Press Release - World Marathon Majors - 9/20/11

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

                World Marathon Majors Establishes Position on 
            World Records within Women's Road Running Performances

BOSTON - September 20, 2011

Background:

At the 2011 International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) World 
Championships in Daegu, South Korea, the IAAF Congress passed a motion to 
change the standard by which women athletes achieve world record 
performances in road races. By the new criterion, only times achieved in 
all-women competitions would be acknowledged for world record purposes, and 
performances achieved in mixed conditions would now be referred to only as 
"world best". 

The new criterion means that Paula Radcliffe's 2003 London mark of 2:15:25 
is no longer the world record but now a world best, and that her 2005 
London time of 2:17:42 is the world record. 

Statement from the World Marathon Majors and the Association of 
International Marathons:

The boards of both World Marathon Majors (WMM) and Association of 
International Marathons (AIMS) have reviewed the recent Congress decision 
and believe that it does not represent what is required by the sport of 
road running.

They further believe that there should be two world records for women's 
road running performances, separately recognising those achieved in mixed 
competition and women's only conditions.

AIMS and WMM will continue to acknowledge both types of performances as 
world records and will discuss this matter further with the IAAF, 
recognising that:

a) The vast majority of women's road races throughout the World are 
held in mixed conditions.

b) The current situation where the fastest time is not now recognised 
as a record is confusing and unfair and does not respect the history of our 
sport.

WMM and AIMS congratulate the IAAF for introducing world road records and 
for continuing to support road running through its labelling scheme.

Notes:

AIMS represents more than 300 races worldwide, the vast majority of them 
road races. WMM members are Boston, London, Berlin, Chicago and New York. 
Both bodies are represented on the IAAF Road Running Commission and have 
leadership roles within road running. 

Performances considered for records, rankings and qualifying purposes must 
be achieved in accordance with IAAF Competition Rules. These include rules 
on course measurement, decrease in elevation between the start and finish, 
maximum distance between the start and finish lines.  An application for a 
world record will only be considered if the athlete concerned undertook 
doping control at the event.

                                  ###