26 world records ratified in 1998, women in the vanguard with 17 new marks

During the 1998 athletics season, the following new records were achieved and ratified: 9 outdoors records, 4 men’s and 5 women’s and 17 indoor records: 5 for men and 12 for women.

A newcomer to the prestigious list of outdoor record holders was Hicham El Guerrouj (MAR), thanks to his fantastic 3:26:00 in the 1500m in Rome on 14 July. Maurice Greene (USA) also made his first appearance among the elite of indoor world record holders, clocking 6.39 in the 60m in Madrid on 3 February 1998.

Among women athletes, of particular note was the progression in the pole vault, where Emma George (AUS) was truly a paragon: she bettered the outdoor record three times, to attain 4.59m and repeated the triple feat indoors for a new record mark of 4.55m. In the Junior category, there were two records each for both men and women.

Maria Mutola (MOZ) didn’t enter the lists with her 800m mark in Liévin. Her time of 1:56.36 was not ratified due to her failing to comply with Rule 141.2 ("..that a competitor has run outside his lane, he shall be disqualified.") and 148.8 (g) "In a race run in lanes, no record will be accepted where the runner has run on or inside the inner curved border of his lane."

The outdoor and indoor events for which world records are recognised are laid down, respectively, by article 199 and 299 of the IAAF Statutes.

The ratification of such records is the sole prerogative of the President and the General Secretary of the International Federation (and, in the event of doubt, the IAAF Council), in accordance with the procedures laid down in article 148. The National Federation on whose territory the event has been run must send, within 30 days of the date upon which the record was set, the official application and all relevant documentation.

An essential part of the documentation are the results of the anti-doping test - no record can be ratified without proof of a negative doping test - and, especially for races timed using an entirely automatic system, the photo-finish document. For sprints of 200m or less and for the long jump and triple jump, windspeed readings and details of the relevant measuring equipment must be supplied according to the requirements of article 149.

The following marks were ratified during 1998:

WORLD RECORDS SET IN 1998

MEN

WOMEN

Note: Application not Submitted - No Doping Control Conducted

WORLD BEST PERFORMANCE SET IN 1998

MEN

WOMEN

WORLD JUNIOR RECORDS SET IN 1998

MEN

WOMEN

Application not submitted - No doping control conducted

 WORLD INDOOR RECORDS SET IN 1998

MEN

WOMEN

Not ratified because of infringement to IAAF Rule141.2.