List of world under-23 bests in athletics

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

World U-23 bests in the sport of athletics are the all-time best marks set in competition by aged 22 or younger throughout the entire calendar year of the performance. Technically, in all under-23 age divisions, the age is calculated "on December 31 of the year of competition" to avoid age group switching during a competitive season. World Athletics doesn't maintain an official list for such performances. All bests shown on this list are tracked by statisticians not officially sanctioned by the governing body.

Outdoor

Men

More information Event, Record ...
Event Record Athlete Nationality Date Meet Place Age Ref.
100 m 9.69 (±0.0 m/s) Usain Bolt  Jamaica 16 August 2008 Olympic Games Beijing, China 21 years, 361 days
200 m 19.26 (+0.7 m/s) Yohan Blake  Jamaica 16 September 2011 Memorial Van Damme Brussels, Belgium 21 years, 264 days [1]
300 m 30.69 A Letsile Tebogo  Botswana 17 February 2024 Simbine Curro Classic Shoot-Out Pretoria, South Africa 20 years, 255 days [2]
400 m 43.45 Michael Norman  United States 20 April 2019 Mt. SAC Relays Torrance, United States 21 years, 138 days
600 m 1:13.80 Earl Jones  United States 24 May 1986 Santa Monica, California, United States 21 years, 311 days
800 m 1:41.01 David Rudisha  Kenya 29 August 2010 Rieti Meeting Rieti, Italy 21 years, 255 days
1000 m 2:11.96 Noah Ngeny  Kenya 5 September 1999 IAAF Grand Prix Rieti, Italy 20 years, 307 days
1500 m 3:28.12 Noah Ngeny  Kenya 11 August 2000 Weltklasse Zürich Zürich, Switzerland 21 years, 283 days
Mile 3:43.40 Noah Ngeny  Kenya 7 July 1999 Golden Gala (an IAAF Golden League event) Rome, Italy 20 years, 247 days [3]
Mile (road) 3:52.45 Emmanuel Wanyonyi  Kenya 26 April 2025 Adizero: Road to Records Herzogenaurach, Germany 20 years, 268 days [4]
2000 m 4:48.14 Reynold Cheruiyot  Kenya 8 September 2023 Memorial Van Damme Brussels, Belgium 19 years, 40 days [5]
3000 m 7:20.67 Daniel Komen  Kenya 1 September 1996 Rieti Meeting Rieti, Italy 20 years, 107 days
5000 m 12:37.35 Kenenisa Bekele  Ethiopia 31 May 2004 Fanny Blankers-Koen Games Hengelo, Netherlands 21 years, 353 days
5 km (road) 12:49 Berihu Aregawi  Ethiopia 31 December 2021 Cursa dels Nassos Barcelona, Spain 20 years, 306 days [6]
10,000 m 26:20.31 Kenenisa Bekele  Ethiopia 8 June 2004 Golden Spike Ostrava Ostrava, Czech Republic 21 years, 361 days
10 km (road) 26:24 Rhonex Kipruto  Kenya 12 January 2020 10k Valencia Ibercaja Valencia, Spain 20 years, 105 days [7]
Half marathon 57:31 Jacob Kiplimo  Uganda 21 November 2021 Lisbon Half Marathon Lisbon, Portugal 21 years, 7 days [8]
Marathon 2:03:24 Tadese Takele  Ethiopia 24 September 2023 Berlin Marathon Berlin, Germany 21 years, 52 days [9]
