegal. Lisbon 2026 removed any doubt.

Current half marathon world records at a glance

| Category | Time | Athlete | Date | Location | Source | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Men | 57:20 | Jacob Kiplimo (UGA) | 8 Mar 2026 | Lisbon | World Athletics | | Women (mixed-gender) | 1:02:52 | Letesenbet Gidey (ETH) | 24 Oct 2021 | Valencia | World Athletics | | Women (women-only) | 1:05:16 | Peres Jepchirchir (KEN) | 17 Oct 2020 | Gdynia | World Athletics |

Mixed-gender vs women-only

World Athletics keeps two women's road records for the half marathon.

Mixed-gender races include male runners who can act as de facto pacemakers, giving elite women a pace reference and someone to run behind. Times in this category tend to be faster, which is why World Athletics splits the records.

Women-only races have no male field to sit behind. Gidey's 1:02:52 was mixed. Jepchirchir's 1:05:16 came at the World Athletics Half Marathon Championships.

Both are legitimate in their categories. Most headlines quote the mixed-gender mark when they say women's half marathon world record.

Men's half marathon world record progression (selected marks)

| Year | Time | Athlete | Country | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 1998 | 59:17 | Paul Tergat | KEN | | 2010 | 58:23 | Zersenay Tadese | ERI | | 2021 | 57:31 | Jacob Kiplimo | UGA | | 2024 | 57:30 | Yomif Kejelcha | ETH | | 2026 | 57:20 | Jacob Kiplimo | UGA |

The table shows the key ratified milestones rather than every record in between. Tergat's 59:17 was the first officially ratified sub-60. Tadese's 58:23 then stood through most of the 2010s before the record fell three times in five years across the 2020s. Kiplimo's unratified 56:42 in Barcelona (2025) sits outside this table.

Women's half marathon world record progression (mixed-gender)

| Year | Time | Athlete | Country | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 2012 | 1:05:50 | Mary Keitany | KEN | | 2017 | 1:04:51 | Mary Keitany | KEN | | 2018 | 1:04:02 | Joyciline Jepkosgei | KEN | | 2021 | 1:04:02 | Ruth Chepngetich | KEN | | 2021 | 1:02:52 | Letesenbet Gidey | ETH |

Gidey's Valencia mark cut more than a minute off the previous record and still stands years later, at roughly 2:59 per kilometre for the full 21.1 km.

From world record pace to your goal

Kiplimo's 57:20 is about 2:43 per km. Most first-time half marathoners aim somewhere between 5:30 and 7:00 per km. That gap is normal.

The detail worth copying from Kiplimo's run is the control. He went through 10 km in 27:00, eased slightly through the middle, then lifted again over the final kilometres instead of fading. Holding form late in the race is the same pacing job at 5:41 per km as it is at 2:43.

Use the half marathon pace chart (and the printable chart) for per-km and per-mile splits from 1:15 to 3:00. Build toward your goal with a half marathon training plan for beginners, or predict a finish from a recent race with the race predictor. Custom targets: half marathon pace calculator.

Sources

Figures reflect ratified World Athletics marks as of July 2026.

More running records

Half marathon world record FAQs

What is the women's half marathon world record?

1:02:52 in mixed-gender races (Gidey, Valencia 2021). The women-only record is 1:05:16 (Jepchirchir, Gdynia 2020). Most headlines quote the mixed-gender mark.

What is the fastest half marathon time ever?

Men: 57:20 (Kiplimo, Lisbon 2026). Women mixed: 1:02:52. Those are the ratified World Athletics marks.

Why are there two women's half marathon records?

Mixed-gender races let elite women sit behind male pacemakers. Women-only championships do not. World Athletics keeps both lists so the comparison is fair.

How fast is half marathon world record pace?

Kiplimo's 57:20 is about 2:43 per km (4:23 per mile) for the full 21.1 km. Recreational first-timers more often sit between 5:30 and 7:00 per km.

Find races: Browse half marathon races worldwide. Valencia is one of the fastest certified courses and consistently produces top-end times.