This archive report was first published on 9 September 2019.
On September 8, 2019, Kenyan Brigid Kosgei shattered the course record in the Great North Run, clocking 1:04:28 over the course from Newcastle upon Tyne to South Shields. However, the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) clarified that her time is not valid for a world record due to the course's point-to-point layout and slight downhill slope.
As per IAAF Rule 260.21, a performance is eligible for ratification as a world record if the start and finish points are within 50% of the race distance and the overall elevation decrease is no more than 1m per km. The Great North Run, however, has a start/finish separation of more than 75% and an elevation loss of 30.5m.
Despite this, Kosgei's performance was impressive, with the 25-year-old dominating the race from the start and clipping over a minute from the previous course record of 1:05:39 set by Mary Keitany in 2014. Kosgei said she wasn't aware that she lowered the record time by 23 seconds and was using the race as part of her preparations for next month's Chicago Marathon.
"I'm happy to have lifted the title in the race but at the same time disappointed after I was told that it wasn't a world record. I had no intention of running a fast race, but my body was responding well and that's why I registered my personal best," Kosgei told Nation Sport on phone.