110 m hurdles 12.87 (+0.9 m/s) Dayron Robles  Cuba 6 June 2008 Golden Spike Ostrava Ostrava, Czech Republic 20 years, 200 days
300 m hurdles 34.83 Vance Nilsson  United States 11 May 2024 AIA State Championships Mesa, United States 18 years, 186 days [10]
400 m hurdles 46.29 Alison dos Santos  Brazil 19 July 2022 World Championships Eugene, United States 22 years, 46 days [11]
3000 m steeplechase 7:53.63 Saif Saaeed Shaheen  Qatar 3 September 2004 Memorial Van Damme Brussels, Belgium 21 years, 324 days
High jump 2.44 m Javier Sotomayor  Cuba 29 July 1989 CAC Championships San Juan, Puerto Rico 21 years, 289 days
Pole vault 6.15 m Armand Duplantis  Sweden 17 September 2020 Golden Gala Rome, Italy 20 years, 312 days [12]
Long jump 8.90 m A (+2.0 m/s) Bob Beamon  United States 18 October 1968 Olympic Games Mexico City, Mexico 22 years, 50 days
Triple jump 18.08 m (±0.0 m/s) Pedro Pablo Pichardo  Cuba 28 May 2015 Copa Cuba-Memorial Barrientos Havana, Cuba 21 years, 332 days [13]
Shot put 22.42 m Randy Barnes  United States 17 August 1988 Weltklasse Zürich Zürich, Switzerland 22 years, 62 days
Discus throw 74.35 m Mykolas Alekna  Lithuania 14 April 2024 Oklahoma Throws Series World Invitational Ramona, United States 21 years, 200 days [14][15]
Hammer throw 84.38 m Ethan Katzberg  Canada 20 April 2024 Kip Keino Classic Nairobi, Kenya 22 years, 15 days [16]
Javelin throw 90.20 m Max Dehning  Germany 25 February 2024 German Winter Throwing Championships Halle, Germany 19 years, 169 days [17]
Decathlon 8706 pts Frank Busemann  Germany 1 August 1996 Olympic Games Atlanta, United States 21 years, 157 days
100m Long jump Shot put High jump 400m 110m H Discus Pole vault Javelin 1500m
10.60 (+0.7 m/s) 8.07 m (+0.8 m/s) 13.60 m 2.04 m 48.34 13.47 (+0.3 m/s) 45.04 m 4.80 m 66.86 m 4:31.41
10,000 m walk (track) 37:25.90 Koki Ikeda  Japan 14 November 2020 Juntendo University Long Distance Meeting Inzai, Japan 22 years, 195 days [18]
20 km walk (road) 1:17:16 Vladimir Kanaykin  Russia 29 September 2007 IAAF Race Walking Challenge Saransk, Russia 22 years, 192 days
1:16:43 # [19] Sergey Morozov  Russia 8 June 2008 Russian Championships Saransk, Russia 20 years, 79 days
50 km walk (road) 3:38:58 Mikhail Ryzhov  Russia 14 August 2013 World Championships Moscow, Russia 21 years, 240 days [20]
4 × 100 m relay 37.68 Ackeem Blake
Oblique Seville
Ryiem Forde
Rohan Watson		  Jamaica 25 August 2023 World Championships Budapest, Hungary 21 years, 216 days
22 years, 162 days
22 years, 94 days
21 years, 118 days		 [21]
4 × 400 m relay 2:56.16 A Vince Matthews
Ron Freeman
Larry James
Lee Evans		  United States 20 October 1968 Olympic Games Mexico City, Mexico 20 years, 309 days
21 years, 130 days
20 years, 349 days
21 years, 238 days
Close

