Middle-distance world records fell at an unusual rate in 2026, from the 800 meters to the mile. New running shoes are the usual explanation. A new preprint argues that part of the gain comes from the way the race now starts.
The study looks at the split-staggered start. Instead of lining everyone up behind one curved line, organizers put about a third of the field ahead, in the outside lanes. Those runners merge with the rest later in the race.
Why the outside lane helps
The forward position is meant to make up for the wider path, so everyone runs the same distance. But a wide curve also takes less force to run at speed than a tight one near the rail. The faster the runner, the bigger that effect becomes.
Tade Souaiaia of SUNY Downstate Health Sciences in Brooklyn built a model from both effects. He used sprint data on how lanes change times, official OMEGA timing data and video of races.
The numbers
For six records set in 2026, the model gives an advantage of about 0.1 seconds in Josh Hoey's indoor 800 meters. For the mile it is far larger: 0.63 to 1.49 seconds for Cole Hocker's indoor record and 0.65 to 0.88 seconds for Josh Kerr's outdoor record of 3:42.66.
The paper notes that all 14 world records set with this start came from runners in the front group. It does not claim to explain why. The estimates also depend on which earlier races serve as comparison, and the model leaves out tactics such as the cost of merging.
The study is a preprint and has not been peer reviewed. Its central claim is still easy to state: at this level, a second can separate a world record from a very good race.
