# 20K run

The 20K run (20 kilometres, or approximately 12.4 miles) is a long distance foot race. It is a rarely held race that is not recognized as an Olympic event. The event held IAAF world championship status in 2006 only, when the existing IAAF World Half Marathon Championships briefly hosted the shorter distance.
The world best for men is held by Zersenay Tadese of Eritrea who ran a time of 56:01 at the 2006 IAAF World Road Running Championships in Debrecen, Hungary. The women's world best is held by Florence Kiplagat of Kenya who ran a time of 1:01:54 at the 2015 Barcelona Half Marathon in Barcelona, Spain. IAAF records require the 20 km distance to be run on a course without a significant drop in elevation between the start and finish points and where the birds-eye distance between the start of finish points is less than ten kilometres. The Association of Road Racing Statisticians has an additional criteria in that it requires records to be set in competitions of the given distance, thus it does not recognise Kiplagat's run due to it being recorded en route to a longer distance. The ARRS-recognised world record is 1:03:21 by Lornah Kiplagat of the Netherlands, who also recorded her time at the 2006 World Championships.

## Road races

There are several annual road running competitions over the 20 km distance, mostly based in Western Europe, the United States, and Japan.

### Europe

* 20 van Alphen
* 20 km of Brussels
* 20 Kilomètres de Paris
* 20 km of Tours
* 20 km of Lausanne
* 20 km of Maroilles
* Behobia-San Sebastián
* Friedeslauf 20 km
* Marseille-Cassis Classique Internationale
* Zilveren Molenloop

### Japan

* Hakone Ekiden Yosenkai
* Takashimadaira 20 km

### United States

* New Haven Road Race
* John F Kennedy Memorial 20 km
* Vestal XX
* Penn Relays 20 km
The Kanaguri Hai Tamana Half Marathon, Dam to Dam Half Marathon and Ogden Newspapers Classic Half Marathon were all previously 20 km races for much of their history.

## All-time top 25

* + = en route to longer performance
* Mx = mixed gender race
* Wo = women only race

### Men

* Correct as of February 2025
| Rank | Time | Athlete | Nation | Date | Race | Location |
| 1 | 53:42+ | Jacob Kiplimo | Uganda | 16 February 2025 | Barcelona Half Marathon | Barcelona |
| 2 | 54:32+ | Yomif Kejelcha | Ethiopia | 27 October 2024 | Valencia Half Marathon | Valencia |
| 3 | 54:36+ | Kibiwott Kandie | Kenya | 22 October 2023 | Valencia Half Marathon | Valencia |
| 3 | 54:36+ | Hagos Gebrhiwet | Ethiopia | 22 October 2023 | Valencia Half Marathon | Valencia |
| 5 | 54:42+ | Selemon Barega | Ethiopia | 22 October 2023 | Valencia Half Marathon | Valencia |
| 6 | 54:50+ | Rhonex Kipruto | Kenya | 6 December 2020 | Valencia Half Marathon | Valencia |
| 7 | 54:57+ | Alexander Mutiso | Kenya | 6 December 2020 | Valencia Half Marathon | Valencia |
| 8 | 55:00+ | Geoffrey Kamworor | Kenya | 15 September 2019 | Copenhagen Half Marathon | Copenhagen |
| 9 | 55:04+ | Abel Kipchumba | Kenya | 24 October 2021 | Valencia Half Marathon | Valencia |
| 10 | 55:07+ | Philemon Kiplimo | Kenya | 6 December 2020 | Valencia Half Marathon | Valencia |
| 11 | 55:11+ | Daniel Mateiko | Kenya | 27 October 2024 | Valencia Half Marathon | Valencia |
| 11 | 55:11+ | Isaia Kipkoech Lasoi | Kenya | 27 October 2024 | Valencia Half Marathon | Valencia |
| 13 | 55:13+ | Sabastian Sawe | Ethiopia | 15 September 2024 | Copenhagen Half Marathon | Copenhagen |
| 14 | 55:14+ | Kennedy Kimutai | Kenya | 24 October 2021 | Valencia Half Marathon | Valencia |
| 15 | 55:18+ | Abraham Kiptum | Kenya | 28 October 2018 | Valencia Half Marathon | Valencia |
| 16 | 55:21+ | Zersenay Tadese | Eritrea | 21 March 2010 | Lisbon Half Marathon | Lisbon |
| 17 | 55:24+ | Mathew Kimeli | Kenya | 24 October 2021 | Valencia Half Marathon | Valencia |
| 18 | 55:26+ | Rodgers Kwemoi | Kenya | 19 February 2022 | Ras Al Khaimah Half Marathon | Ras al-Khaimah |
| 19 | 55:30+ | Jemal Yimer Mekonnen | Ethiopia | 28 October 2018 | Valencia Half Marathon | Valencia |
| 20 | 55:31+ | Samuel Wanjiru | Kenya | 17 March 2007 | | The Hague |
| 21 | 55:32+ | Muktar Edris | Ethiopia | 24 October 2021 | Valencia Half Marathon | Valencia |
| 21 | 55:32+ | Amos Kurgat | Kenya | 15 September 2024 | Copenhagen Half Marathon | Copenhagen |
| 23 | 55:36+ | Gemechu Dida | Ethiopia | 27 October 2024 | Valencia Half Marathon | Valencia |
| 23 | 55:36+ | Vincent Langat | Kenya | 27 October 2024 | Valencia Half Marathon | Valencia |
| 25 | 55:39+ | Daniel Kibet | Kenya | 19 February 2022 | Ras Al Khaimah Half Marathon | Ras Al Khaimah |

#### Notes

Below is a list of other times equal or superior to 55:39:
* Yomif Kejelcha also ran 54:38+ (2023), 55:34+ (2022).
* Jacob Kiplimo also ran 54:29+ (2021), 54:42+ (2020), 54:53+ (2022) and 55:13+ (2024).
* Kibiwott Kandie also ran 54:43+ (2022), 55:08+ (2022).
* Rhonex Kipruto also ran 55:04+ (2021).
* Isaia Kipkoech Lasoi also ran 55:13+ (2024).
* Philemon Kiplimo also ran 55:19+ (2021).
* Daniel Mateiko also ran 55:17+ (2021).
* Sebastian Sawe also ran 55:17+ (2023).