Women

More information Event, Record ...
Event Record Athlete Nationality Date Meet Place Age Ref.
100 m 10.72 (+1.6 m/s) Sha'Carri Richardson  United States 10 April 2021 Miramar Invitational Miramar, United States 21 years, 16 days [22]
150 m (straight) 16.30 (±0.0 m/s) Favour Ofili  Nigeria 18 May 2024 Atlanta City Games Atlanta, United States 21 years, 139 days [23]
200 m 21.71 (+0.7 m/s) Marita Koch  East Germany 10 June 1979 Karl-Marx-Stadt, East Germany 22 years, 112 days
21.71 (+1.2 m/s) Heike Drechsler  East Germany 29 June 1986 Jena, East Germany 21 years, 195 days
300 m 34.60 A Beatrice Masilingi  Namibia 18 February 2023 Curro Simbine Classic Shoot Out Pretoria, South Africa 19 years, 314 days [24]
400 m 48.14 Salwa Eid Naser  Bahrain 3 October 2019 World Championships Doha, Qatar 21 years, 133 days [25]
600 m 1:22.74 Athing Mu  United States 30 April 2022 Penn Relays Philadelphia, United States 19 years, 326 days [26]
800 m 1:54.01 Pamela Jelimo  Kenya 29 August 2008 Weltklasse Zürich Zürich, Switzerland 18 years, 268 days
1000 m 2:30.85 Martina Kämpfert  East Germany 9 July 1980 East Berlin, East Germany 20 years, 241 days
1500 m 3:50.46 Qu Yunxia  China 11 September 1993 Chinese National Games Beijing, China 20 years, 260 days
Mile 4:14.79 Freweyni Hailu  Ethiopia 21 July 2023 Herculis Fontvieille, Monaco 22 years, 159 days [27]
Mile (road) 4:20.98 Wo Diribe Welteji  Ethiopia 1 October 2023 World Road Running Championships Riga, Latvia 21 years, 141 days [28]
2000 m 5:25.86 Freweyni Hailu  Ethiopia 14 September 2021 Hanžeković Memorial Zagreb, Croatia 20 years, 214 days [29]
3000 m 8:06.11 Wang Junxia  China 13 September 1993 Chinese National Games Beijing, China 20 years, 247 days
Two miles 9:17.75 Jane Hedengren  United States 8 June 2025 Brooks PR Invitational Renton, United States 18 years, 258 days [30]
5000 m 14:06.62 Letesenbet Gidey  Ethiopia 7 October 2020 Valencia, Spain 22 years, 201 days [31]
5 km (road) 14:15 Mx Marta Alemayo  Ethiopia 4 April 2026 Urban Trail de Lille Lille, France 17 years, 361 days [32]
14:25+ Wo Agnes Ngetich  Kenya 10 September 2023 Brașov Running Festival Brașov, Romania 22 years, 230 days [33]
10,000 m 29:31.78 Wang Junxia  China 8 September 1993 Chinese National Games Beijing, China 20 years, 242 days
10 km (road) 29:25 Mx Medina Eisa  Ethiopia 16 February 2025 10K Facsa Castellón Castellón de la Plana, Spain 20 years, 44 days [34]
29:26 Wo Agnes Ngetich  Kenya 18 November 2023 Urban Trail de Lille Lille, France 22 years, 299 days [35]
29:24 Wo[a] Agnes Ngetich  Kenya 10 September 2023 Brașov Running Festival Brașov, Romania 22 years, 230 days [37]
10 miles (road) 50:37 Asayech Ayichew  Ethiopia 12 April 2026 Cherry Blossom Ten Mile Run Washington, D.C., United States 21 years, 9 days [38]
Half marathon 1:03:51 Yalemzerf Yehualaw  Ethiopia 24 October 2021 Valencia Half Marathon Valencia, Spain 22 years, 82 days [39]
Marathon 2:17:36 Tadu Teshome  Ethiopia 4 December 2022 Valencia Marathon Valencia, Spain 21 years, 178 days
