50K run world record progression
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The following tables show the list of world records in athletics progression in the 50K run, as recognised by World Athletics.{{cite book |author1=World Athletics |title=Book C – C1.1 Competition Rules |date=2021 |url=https://worldathletics.org/download/download?filename=fd5b5041-3d25-4f9b-b951-c5e642d6cfe7.pdf&urlslug=C1.1%20-%20Competition%20Rules |access-date=29 August 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220829092453/https://worldathletics.org/download/download?filename=fd5b5041-3d25-4f9b-b951-c5e642d6cfe7.pdf&urlslug=C1.1%20-%20Competition%20Rules |archive-date=29 August 2022 |url-status=live |format=PDF}} The 50K run was introduced as a world record event in July 2021 during the federation's Council meeting in Tokyo.{{cite web |title=Inaugural world 50km records ratified |url=https://worldathletics.org/news/press-releases/inaugural-world-50km-records-ratified |website=World Athletics |access-date=26 August 2022 |date=6 January 2022}}
World record progression
=Key to tables=
{{legend2|#CEF6F5|Awaiting ratification|border=solid 1px #AAAAAA}}
{{legend2|pink|not ratified or later rescinded by World Athletics|border=solid 1px #AAAAAA}}
=Men=
| class="wikitable sortable" style="font-size:95%
!Time !Athlete !Date !Place !Ref |
| align=center| 2:42:07
|{{flagathlete|Ketema Negasa|ETH}} |23 May 2021 |
| align=center| 2:40:13
|{{flagathlete|Stephen Mokoka|RSA}} |6 March 2022 |Gqeberha, South Africa |{{cite news|title=Mokoka breaks world 50km record with 2:40:13 in Gqeberha|url=https://worldathletics.org/competitions/world-athletics-label-road-races/news/stephen-mokoka-world-50km-record-gqeberha|publisher=World Athletics|date=6 March 2022|access-date=3 April 2022}} |
| align=center| 2:38:43
|{{flagathlete|CJ Albertson|USA}} |8 October 2022 |San Francisco, United States |{{cite news|title=Albertson runs world 50km record in San Francisco|url=https://worldathletics.org/news/report/cj-albertson-world-50km-record-san-francisco|publisher=World Athletics|date=9 October 2022|access-date=15 October 2022}} |
=Women=
==Women only race==
| class="wikitable sortable" style="font-size:95%
!Time !Athlete !Date !Place !Ref |
| align=center| 3:04:24
|{{flagathlete|Irvette Van Zyl|RSA}} |2021-05-23 |Port Elizabeth, South Africa |{{cite web|title=IAU Records|url=https://iau-ultramarathon.org/IAU%20Records%20Committee%202021%20-2025.pdf|website=iau-ultramarathon.org|date=20 November 2021|access-date=3 December 2021}}{{cite news|title=Ethiopian runner sets men's 50K world record with 2:42:07 run in South Africa|url=https://runningmagazine.ca/sections/runs-races/ethiopian-runner-sets-mens-50k-world-record-with-24207-run-in-south-africa/|website=runningmagazine.ca|author=Ben Snider-McGrath|date=23 May 2021|access-date=3 April 2022}} |
==Mixed gender race==
| class="wikitable sortable" style="font-size:95%
!Time !Athlete !Date !Place !Ref |
| align=center| 2:59:54
|{{flagathlete|Desiree Linden|USA}} |2021-04-13 |