### Women

* Updated September 2024
| Rank | Time | Athlete | Nation | Date | Race | Location |
| 1 | 59:35+ Mx | Letesenbet Gidey | Ethiopia | 24 October 2021 | Valencia Half Marathon | Valencia |
| 2 | 59:42 Mx | Agnes Ngetich | Kenya | 27 October 2024 | Valencia Half Marathon | Valencia |
| 3 | 59:56 Mx | Fotyen Tesfay | Ethiopia | 27 October 2024 | Valencia Half Marathon | Valencia |
| 4 | 1:00:09 Mx | Lilian Kasait | Kenya | 27 October 2024 | Valencia Half Marathon | Valencia |
| 5 | 1:00:24+ Mx | Yalemzerf Yehualaw | Ethiopia | 24 October 2021 | Valencia Half Marathon | Valencia |
| 6 | 1:00:41 Mx | Ejgayehu Taye | Ethiopia | 27 October 2024 | Valencia Half Marathon | Valencia |
| 7 | 1:00:43+ Mx | Ruth Chepng'etich | Kenya | 4 April 2021 | Istanbul Half Marathon | Istanbul |
| 8 | 1:01:03+ Mx | Joyciline Jepkosgei | Kenya | 11 February 2024 | Barcelona Half Marathon | Barcelona |
| 9 | 1:01:04+ Mx | Girmawit Gebrzihair | Ethiopia | 19 February 2022 | Ras Al Khaimah Half Marathon | Ras al-Khaimah |
| 9 | 1:01:04+ Mx | Hellen Obiri | Kenya | 19 February 2022 | Ras Al Khaimah Half Marathon | Ras al-Khaimah |
| 11 | 1:01:11+ Mx | Ababel Yeshaneh | Ethiopia | 21 February 2020 | Ras Al Khaimah Half Marathon | Ras Al Khaimah |
| 12 | 1:01:16+ Mx | Sheila Chepkirui | Kenya | 19 February 2022 | Ras Al Khaimah Half Marathon | Ras Al Khaimah |
| 13 | 1:01:18+ Mx | Sutume Kebede | Ethiopia | 14 January 2024 | Houston Half Marathon | Houston |
| 13 | 1:01:18+ Mx | Senbere Teferi | Ethiopia | 11 February 2024 | Barcelona Half Marathon | Barcelona |
| 15 | 1:01:19+ | Irine Jepchumba Kimais | Kenya | 19 February 2023 | Barcelona Half Marathon | Barcelona |
| 16 | 1:01:20+ a | Brigid Kosgei | Kenya | 8 September 2019 | Great North Run | Newcastle-South Shields |
| 17 | 1:01:27+ Mx | Margaret Kipkemboi | Kenya | 22 October 2023 | Valencia Half Marathon | Valencia |
| 18 | 1:01:28+ Mx | Irene Chepet Cheptai | Kenya | 22 October 2023 | Valencia Half Marathon | Valencia |
| 19 | 1:01:41+ Mx | Joan Chelimo | Kenya | 4 April 2021 | Istanbul Half Marathon | Istanbul |
| 20 | 1:01:42+ Mx | Janeth Chepngetich | Kenya | 22 October 2023 | Valencia Half Marathon | Valencia |
| 11 | 1:01:45+ Mx | Vicoty Chepngeno | Kenya | 16 January 2022 | Houston Half Marathon | Houston |
| 22 | 1:01:47+ Mx | Tsigie Gebreselama | Ethiopia | 27 October 2024 | Valencia Half Marathon | Valencia |
| 23 | 1:01:51+ Mx | Tsehay Gemechu | Ethiopia | 19 September 2021 | Copenhagen | Copenhagen |
| 24 | 1:01:54 Mx | Florence Kiplagat | Kenya | 15 February 2015 | Barcelona Half Marathon | Barcelona |
| 25 | 1:01:56+ Mx | Sifan Hassan | Netherlands | 16 September 2018 | Copenhagen Half Marathon | Copenhagen |
| 25 | 1:01:56+ Mx | Tsigie Gebreselama | Ethiopia | 24 February 2024 | Ras Al Khaimah Half Marathon | Ras al-Khaimah |

#### Notes

Below is a list of other times equal or superior to 1:01:56:
* Yalemzerf Yehualaw also ran 1:01:05+ Mx (2021), 1:02:04+ Wo (2020).
* Hellen Obiri also ran 1:01:18+ Mx (2021).
* Joyciline Jepkosgei also ran 1:01:22+ Mx (2023), 1:01:25+ Mx (2017), 1:01.28+ (2017).
* Sheila Chepkirui also ran 1:01:26+ Mx (2021).
* Brigid Kosgei also ran 1:01:29+ (2020).
* Margaret Kipkemboi also ran 1:01:42+ Mx (2024).