The world running organisation the Association of International Marathons and Distance Races (AIMS) is delighted to announce that Kenya’s Mary Keitany has been recognised with the AIMS World Record Award. Mary broke the women’s only Marathon world record by 41 seconds at the Virgin Money London Marathon on 23 April 2017 in a time of 2:17:01.
Chief Executive of the London Marahton Nick Bitel (on behalf of TCS New York City Marathon Race Director Peter Ciaccia) presented her with the award in advance of the TCS New York City Marathon - in which she is scheduled to compete.
The record had stood for 12 years since Paula Radcliffe won the London Marathon in 2005 in a time of 2:17:42. Paula set the women’s Marathon World Record for mixed gender races in 2003, also at the London Marathon (2:15:25).
The time of 2:17:01 has been officially recognised as the world record by the IAAF (International Association of Athletics Federations) and by AIMS (Association of International Marathons and Distance Races which represents over 435 distance running events in 114 countries and territories). AIMS set the world record criteria for performances on the road later adopted by the IAAF. AIMS have been awarding athletes in recognition of world record breaking performances since 1985.
This is the fourth time AIMS has presented an award to Mary. She received the AIMS World's Fastest Time Award in 2011 in recognition of the 1:05:50 she ran in the Ras al Khaimah Half Marathon (UAE) while her outstanding form in 2009 and 2011 won her the ‘AIMS/ASICS World Athlete of the Year Award’ in both years.
Mary is now the third most decorated female athlete in the history of AIMS. Only Paula Radcliffe (GBR – 5 Awards) and Tegla Loroupe (KEN – 6 Awards) have been recognised more than Mary.
AIMS President Paco Borao commented: “I am glad that Mary is receiving her World Record Award at the New York City Marathon, one of the founding members of AIMS. I would like to congratulate Mary on behalf of AIMS, our members and sponsors.”
Mary Keitany commented: ““Over the years I have come to understand AIMS and what they do. I would like to thank them and all their members for this award. It is good to get it here in New York where I have had such success before."
Race Director of the TCS New York City Marathon Peter Ciaccia commented: “It is a great honor to welcome Mary back to New York City and present her with this prestigious award in recognition of her incredible world record. Mary is our three-time defending champion, an achievement equalled only by marathon legends Grete Waitz and Paula Radcliffe. Through our partnership with AIMS, we are excited to host this presentation during TCS New York City Marathon weekend.”
AIMS proposed the technical criteria for World Records on the road that the IAAF has adopted for prescribed distances.
The full conditions to be satisfied are:
a) The event must be sanctioned either by the IAAF and/or the National Federation and conducted under IAAF Rules.
b) The athlete achieving the IAAF Road World Record must be eligible to compete under IAAF Rules.
c) The course must be measured by an “A” or “B” IAAF/AIMS approved measurer as defined in IAAF Rule 240.3.
d) The start and finish points on a course, measured along a straight line between them, shall not be further apart than 50% of the race distance.
e) The decrease in elevation between the start and finish shall not exceed an average of one in a thousand, i.e. 1m per km.
f) Either the course measurer that certified the course or another “A” or “B” measurer in possession of the complete measurement data and maps must validate that the course measured was the course run by riding in the lead vehicle.
g) The course must be verified on site (i.e. within two weeks before, on the day of the race or as soon as practical after the race), preferably by a different IAAF/AIMS “A” measurer from the one that did the original measurement.
h) The athlete must undergo a doping control on the date of the race.
i) For the Road Relay, the race should be run in stages of 5km, 10km, 5km, 10km, 5km, 7.195km.
Road World Records set at intermediate distances within a race must comply with the above conditions and be timed according to IAAF Rules. The intermediate distances must have been measured and marked during the course measurement.
It is recommended that Member Federations adopt the Rules of the IAAF for the conduct of their own athletic competitions.
