14 Inspiring Track and Field World Records for the Ages

From sprinting in short bursts, through full-length marathons, to various jumps and throws, the various track and field world records all fit under the umbrella of “athletics.” Today, track and field is one of the most popular sports categories out there.

So who are the best athletics performers in the world? What are the track and fields records around the world? Read on to find out!

Highlights of the Article

• There is a new world record in 60m hurdles.
• The women’s hammer throw world record has been standing since 2016.
• The longest marathon in the world took over 50 years.
• The javelin world record hasn’t changed since 1996.
• Olympic records in middle-distance running are among three nations.
• The Olympic long jump record is held by American athletes.
• The best Olympic marathon runners are from Kenya and Ethiopia.
• Olympic high jump records are split between Russia and the USA.
• The latest 100m record is still slower than Usain Bolt’s record.
• The holders of Olympic pole vaulting records are Russian and Brazilian.

General Athletics Records

“Athletics” covers two types of sports events — track and field. We will have specific numbers in both categories below. For now, here are a handful of generally interesting records to get you started!

1. The latest 100-meter dash record is still slower than Usain Bolt’s record.

(WMA)

As of February 2021, the best recent time for the outdoor 100m dash was achieved by Justin Gatlin (USA). He achieved the time of 9.87s (with -0.1 wind) in 2019.

However, even though it’s the best recent result among masters track and field world records (Gatlin competed in the M35 category), it still falls behind Usain Bolt’s all-time world record from 2009.

2. There is a new world record in 60m hurdles.

(NBC Sports)

In February this year, Grant Holloway (USA) set a new world record in the non-Olympic discipline of 60m hurdles (indoor). He ran the course in 7.29 seconds at an athletic meet in Madrid.

The previous record was held by Colin Jackson (UK), who set it in 1994. The difference between his time and Holloway’s is just one-hundredth of a second.

3. The longest marathon in the world took over 50 years.

(Guinness World Records)

Among the various running world records, the “world’s longest marathon” is arguably one of the most interesting ones. A Japanese athlete, Shiso Kanakuri, started the marathon in Stockholm, Sweden, in 1912. He finished it after 54 years, 246 days, 5 hours, 32 minutes, 20.3 seconds.

The reason for this is that Kanakuri had collapsed from the heat shortly after starting the marathon. He was too embarrassed to admit it to the officials since this was Japan’s first global competition.

So, he secretly went home, and Sweden considered him a missing person — until 1967 when he was found in Japan by a TV crew. They convinced him to come back and officially finish the marathon.

Current Track and Field Records Around the World

When we say “world records in sports,” most of us think of “Olympic champions.” But winning the Olympic gold doesn’t guarantee winning first place in general.

Some track and field world records are, in fact, shared between different countries. Also, some of the best track and field results in the world are relatively old. Take a look!

4. The 100m world record is split between two countries.

(World Athletics)

The men’s 100m record is held by Usain Bolt from Jamaica (9.58 in 2009). The women’s 100m world record is held by Florence Griffith-Joyner from the US. She ran 10.49s in 1988.

5. Indoor and outdoor, the 400m world record is shared by four countries.

(World Athletics)

Among male athletes, Wayde Van Niekerk (South Africa) set the outdoor record in 2016 (43.03s). Indoor, the men’s 400m world record is held by Kerron Clement from the US. He achieved the time of 44.57s in 2005.

The outdoor women’s 400m world record is held by Marita Koch from the former German Democratic Republic (former East Germany, today Germany). She ran 47.60s in 1985. The fastest indoor 400m female runner is Jarmila Kratochvílová from Czechoslovakia (49.59s in 1982).

6. Three out of four long jump records haven’t been beaten since the 1980s.

(World Athletics)

The indoor women’s long jump record (7.37) was set in 1988 by Heike Drechsler (former German Democratic Republic). The outdoor record for long jump for women (7.52) was likewise set in 1988 by Galina Chistyakova (the former Soviet Union).

The indoor long jump record for men (8.79) was set in 1984 by Carl Lewis (USA). The outdoor record (8.95) was set in 1991 by Mike Powel (USA).

7. The women’s hammer throw world record has been standing since 2016.

(World Athletics)

The Polish athlete Anita Włodarczyk threw the hammer to the 82.98 mark in August 2016, and nobody has reached it since. Though that’s one of the newer records, so it’s yet to be seen how long it’ll stand.

8. The javelin world record hasn’t changed since 1996.

(World Athletics)

The best javelin throw in the world was performed by Jan Železný, a Czech athlete (now retired). He threw the javelin to the record 98.48 mark in May 1996.

Olympic Track and Field Records

The Olympics are the single most prestigious sports competition in the world and every athlete’s dream stage. The records set in these games are awe-inspiring achievements, so let’s take a look at who has the best Olympic results in track and field disciplines.

9. The Olympic long jump record is held by American athletes.

(World Athletics)

Both the men’s and women’s long jump event has American athletes as top performers. The men’s Olympic long jump record is held by Bob Beamon (8.90, set in 1968). The women’s record (7.40) was set in 1988 by Jackie Joyner-Kersee.

10. The holders of Olympic pole vaulting records are Russian and Brazilian.

(World Athletics)

The men’s record is held by Thiago Braz (Brazil), 6.03, set in 2016. The women’s Olympic pole vaulting record is held by Yelena Isinbayeva (Russia), 5.05, set in 2008.

11. The Olympic records in the middle-distance running are distributed among three nations.

(World Athletics)

Middle distance running in the Olympics encompasses the 800m run and the 1500m run (the metric mile). The 1500m record for men is held by Kenya (Noah Ngeny, 3:32.07, in 2000). The women’s mile record is held by Romania (Paula Ivan, 3:53.96, in 1988).

The 800m records are held by Kenya (David Rudisha, 1:40.91, in 2012) and the former Soviet Union (Nadezhda Olizarenko, 1:53.43, in 1980).

12. The Olympic 200m records are split between Jamaica and the USA.

(World Athletics)

The champion female athlete is Florence Griffith-Joyner, from the US, who set the undefeated record of 21.34 in 1988. Among male athletes, the reigning champion is Usain Bolt, whose 200m record of 19.30 in 2008 has not yet been beaten.

13. The best Olympic marathon runners are from Kenya and Ethiopia.

(World Athletics)

Among the various Olympic running records, marathon races are completely dominated by Eastern African athletes.

The best female Olympic marathon runner is Tiki Gelana from Ethiopia (2:23.07, run in 2012). The best male athlete in the category is a Kenyan, Samuel Kamau Wanjiru (ran 2:06.32 in 2008).

14. Olympic high jump records are split between Russia and the USA.

(World Athletics)

Among women, the title is held by Yelena Slesarenko, who jumped to the 2.06 mark in 2004. Among men, the record is held by Charles Austin, who jumped to 2.39 in 1996.

Conclusion

Although the Olympic stage is the most renowned measuring stick of sporting success, it certainly is not the only one. There are impressive results among non-Olympic categories and track and field world records as well. Moreover, there is a distinct trend of certain countries or regions excelling in some disciplines.

If you’re looking to place some sports bets, stats and demographics are your best ally. So make use of the names and numbers we gathered for you here, and see who might be favored by fortune in the track and field world in 2023 and onward.