Running News Daily

World Athletics has officially confirmed four extraordinary world records from the 2026 athletics season, bringing formal recognition to remarkable performances by Josh Kerr, Yomif Kejelcha, Alison dos Santos and Masai Russell.

The announcement, made on November 9, 2026, marks another memorable chapter in athletics history, with the four athletes having rewritten the record books across middle-distance running, road racing and hurdling.

The performances were achieved at three major international competitions in London, Buenos Aires and Zurich, demonstrating the extraordinary level of competition and continuous evolution of the sport.

Great Britain's Josh Kerr was the first to make history, delivering a sensational performance in the men's mile at the Novuna London Athletics Meet on July 18. The reigning world-class distance star clocked an incredible 3:42.66, taking 0.47 seconds off the previous world record of 3:43.13 set by Morocco's Hicham El Guerrouj in Rome on July 7, 1999.

Kerr's performance ended a 27-year wait for a new men's mile world record. Competing in front of approximately 60,000 spectators at the London Stadium, he became the first athlete to officially break El Guerrouj's legendary mark, delivering one of the most memorable middle-distance performances of the season.

Ethiopia's Yomif Kejelcha was the next athlete to secure his place in the history books, producing a breathtaking performance at the Buenos Aires Half Marathon in Argentina on August 23.

Kejelcha stormed to victory in 56:51, taking an astonishing 29 seconds off the previous world record of 57:20 set by Uganda's Jacob Kiplimo in Lisbon on March 8, 2026.

The performance also saw Kejelcha reclaim a record he had previously held after running 57:30 in Valencia in October 2024. His latest achievement further underlined his exceptional versatility and strength over long distances, adding another major milestone to an already impressive international career.

Zurich, Switzerland, provided another unforgettable evening on August 27, when two world records fell within less than 40 minutes at the Weltklasse Diamond League meeting.

Brazilian superstar Alison dos Santos opened the historic sequence by clocking 45.80 in the men's 400m hurdles, taking 0.14 seconds off the previous world record of 45.94 held by Norway's Karsten Warholm.

Warholm had established the previous mark during the Tokyo Olympic Games on August 3, 2021, in one of the greatest performances in the history of the discipline. Dos Santos' remarkable run finally brought that record-breaking era to an end, confirming his position among the greatest 400m hurdlers of his generation.

Less than 40 minutes later, American hurdling sensation Masai Russell delivered another spectacular performance, setting a new women's 100m hurdles world record of 12.09.

Russell improved the previous world record of 12.12, established by Nigeria's Tobi Amusan at the 2022 World Athletics Championships in Eugene, Oregon, on July 24. Her performance took three hundredths of a second off the existing mark and completed an extraordinary double world-record celebration in Zurich.

The significance of the Zurich meeting was particularly remarkable, as two different athletes rewrote the world record books in their respective hurdles disciplines on the same evening.

With World Athletics now having officially ratified all four performances, Kerr, Kejelcha, Dos Santos and Russell can celebrate their achievements as recognised world record holders.

From Kerr's historic mile in London to Kejelcha's extraordinary half marathon in Buenos Aires and the remarkable double world-record performance in Zurich, the 2026 season has delivered some truly exceptional moments.

These achievements also highlight the relentless pursuit of excellence in modern athletics, where established records continue to fall as athletes explore new limits of human performance.

Four world records, three host cities and four unforgettable performances that will remain part of athletics history for years to come.

The official ratification of these four world records marks another significant milestone in the 2026 athletics season, further raising the competitive standards across middle-distance running, road racing and hurdling. With the records now formally recognised by World Athletics, attention will turn to how long these historic marks can withstand the challenge of a new generation of world-class athletes. 

Which of these four world records impressed you the most, and who do you think will be the next athlete to make history?