ELITES
Since its founding in 1978, the Philadelphia Distance Run has set 6 half marathon world records. This PR-friendly race features the flattest half marathon course in Philadelphia and has a proud history of attracting deep elite fields.
The course is USATF-certified and part of the USATF Mid-Atlantic Grand Prix.
PROGRAM DETAILS
We provide athletes who meet our Elite Standards with complimentary entry and access to special starting line amenities. Additionally, athletes who exceed our standards may be eligible for travel and lodging support.To apply for an elite bib and/or support, agents and athletes should send an introductory email and link to a race result within the past two years that meets our standards to prelites@gmail.com.
ELITE STANDARDS
Men 65 minutes
Women 75 minutes
Nonbinary 80 minutes
PRIZE MONEY
We support elite athletes with a total prize pool of $27,900
Prize money for the fastest gun time for Half Marathon Male/Female/Non-Binary Runner and Push Rim wheelchair participants is:
1st $2500
2nd $1000
3rd $500
4th $250
5th $150
Top Masters 1st $250
COURSE RECORDS & HISTORY
Course Records Set
Men: Matthew Kisorio in 2011 (58:46)
Women: Kim Smith in 2011 (1:07:11)
Non Binary: Avery Prizzi in 2025 (1:08:24)
World Records Set
Rod Dixon in 1981 (1:02.12)
Michael Musyoki in 1982 (1:01.35)
Joan Benoit Samuelson in 1983 (1:09.14)
Joan Benoit Samuelson in 1984 (1:08.34)
Mark Curp in 1985 (1:00.55)
Dionicio Ceron in 1990 (1:00.46)
Matthew Kisorio in 2011 (58:46)
For a full list of PDR winners over the years, visit this link.
MEN
1970s
1978 JULIO PIAZZA (USA) 1:07:35
1979 LASSE VIREN (FINLAND) 1:04:48
1980s
1980 ROD DIXON (NEW ZEALAND )1:03:39
1981 ROD DIXON (NEW ZEALAND) 1:02:12
1982 MICHAEL MUSYOKI (KENYA) 1:01:36 (WR)
1983 MICHAEL MUSYOKI (KENYA) 1:02:49
1984 DEAN MATTHEWS (USA) 1:02:14
1985 MARK CURP (USA) 1:00:55 (WR)
1986 MARK CURP (USA) 1:01:43
1987 MARTYN BREWER (USA) 1:02:07
1988 STEVE JONES (WALES) 1:02:17
1989 EL MOSTAFA NECHCHADI (MAR) 1:02:01
1990s
1990 DIONICIO CERON (MEXICO) 1:00:46
1991 ROLANDO VERA (ECUADOR) 1:03:00
1992 NOEL RICHARDSON (IRELAND) 1:03:13
1993 LUKETZ SWARTBOOI (NAM) 1:01:26
1994 WILLIAM KIPTOO KOECH (KEN) 1:02:04
1995 JOSEPH KAMUA (KENYA) 1:01:30
1996 JOSEPH KAMUA (KENYA) 1:01:02
1997 KHALID KHANNOUCHI (MAR) 1:00:27 (WR)
1998 PETER GITHUKA MWANGI (KEN) 1:01:58
1999 KHALID KHANNOUCHI (MAR) 1:00:47
2000s
2000 KHALID KHANNOUCHI (MAR) 1:01:17
2001 RONALD MOGAKA (KENYA) 1:01:25
2002 RONALD MOGAKA (KENYA) 1:02:22
2003 LABAN KIPKEMBOI (KENYA) 1:01:29
