The 2019 world record roundup

As 2019 draws to a close, it’s time to reflect upon the the world of running’s insane year–most notably, the shocking number of world records that have fallen in the past 11 months (11, not including junior or age-group world records, of which there were also many).

Here’s a look at the world records set on the road and track in 2019.

RELATED: IAAF reports 21 world records set in 2018

Joshua Cheptegei has just set a new 10km WR 26:38. No prizes for guessing what shoes he was wearing… #cheatshoes pic.twitter.com/6QdiqKJohs

— Glen Cottingley (@GlenCottingley) December 1, 2019

Kejelcha breaks mile record at Boston University

Shoes worn: Nike spike prototype

In March Yomif Kejelcha ran his third world record attempt in three weeks, and the third time was a charm. He ran a 3:47.01 at Boston University to break the indoor mile world record by over a second.

Alberto Salazar’s reaction to Sifan Hassan’s world record

Shoes worn: Nike spike prototype

Sifan Hassan ran a new mile world record this July at the Monaco Diamond League. Her new record of 4:12.33 was set off a shockingly slow pace, considering how fast the race ultimately was.

Jim Walmsley breaks 50-mile world record at Hoka race

Shoes worn: Hoka One One Carbon X

Walmsley took down the 50-mile world record with his 4:50:08 (by 43 seconds)–that’s 50 consecutive 5:48 miles (between 3:35 and 3:40 kilometres) at the May race designed to showcase the Hoka One One Carbon X.

Brigid Kosgei runs women’s marathon world record of 2:14:04

Shoes worn: Nike Next%

At the 2019 Chicago Marathon, Kenya’s Brigid Kosgei ran a women’s marathon world record of 2:14:04. Other than her pacers, the runner was completely alone for almost the entire marathon. She shattered Paula Radcliffe’s 16-year-old world record of 2:15:25, which many considered to be nearly unbeatable and one of the toughest in the books.

Dalilah Muhammad wins 400mH World Championship title in world record

https://www.instagram.com/p/B3Ra1DGDXow/

Shoes worn: Nike spikes

Muhammad set a world record and broke it again within the same season. The American 400m hurdler won the World Championships in a new world record of 52.16, bettering her old world record set earlier this year at 52.23. The Americans went one-two with Sydney McLaughlin finishing second, just 0.03s off of the former world record in 52.23.

Zach Bitter shatters 100-mile world record at Six Days in the Dome

https://www.instagram.com/p/B5h7CAGH8et/

Shoes worn: Altra

American ultrarunner Zach Bitter finished 100 miles in 11:19:13 at the Six Days in the Dome event in Wisconsin this August, beating the previous record held by Russian athlete Oleg Kharitonov at 11:28:03.

Aly Dixon breaks 50K world record by over a minute

https://www.instagram.com/p/B13mFfWHEOG/

Shoes worn: Adidas

Great Britain’s Aly Dixon smashed the 50K world record at the World Championships in September in Brasov, Romania. Dixon ran a 3:07:20 to break the record in her first-ever ultra marathon. The previous record was held by Frith Van de Merwe in 3:08:39 from 1989.

Geoffrey Kamworor breaks world record at Copenhagen Half-Marathon

Shoes worn: Nike Next%

Geoffrey Kamworor of Kenya broke the half-marathon world record with an astounding 58:01 in Copenhagen in September, bettering Abraham Kiptum’s 58:18 set in Valencia last October by 17 seconds. (Kiptum was suspended for a doping violation in April, but his world record stood.) Five other men had sub-60 finishes in the Danish capital that day.

Camille Herron breaks her own world record at 24-Hour World Championships

Shoes worn: Nike Next%

American ultrarunner Camille Herron broke her own world record at the 24-Hour World Championships this October, which took place in Albi, France. Herron ran 270.116 kilometres, eight kilometres farther than her previous world record of 262.192K, set at Desert Solstice in December 2018.

Letesenbet Gidey breaks 15K world record

Shoes worn: Nike Next%

Letesenbet Gidey of Ethiopia broke the women’s 15K world record with her 44:19 finish at the NN Zevenheuvelenloop in Nijmegen, Netherlands on November 17. The record was held previously by the newly-crowned TCS New York City Marathon champion and half-marathon world record-holder Joyciline Jepkosgei of Kenya at 45:37, from the 2017 Prague Half-Marathon (where she also set the half-marathon world record). Gidey took more than a minute off Jepkosgei’s record.

Joshua Cheptegei breaks world 10K record at Valencia

Shoes worn: Nike Next%

World cross and 10,000m champion Cheptegei of Uganda made good on his intention to break the world record in the road 10K at the Valencia Marathon on December 1, running 26:38, six seconds faster than Leonard Komon’s previous record of 26:44, set at Utrecht in 2010.

Honourable mention: Kipchoge’s 1:59

Shoes worn: Nike Alphafly

In Vienna, Austria this October, Eliud Kipchoge made history, becoming the first person to run a marathon in under two hours. Kipchoge finished the historic event in 1:59:40.