100 m hurdles 12.24 (−0.4 m/s) Ackera Nugent  Jamaica 30 August 2024 Golden Gala Rome, Italy 22 years, 123 days [40]
200 m hurdles (straight) 24.86 (+0.1 m/s) Shiann Salmon  Jamaica 23 May 2021 Adidas Boost Boston Games Boston, United States 22 years, 53 days [41]
300 m hurdles 36.86 Femke Bol  Netherlands 31 May 2022 Golden Spike Ostrava Ostrava, Czech Republic 22 years, 97 days [42]
400 m hurdles 51.90 Sydney McLaughlin  United States 27 June 2021 US Olympic Trials Eugene, United States 21 years, 354 days [43]
Mile steeplechase 4:52.10 Celestine Jepkosgei Biwot  Kenya 22 August 2025 Memorial Van Damme Brussels, Belgium 21 years, 241 days [44]
3000 m steeplechase 8:52.78 Ruth Jebet  Bahrain 27 August 2016 Meeting Areva Saint-Denis, France 19 years, 284 days
High jump 2.09 m Stefka Kostadinova  Bulgaria 30 August 1987 World Championships Rome, Italy 22 years, 158 days
Pole vault 4.94 m Eliza McCartney  New Zealand 17 July 2018 Jockgrim Stabhochsprung-Meeting Jockgrim, Germany 21 years, 218 days [45]
Long jump 7.45 m (+0.9 m/s) Heike Drechsler  East Germany 21 June 1986 Tallinn, Soviet Union 21 years, 187 days
Triple jump 14.91 m (+0.4 m/s) Yulimar Rojas  Venezuela 7 August 2017 World Championships Florence, Italy 21 years, 290 days
Shot put 22.53 m Natalya Lisovskaya  Soviet Union 27 May 1984 Sochi, Soviet Union 21 years, 316 days
Discus throw 74.56 m Ilke Wyludda  East Germany 23 July 1989 Neubrandenburg, East Germany 20 years, 117 days
Hammer throw 77.24 m Zhang Jiale  China 2 August 2025 Chinese Championships Quzhou, China 18 years, 284 days [46]
Javelin throw 70.78 m Mariya Abakumova  Russia 21 August 2008 Olympic Games Beijing, China 22 years, 219 days
Heptathlon 7001 pts Carolina Klüft  Sweden 24 August 2003 World Championships Paris, France 20 years, 203 days [47]
100m H High jump Shot put 200m Long jump Javelin 800m
13.18 (−0.4 m/s) 1.94 m 14.19 m 22.98 (+1.1 m/s) 6.68 m (+1.0 m/s) 49.90 m 2:12.12
5000 m walk 20:07.52 Beate Anders  East Germany 23 June 1990 Rostock, East Germany 22 years, 139 days
5 km walk 20:05 Olga Polyakova  Russia 28 May 2000 Saransk, Russia 19 years, 248 days
20,000 m walk (track) 1:29:32.4 Hongjuan Song  China 23 October 2003 Changsha Chinese Urban Games Changsha, China 19 years, 111 days
20 km walk (road) 1:25:02 Elena Lashmanova  Russia 11 August 2012 Olympic Games London, United Kingdom 20 years, 124 days
35 km walk (road) 2:42:40 Olivia Sandery  Australia 16 March 2025 World Athletics Race Walking Tour Nomi, Japan 22 years, 53 days [48]
4 × 100 m relay 42.05 Mikiah Brisco
Kortnei Johnson
Rachel Misher
Aleia Hobbs		  United States (LSU Lady Tigers) 13 May 2018 SEC Championships Knoxville, United States 21 years, 303 days
20 years, 275 days
21 years, 98 days
22 years, 78 days
4 × 400 m relay 3:21.20 Christiane Marquardt
Barbara Krug
Christina Brehmer
Marita Koch		  East Germany 3 September 1978 European Championships Prague, Czech Republic 19 years, 294 days
22 years, 120 days
20 years, 187 days
21 years, 197 days
Close

