World vs Japan

How the gap between the Japanese record and the world record has changed over time.

Men · Current Gap
+54.92
World26:11.00Joshua Cheptegei
Japan27:05.92Mebuki Suzuki
Women · Current Gap
+1:26.30
World28:54.14Beatrice Chebet
Japan30:20.44Hitomi Niiya

Record progressions

World and Japan record progressions.

Men

Current
WR26:11.00Joshua Cheptegei· 2020
JPN27:05.92Mebuki Suzuki· 2025

Women

Current
WR28:54.14Beatrice Chebet· 2024
JPN30:20.44Hitomi Niiya· 2020

The gap over time

How the gap between the world and Japan records has moved.

Men

+54.92Current
WR26:11.00Joshua Cheptegei· 2020
JPN27:05.92Mebuki Suzuki· 2025

Women

+1:26.30Current
WR28:54.14Beatrice Chebet· 2024
JPN30:20.44Hitomi Niiya· 2020

What this chart shows

The closer the line gets to zero, the closer Japan is to the world record; when it rises, the world record is pulling away. The gap is plotted at every record change — world or national — so the line always reflects the gap at that moment.