Working Groups / Road Records

This group is the focus for setting the criteria for keeping road records and maintains ARRS world and national road record lists. Click here to view the ARRS criteria for record-keeping.

Records and Rankings

Here are the world records as recognized by the ARRS. Women's world records as recognized by the ARRS must be set in all-women's competition. Last updated on 19 Nov 2007.

MEN
  5 km    12:59.5   Sammy Kipketer (KEN)        26 Mar 2000   Carlsbad CA USA
  8 km    22:02.2   Peter Githuka (KEN)         20 Jul 1996   Kingsport TN USA
 10 km    27:18     Sammy Kipketer (KEN)        08 Apr 2001   Brunsum NED
 12 km    33:46     Simon Kigen (KEN)           19 May 1985   Portland OR USA
 15 km    41:28.8   Felix Limo                  11 Nov 2001   Nijmegen NED
 10 mi    44:23.0   Haile Gebreselasie (ETH)    04 Sep 2005   Tilburg NED
 20 km    56:01     Zerisenay Tadesse (ERI)     08 Oct 2006   Debrecen HUN
 HMar     58:33     Samuel Wanjiru (KEN)        17 Mar 2007   The Hague NED
 25 km  1:12:45     Paul Kosgei (KEN)           09 May 2004   Berlin GER
 30 km  1:28:00     Takayuki Matsumiya (JPN)    27 Feb 2005   Kumamoto JPN
 Mara   2:04:26     Haile Gebreselasie (ETH)    30 Sep 2007   Berlin GER

WOMEN
  5 km    14:46     Meseret Defar (ETH)         09 Apr 2006   Carlsbad CA USA
  8 km    24:38     Paula Radcliffe (ENG)       24 Apr 1999   Balmoral SCO
 10 km    30:28.6   Asmae Leghzaoui (MAR)       08 Jun 2002   New York NY USA
 12 km              none known
 15 km    47:17     Ingrid Kristiansen (NOR)    21 Nov 1987   Monaco MON
 10 mi    51:43.4   Teyiba Erkiso (ETH)         01 Apr 2007   Washington DC USA
 20 km  1:03:21     Lornah Kiplagat (NED)       08 Oct 2006   Debrecen HUN
 HMar   1:06:25     Lornah Kiplagat (NED)       14 Oct 2007   Udine ITA
 25 km              none known
 30 km  1:50:45     Marty Cooksey (USA)         10 May 1980   Pasadena CA USA
 Mara   2:18:56     Paula Radcliffe (ENG)       14 Apr 2002   London ENG

Pending Marks

• Men 10 km - The 27:07 by Micah Kogo (KEN) on 01 Apr 2007 at Brunssum NED is awaiting documentation.
• Women Marathon - The 2:17:42 by Paula Radcliffe (ENG) on 17 Apr 2005 at London ENG is awaiting documentation.

Rejected Marks

• Men 10 km - The 27:02 reported for Haile Gebreselasie (ETH) at Doha QAT on 11 Dec 2002 was illegally aided by a sizeable lead vehicle that provided drafting for the lead men's pack. At times, Gebreselasie was reported to be within one meter behind this vehicle. A statistical analysis of the race provides an estimate that this drafting produced times that were 47 seconds faster than had the lead runners not had this advantage. IAAF Rule 143 clearly prohibits such assistance. This mark has been recognized by the IAAF.
• Men 25 km - The 1:11:47 reported for Haile Gebreselasie (ETH) at Alphen aan den Rijn NED on 12 Mar 2006 was illegally paced by runners in the 20 km race who started their race at the moment that Gebreselasie passed the 20 km start line, having already run his first 5 km. The rules against pacing prohibit any runner that is not properly entered in the competition from accompanying a runner. In this case, the runners in the 20 km were not in the same competition as Gebreselasie who was running in a special 25 km race.

National Records

In principle, national records should be maintained by the national governing bodies in each country. However, very few countries recognize road records and there are no uniform standards for such recognition. Eventually, a uniform set of standards will be accepted but until that time, the ARRS will list both those marks recognized by the various national governing bodies and those marks conforming to a consistent set of criteria. Please refer to the National Records web page for details.

Working Group Members

• Ken Young (co-ordinator)