Indoor

Men

More information Event, Record ...
Event Record Athlete Nationality Date Meet Place Age Ref.
60 m 6.34 A Christian Coleman  United States 18 February 2018 USA Championships Albuquerque, United States 21 years, 349 days [49]
200 m 20.10 Wallace Spearmon  United States 24 March 2005 NCAA Division I Championships Fayetteville, United States 20 years, 90 days
300 m 31.87 A Noah Lyles  United States 4 March 2017 USA Championships Albuquerque, United States 19 years, 229 days [50]
400 m 44.49[b] Christopher Morales Williams  Canada 24 February 2024 SEC Championships Fayetteville, United States 19 years, 203 days [51]
600 y 1:06.93 Moitalel Naadokila  Kenya 15 February 2020 Texas Tech Shootout Lubbock, United States 19 years, 7 days
600 m 1:13.77 Donavan Brazier  United States 24 February 2019 USA Championships Staten Island, United States 21 years, 325 days [52]
800 m 1:44.03 Cooper Lutkenhaus  United States 14 February 2026 Sound Invite Winston-Salem, United States 17 years, 57 days [53]
1000 m 2:15.26 Noureddine Morceli  Algeria 22 February 1992 Indoor Meeting Karlsruhe Birmingham, United Kingdom 21 years, 359 days
1500 m 3:30.60 Jakob Ingebrigtsen  Norway 17 February 2022 Meeting Hauts-de-France Pas-de-Calais Liévin, France 21 years, 151 days [54]
2000 m 4:56.30 Augustine Kiprono Choge  Kenya 9 February 2007 Aubiére International Meeting Aubiére, France 20 years, 19 days
3000 m 7:24.90 Daniel Komen  Kenya 6 February 1998 Budapest Samsung Cup Budapest, Hungary 21 years, 265 days
5000 m 12:49.60 Kenenisa Bekele  Ethiopia 20 February 2004 Birmingham Norwich Union Indoor GP Birmingham, United Kingdom 21 years, 252 days
55 m hurdles 6.89 Renaldo Nehemiah  United States 20 January 1979 New York City, United States 19 years, 302 days
60 m hurdles 7.33 Dayron Robles  Cuba 8 February 2008 PSD Bank Meeting Düsseldorf, Germany 21 years, 81 days [55]
300 m hurdles 34.26 OT [WB] Karsten Warholm  Norway 10 February 2018 Avoimet Pirkanmaan Tampere, Finland 21 years, 347 days [56]
High jump 2.43 m Javier Sotomayor  Cuba 4 March 1989 World Championships Budapest, Hungary 21 years, 142 days
Pole vault 6.18 m Armand Duplantis  Sweden 15 February 2020 Müller Indoor Grand Prix Glasgow, United Kingdom 20 years, 97 days [57]
Long jump 8.56 m Carl Lewis  United States 16 January 1982 East Rutherford, United States 20 years, 199 days
Triple jump 17.92 m (2nd jump) Teddy Tamgho  France 6 March 2011 European Championships Paris, France 21 years, 264 days [58][59][60]
17.92 m (4th jump)
Shot put 22.00 m Konrad Bukowiecki  Poland 15 February 2018 Copernicus Cup Toruń, Poland 20 years, 335 days [61]
Weight throw 25.66 m Ryan Johnson  United States 27 February 2026 Big Ten Conference Championships Indianapolis, United States 21 years, 32 days [62][63]
Heptathlon 6499 pts Ashton Eaton  United States 12–13 March 2010 NCAA Division I Championships Fayetteville, United States 22 years, 51 days
60m Long jump Shot put High jump 60m H Pole vault 1000m
3000 m walk 10:52.77 Callum Wilkinson  Great Britain 25 February 2018 Müller Indoor Grand Prix Glasgow, United Kingdom 20 years, 348 days
5000 m walk 18:15.91 Mikhail Shchennikov  Soviet Union 4 February 1989 Gomel, USSR 21 years, 42 days
4 × 400 m relay 3:01.39 Ilolo Izu
Robert Grant
Devin Dixon
My'Lik Kerley		  United States (Texas A&M Aggies) 10 March 2018 NCAA Division I Championships College Station, United States 20 years, 286 days
22 years, 38 days
20 years, 169 days
21 years, 277 days		 [64]
Close

