Records
Running and sports records: how they are timed, when they count and why Kipchoge's sub-two-hour marathon is not a record
· 7 min read
In short
- A record must be ratified by the federation and all conditions must be met. Track races up to 800 meters require fully automatic timing to the hundredth; sprints and horizontal jumps have a maximum allowable wind speed of 2.0 m/s; road races require a certified measured course; and an anti-doping test and official competition are always required.
- Roger Bannister ran the mile in under four minutes on May 6, 1954, in Oxford, recording a hand-timed 3:59.4.
- Eliud Kipchoge completed a marathon in Vienna in 2019 in 1:59:40, but it is not a record because it was an exhibition event with rotating pacemakers. As of 2025, the official record was held by Kelvin Kiptum, who ran 2:00:35 in Chicago in 2023.
A record is the greatest honor a sport can bestow: a time that remains in the record books. To be recognized, it must meet strict conditions, and timing is only one of them.
Bannister and the four-minute barrier
On May 6, 1954, Roger Bannister ran a mile on Oxford's Iffley Road track in 3:59.4, becoming the first person to break four minutes. His time was measured manually by several timekeepers. It was an era when records were still timed with stopwatches. You can read the story of manual timing in Athletics: false starts and manual timing.
Bolt and fully automatic timing
Usain Bolt ran 100 meters in Berlin in 2009 in 9.58 seconds and 200 meters in 19.19. Both are fully automatic times recorded using sensors in the starting blocks and a photo finish at the finish line. In 1968, Jim Hines became the first athlete to have an electronically timed sub-10-second performance officially recognized, at 9.95.
Requirements for record recognition
World Athletics must ratify a record. A fast time alone is not enough:
- fully automatic timing to the hundredth of a second for track races up to 800 meters, while road-race times are reported in whole seconds,
- wind no stronger than 2.0 meters per second in the 100 and 200 meters, short hurdles and horizontal jumps,
- a certified, measured course for road races: the start and finish must not be too far apart, with a maximum separation of half the race distance, and the course's overall net drop is limited,
- an anti-doping test and compliance with the competition rules.
Kipchoge, Kiptum and the marathon record
Eliud Kipchoge completed a marathon in Vienna in October 2019 in 1:59:40. The event, however, was not a competition conducted under record rules: pacemakers rotated, a car ahead of the runner projected laser markings onto the road, and refreshments were handed to him from a bicycle. The performance was therefore not recognized as an official world record. As of 2025, the official record was held by Kelvin Kiptum, who ran 2:00:35 in Chicago in 2023. Boston Marathon performances are not eligible for records because the course is point-to-point and drops more than the rules allow.
Even your own record needs rules
An event can have its own course record, such as the fastest women's or men's time. Set the rules in advance: the required precision, the course to be used and who confirms the result. If the course has not been measured for distance, the record is only indicative. You can find organizational tips in How to organize a running race.
Personal bests and the results database
Most runners will not chase a world record, but they do want to know their personal best. That is why it is worth keeping results in a system where competitors can still find them a year later. TAQIO stores event results on a public page so participants can view them at any time and compare them with the previous edition.
Frequently asked questions
Why is a hand-timed performance not accepted as a world record?
Hand times are recorded to the tenth of a second and are affected by the timekeepers' reactions. Records in track events up to 800 meters require fully automatic timing to the hundredth.
Why is Kipchoge's 1:59:40 not an official record?
The 2019 INEOS 1:59 Challenge in Vienna was not a competition conducted under record rules: pacemakers rotated, a lead car was used and refreshments were handed to him from a bicycle.
Why is the Boston Marathon not eligible for world records?
The point-to-point course has a start and finish that are too far apart, and its overall net drop exceeds the permitted limit, so performances cannot be ratified as records.
What is the wind limit for a sprint record?
A maximum of 2.0 meters per second in the direction of travel for the 100 and 200 meters, short hurdles and horizontal jumps. A stronger tailwind makes a performance ineligible for record purposes and it is classified as wind-assisted.