These Are the World’s Fastest Half Marathoners

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 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 Yomif Kejelcha occupies three spots on the men’s fastest-performances list.The tables are current as of August 23, 2026.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 Agnes Ngetich (Kenya) 63:04 4:48.6 Valencia, 2024 Fotyen Tesfay (Ethiopia) 63:21 4:50.0 Valencia, 2024 Lilian Kasait (Kenya) 63:32 4:50.8 Valencia, 2024 Yalemzerf Yehualaw (Ethiopia) 63:51 4:52.2 Valencia, 2021 Loice Chemnung (Kenya) 64:01 4:53.0 Barcelona, 2026 Ruth Chepngetich (Kenya) 64:02 4:53.1 Istanbul, 2021 Girmawit Gebrhizair (Ethiopia) 64:12 4:55.3 RAK, 2022 Ejgayehu Taye (Ethiopia) 64:14 4:54.0 Valencia, 2024 Tsigie Gebreselama (Ethiopia) 64:21 4:54.5 Lisbon, 2025 10 Fastest Half Marathoners on Record-Eligible Course: Men Runner Finish Time Pace/Mile Half Marathon Yomif Kejelcha (Ethiopia) 56:51 4:20.2 Buenos Aires, 2026 Jacob Kiplimo (Uganda) 57:20 4:22.4 Lisbon, 2026 Kibiwott Kandie (Kenya) 57:32 4:23.3 Valencia, 2020 Hagos Gebrhiwet (Ethiopia) 57:41 4:24.0 Valencia, 2023 Rhonex Kipruto (Kenya) 57:49 4:24.6 Valencia, 2020Selemon Barega (Ethiopia) 57:50 4:24.7 Valencia, 2023 Alexander Mutiso (Kenya) 57:59 4:25.4 Valencia, 2020 Geoffrey Kamworor (Kenya) 58:01 4:25.5 Copenhagen, 2019 Sabastian Sawe (Kenya) 58:05 4:25.9 Copenhagen, 2024 Abel Kipchumba (Kenya) 58:07 4:26.0 Valencia, 2021 10 Fastest American Half Marathoners on Record-Eligible Course: Women Runner Finish Time Pace/Mile Half Marathon Weini Kelati 66:04 5:02.4 Barcelona, 2026 Taylor Roe 66:20 5:03.6 Houston, 2026 Keira D’Amato 66:39 5:05.1 Gold Coast, 2023 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 Natosha Rogers 67:30 5:08.9 Houston, 2026 ​Deena Kastor​ 67:34 5:09.2 Berlin, 2006 Amanda Vestri 67:35 5:09.3 Houston, 2025 Emma Grace Hurley 67:35 5:09.3 Atlanta, 2025 10 Fastest American Half Marathoners on Record-Eligible Course: Men Runner Finish Time Pace/Mile Half Marathon Conner Mantz 59:17 4:31.3 Houston, 2025 Alex Maier 59:23 4:31.8 Houston, 2026 Casey Clinger 59:34 4:32.6 Houston, 2026 Ryan Hall 59:43 4:33.3 Houston, 2007 Ryan Ford 59:48 4:33.7 Houston, 2026 Leonard Korir 59:52 4:34.0 New Delhi, 2017 Isai Rodriguez 59:57 4:34.3 Houston, 2026 Dathan Ritzenhein 60:00 4:34.6 World Championships, 2009 Hillary Bor 60:04 4:34.9 Houston, 2026 Galen Rupp 60:22 4:36.3 Row River, 202010 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 Agnes Ngetich (Kenya) 63:04 4:48.6 Valencia, 2024 Agnes Ngetich (Kenya) 63:08 4:48.7 Valencia, 2025 Fotyen Tesfay (Ethiopia) 63:21 4:50.0 Valencia, 2024 Lilian Kasait (Kenya) 63:32 4:50.8 Valencia, 2024 Fotyen Tesfay (Ethiopia) 63:35 4:50.9 Berlin, 2025 Yalemzerf Yehualaw (Ethiopia) 63:51 4:52.3 Valencia, 2021 Loice Chemnung (Kenya) 64:01 4:53.0 Barcelona, 2026 Ruth Chepngetich (Kenya) 64:02 4:53.1 Istanbul, 2021 Girmawit Gebrzihair (Ethiopia) 64:12 4:53.8 RAK, 2022 10 Fastest Half Marathons on Record-Eligible Course: Men Runner Finish Time Pace/Mile Half Marathon Yomif Kejelcha (Ethiopia) 56:51 4:20.2 Buenos Aires, 2026Jacob Kiplimo (Uganda)57:204:22.4Lisbon, 2026 Yomif Kejelcha (Ethiopia) 57:30 4:23.1 Valencia, 2024 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 Kibiwott Kandie (Kenya) 57:40 4:23.9 Valencia, 2023 Yomif Kejelcha (Ethiopia) 57:41 4:24.0 Valencia, 2023 Hagos Gebrhiwet (Ethiopia) 57:41 4:24.0 Valencia, 2023 Rhonex Kipruto (Kenya) 57:47 4:24.6 Valencia, 2020Selemon Barega (Ethiopia) 57:50 4:24.7 Valencia, 2023 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 Yomif Kejelcha (Ethiopia) 57:30 4:23.1 Valencia, 2024 Jacob Kiplimo (Uganda) 57:20 4:22.4 Lisbon, 2026Scott 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.