2004 JULIUS KIBET KOSGEI (KENYA) 1:01:17
2005 GUDISA SHENTAMA (ETHIOPIA)1:02:23 (AR)
2006 WILSON KEBEBEI (KENYA) 1:01:05
2007 JULIUS KIBET KOSGEI (KENYA) 1:02:02
2008 YEREFU BERHANU (ETHIOPIA) 1:01:22
2009 RYAN HALL (USA) 1:01:52
2010s
2010 MATTHEW KISORIO (KENYA) 1:00:16
2011 MATTHEW KISORIO (KENYA) 58:46 (WR)
2012 STANLEY BIWOTT (KENYA) 1:00:03
2013 STANLEY BIWOTT (KENYA) 59:36
2014 BITAN KAROKI (KENYA) 59:23
2015 TIMOTHY RITCHIE (USA) 1:01:23
2016 AUGUSTINE CHOGE (KENYA) 1:03:24
2017 GALEN RUPP (USA) 1:02:18
2018 SHURA KITATA (USA) 59:16
2019 DANIEL MESFUN 1:02:58
2021 TUEMAY WELDIBANOS 1:02:44
2022 JAMES NGANDU 1:02:01
2023 PANUEL MKUNGO 1:00:48
2024 WESLEY KIPTOO 1:01:21
2025 ATHANAS KIOKO 1:01:01
WOMEN
1970s
1978 NORA JOHNSON (USA) 1:24:34
1979 LENA HOLLMAN (SWEDEN) 1:20:06
1980s
1980 JAN YERKES (USA) 1:17:56
1981 JAN YERKES (USA) 1:13:33
1982 JUDI ST HILAIRE (USA) 1:13:13
1983 JOAN BENOIT (USA) 1:09:10 (WR)
1984 JOAN BENOIT (USA) 1:08:34 (WR)
1985 JOAN BENOIT (USA) 1:09:44
1986 MIDDE HAMRIN (SWEDEN) 1:11:41
1987 SYLVIA MOSQUEDA (USA) 1:10:47
1988 LESLEY LEHANE (USA) 1:10:47
1989 NAN DOAK-DAVIS (USA) 1:11:24
1990s
1990 CATHY O'BRIEN (USA) 1:09:39
1991 KIM JONES (USA) 1:12:53
1992 WILMA VAN ONNA (NED) 1:10:59
1993 COLLEEN DE REUCK (RSA) 1:10:26
1994 ANNE MARIE LAUCK (USA) 1:10:03
1995 TATYANA POZDNYAKOVA (UKR) 1:12:56
1996 CATHERINE NDEREBA (KENYA) 1:09:46
1997 COLEEN DE REUCK (RSA) 1:10:06
1998 CATHERINE NDEREBA (KENYA) 1:09:46
1999 CATHERINE NDEREBA (KENYA) 1:10:31
2000s
2000 CATHERINE NDEREBA (KENYA) 1:10:01
2001 CATHERINE NDEREBA (KENYA) 1:08:30
2002 CATHERINE NDEREBA (KENYA) 1:09:20
2003 LEAH MALOT (KENYA) 1:11:20
2004 NUTA OLARU (ROMANIA) 1:09:38
2005 DEENA KASTOR (USA) 1:07:53
2006 LINETH CHEPKURUI (KENYA) 1:10:09
2007 PAMELA CHEPCHUMBA (KENYA) 1:08:45
2008 LILLYA SHOBUKHOVA (RUSSIA) 1:10:21
2009 CATHERINE NDEREBA (KENYA) 1:09:43
2010s
2010 MESERET DEFAR (ETHIOPIA) 1:07:45
2011 KIM SMITH (NEW ZEALAND) 1:07:11
2012 SHARON CHEROP (KENYA) 1:07:21
2013 LYUDMILA KOVALENKO (UKR) 1:08:58
2014 ABERU KEBEDE (ETHIOPIA) 1:08:41
2015 MAEGAN KRIFCHIN (USA) 1:09:51
2016 BUZE DIRIBE (ETHIOPIA) 1:11:49
2017 MESERET DEFAR (ETHIOPIA) 1:08:45
2018 DESIREE LINDEN (USA) 1:11:48
2019 CAROLINE ROTICH (KENYA) 1:10:59
2021 ATSEDE TESEMA 1:10:43
2022 MONICAH NGIGE 1:09:43
2023 ERIKA KEMP 1:10:31
2024 SUSANNA SULLIVAN 1:10:21
2025 ALLIE BUCHALSKI 1:09:58
NON-BINARY
2021 JACKLYN VASKO 1:21:52
2022 CAIN LEATHERS 1:21:06
2023 WINTER PARTS 1:12:50
2024 WINTER PARTS 1:12:37
2025 AVERY PRIZZI 1:08:24