Women

More information Event, Record ...
Event Record Athlete Nationality Date Meet Place Age Ref.
60 m 6.94 A Julien Alfred  Saint Lucia 11 March 2023 NCAA Division I Championships Albuquerque, United States 21 years, 274 days [65]
200 m 22.36 Favour Ofili  Nigeria 11 February 2023 Tyson Invitational Fayetteville, United States 20 years, 42 days [66]
300 m 35.80 Abby Steiner  United States 11 December 2021 Cardinal Classic Louisville, United States 22 years, 17 days [67]
400 m 49.76 Taťána Kocembová  Czechoslovakia 2 February 1984 Vienna, Austria 21 years, 276 days [68]
600 y 1:16.76 A Michaela Rose  United States 20 January 2024 Corky Classic Lubbock, United States 20 years, 221 days [69]
600 m 1:23.41 Keely Hodgkinson  Great Britain 28 January 2023 Manchester World Indoor Tour Manchester, United Kingdom 20 years, 331 days [70]
800 m 1:57.20 Keely Hodgkinson  Great Britain 19 February 2022 Birmingham Indoor Grand Prix Birmingham, United Kingdom 19 years, 353 days [71]
1000 m 2:34.8 h Brigitte Kraus  West Germany 19 February 1978 Dortmund, West Germany 21 years, 191 days
1500 m 3:55.47 Diribe Welteji  Ethiopia 6 February 2024 Copernicus Cup Toruń, Spain 21 years, 269 days [72]
2000 m 5:35.46 Dawit Seyaum  Ethiopia 7 February 2015 New Balance Indoor Grand Prix Boston, United States 18 years, 195 days [73]
3000 m 8:23.74 Meselech Melkamu  Ethiopia 3 February 2007 Sparkassen Cup Stuttgart, Germany 21 years, 290 days
Two miles 9:07.12 Melknat Wudu  Ethiopia 11 February 2024 Millrose Games New York City, United States 19 years, 39 days [74]
9:04.39[c] Medina Eisa  Ethiopia 11 February 2024 Millrose Games New York City, United States 19 years, 39 days [75]
60 m hurdles 7.72 A Ackera Nugent  Jamaica 10 March 2023 NCAA Division I Championships Albuquerque, United States 20 years, 315 days [76]
High jump 2.06 m Yaroslava Mahuchikh  Ukraine 2 February 2021 Banskobystricka latka Banská Bystrica, Slovakia 19 years, 136 days [77][78]
Pole vault 4.91 m Amanda Moll  United States 28 February 2025 Big 10 Championships Indiananpolis, United States 20 years, 28 days [79]
Long jump 7.29 m Heike Drechsler  East Germany 25 January 1986 Berlin, Germany 21 years, 40 days
Triple jump 15.12 m A Jasmine Moore  United States 11 March 2023 NCAA Division I Championships Albuquerque, United States 21 years, 314 days [80]
Shot put 21.12 m Ilona Slupianek  East Germany 13 March 1977 European Championships San Sebastián, Spain 20 years, 170 days [81]
Weight throw 25.56 m Brittany Riley  United States 10 March 2007 Fayetteville, United States 20 years, 196 days
Pentathlon 5004 pts A Anna Hall  United States 18 February 2023 USA Championships Albuquerque, United States 21 years, 332 days [82]
60m H High jump Shot put Long jump 800m
8.04 1.91 m 13.80 m 6.34 m 2:05.70
1500 m walk 6:02.85+ Taylor Ewert  United States 9 February 2019 Millrose Games New York City United States 17 years, 80 days [83]
Mile walk 6:28.21 Taylor Ewert  United States 9 February 2019 Millrose Games New York City United States 17 years, 80 days [84]
3000 m walk 11:40.33 Claudia Iovan  Romania 30 January 1999 Bucharest, Romania 20 years, 339 days [85]
5000 m walk 20:23.2 Yekaterina Medvedeva  Russia 9 February 2016 Saransk, Russia 22 years, 276 days
10,000 m walk 45:14.71 Alesia Savaneuskaya  Belarus 14 February 2025 Belarusian Championships Mogilev, Belarus 19 years, 155 days [86]
4 × 400 m relay 3:26.68[d] Jania Martin
Charokee Young
Tierra Robinson-Jones
Athing Mu		  United States
 Jamaica
 United States
 United States
(Texas A&M Aggies)		 13 March 2021 NCAA Division I Championships Fayetteville, United States 20 years, 308 days
20 years, 204 days
21 years, 111 days
18 years, 278 days
3:27.42 A Briana Nelson
Courtney Okolo
Kendall Baisden
Ashley Spencer		  United States (Texas Longhorns) 15 March 2014 NCAA Division I Championships Albuquerque, United States 21 years, 240 days
20 years, 0 days
19 years, 10 days
20 years, 280 days		 [87]
Close

Notes

  1. [a]
    Ngetich's women's-only record was not certified after World Athletics determined the course was 25 meters too short.[36]
  2. [b]
    Starting blocks did not comply with World Athletics regulations, athlete passed drug test on the day
  3. [c]
    later disqualified due to lane infringement
  4. [d]
    Time would be rejected as a record as the team members are not of the same nationality

References

Related Articles

Wikiwand AI