The 15K run (15 kilometers, or approximately 9.32 miles) is a long-distance foot race. It is a rarely held race that is not recognized as an Olympic event. The overall world best time for men was 40:07, set by Jacob Kiplimo in 2025, en route to his world record of 56:42 in the Barcelona Half Marathon. Excluding en route times both the world best for men and women were set at the Zevenheuvelenloop in Nijmegen, Netherlands. The world best for men is held by Joshua Cheptegei of Uganda who ran a time of 41:05. The women's world best is held by Agnes Jebet Ngetich of Kenya who ran a time of 44:15.
Between 1985 and 1991, the IAAF World Women's Road Race Championships was contested over the 15 km distance.
All-time top 25 + = en route to longer performance Mx = mixed gender race Wo = women only race
Men Correct as of September 2026.
+Men's all-time top 25 of the 15K runRankTimeAthleteNationDateRacePlace140:07Uganda16 February 2025Barcelona Half MarathonBarcelona240:39Yomif KejelchaEthiopia23 August 202621K Buenos AiresBuenos Aires340:52Nicholas KimeliKenya8 March 2026Lisbon Half MarathonLisbon440:56Kenya27 October 2024Valencia Half MarathonValencia540:57Kenya27 October 2024Valencia Half MarathonValencia640:59Kenya22 October 2023Valencia Half MarathonValenciaEthiopia22 October 2023Valencia Half MarathonValenciaEthiopia22 October 2023Valencia Half MarathonValencia941:05 Uganda18 November 2018ZevenheuvelenloopNijmegen41:05Kenya15 September 2019Copenhagen Half MarathonCopenhagen1141:09Kenya19 February 2022Ras Al Khaimah Half MarathonRas Al Khaimah1241:10Kenya6 December 2020Valencia Half MarathonValencia1341:11Kenya6 December 2020Valencia Half MarathonValenciaKenya6 December 2020Valencia Half MarathonValencia1541:13Kenya21 November 2010ZevenheuvelenloopNijmegen41:13Kenya22 October 2023Valencia Half MarathonValencia1741:16Kenya24 October 2021Valencia Half MarathonValenciaKenya24 October 2021Valencia Half MarathonValencia1941:17Kenya24 October 2021Valencia Half MarathonValencia2041:18Ethiopia24 October 2021Valencia Half MarathonValenciaKenya15 September 2024Copenhagen Half MarathonCopenhagenGilbert Kipkosgei KiprotichKenya8 March 2026Lisbon Half MarathonLisbon2341:20Ethiopia27 October 2024Valencia Half MarathonValenciaKenya27 October 2024Valencia Half MarathonValencia2541:22Ethiopia4 September 2005TilburgMarty Post, "Gebrselassie approaching Record for Running Records", World Athletics, 16 March 2006. Retrieved 17 November 2024.Kenya24 October 2021Valencia Half MarathonValencia
Notes Below is a list of other times equal or superior to 41:22: Jacob Kiplimo also ran 40:27 (2021), 40:42 (2024), 40:43 (2022), 40:52 (2026), 41:05 (2023), 41:11 (2020) and 41:17 (2024). Yomif Kejelcha also ran 40:57 (2024), 41:01 (2023). Hagos Gebrhiwet also ran 41:08 (2026). Kibiwott Kandie also ran 41:10 (2020), 41:16 (2022). Rhonex Kipruto also ran 41:16 (2021). Daniel Mateiko also ran 41:16 (2021). Philemon Kiplimo also ran 41:16 (2021). Joshua Cheptegei also ran 41:17 (2017). Sabastian Sawe also ran 41:17 (2024). Isaia Kipkoech Lasoi also ran 41:17 (2024). Selemon Barega also ran 41:20 (2024).
Women Correct as of February 2026.
+Women's all-time top 25 of the 15K runRankTimeAthleteNationDateRacePlace144:15 Agnes Jebet NgetichKenya27 October 2024Valencia Half MarathonValencia244:20 Letesenbet GideyEthiopia17 November 2019ZevenheuvelenloopNijmegen344:40 Ejgayehu TayeEthiopia27 October 2024Valencia Half MarathonValencia444:45 Fotyen TesfayEthiopia27 October 2024Valencia Half MarathonValenciaLilian KasaitKenya27 October 2024Valencia Half MarathonValencia644:52 Yalemzerf YehualawEthiopia24 October 2021Valencia Half MarathonValenciaSheila ChepkiruiKenya24 October 2021Valencia Half MarathonValencia845:18 Loice ChemnungKenya15 February 2026Barcelona Half MarathonBarcelona945:27 Joyciline JepkosgeiKenya16 February 2025Barcelona Half MarathonBarcelona1045:30 Ruth Chepng'etichKenya4 April 2021Istanbul Half MarathonIstanbulTsigie GebreselamaEthiopia27 October 2024Valencia Half MarathonValencia1245:31 Hellen ObiriKenya4 April 2021Istanbul Half MarathonIstanbul1345:36 Senbere TeferiEthiopia11 February 2024Barcelona Half MarathonBarcelona1445:40 Violah JepchumbaKenya1 April 2017Prague Half MarathonPrague1545:40 Brigid KosgeiKenya21 February 2020Ras Al Khaimah Half MarathonEmirate of Ras Al Khaimah1645:41 Ababel YeshanehEthiopia21 February 2020Ras Al Khaimah Half MarathonEmirate of Ras Al Khaimah1745:42 Sutume KebedeEthiopia14 January 2024Houston Half MarathonHouston1845:45 Joan ChelimoKenya4 April 2021Istanbul Half MarathonIstanbul1945:51 Girmawit GebrzihairEthiopia19 February 2022Ras Al Khaimah Half MarathonRas al-Khaimah2045:56 Likina AmebawEthiopia14 September 2025Copenhagen Half MarathonCopenhagenSharon LokediEthiopia14 September 2025Copenhagen Half MarathonCopenhagenWede KefaleEthiopia14 September 2025Copenhagen Half MarathonCopenhagen2345:57 Fancy ChemutaiKenya22 October 2017Valencia2446:00Catherine Reline Amanang'OleKenya19 February 2023Barcelona Half MarathonBarcelona2546:01Irine Jepchumba KimaisKenya19 February 2023Barcelona Half MarathonBarcelona
Notes Below is a list of other times equal or superior to 46:01: Letesenbet Gidey also ran 44:29 (2021). Yalemzerf Yehualaw also ran 45:24 (2021), 45:27 (2022), 45:29 (2021). Fotyen Tesfay also ran 45:25 (2026). Joyciline Jepkosgei also ran 45:35 (2024), 45:37 (2017), 45:57 (2017), 46:00 (2023). Hellen Obiri also ran 45:39 (2023), 45:47 (2024), 45:50 . Tsigie Gebreselama also ran 45:46 (2026). Sheila Chepkirui also ran 45:51 . Joan Chelimo also ran 45:54 (2018). Brigid Kosgei also ran 45:59 (2019).
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