On May 12, 2026, World Athletics officially recognized the time of 1 hour, 1 minute, and 15 seconds set by Chinese post-2000 runner Wang Wenjie at the 2026 Beijing Half Marathon as the Chinese men’s half marathon national record (NR). 
This achievement makes the Tsinghua University student the first athlete in Chinese middle and long distance running history to simultaneously hold the national records for both the men’s 10,000 meters and the half marathon, writing a new chapter for China’s young runners.
Competing on April 12, 2026, in the Beijing Half Marathon, Wang Wenjie quickly moved into the lead pack among 22,000 participants. By the 9-kilometer mark, he had established a solo lead, maintaining an exceptionally steady pace with per-kilometer splits varying by less than three seconds. He crossed the finish line first with a stunning 1:01:15, shattering the previous national record held by Yu Shuqing by 31 seconds and setting a new Chinese best for the half marathon. After rigorous anti-doping tests, the performance was confirmed valid and officially added to the World Athletics database. 
This is not Wang Wenjie’s first time making history. On May 31, 2025, at the Nittai University Long Distance Meet and the 15th NGC Track and Field Competition in Japan, he finished the men’s 10,000 meters in 27 minutes, 48.68 seconds. That performance broke an 18-year-old national record by nearly 20 seconds, making him the first Chinese runner to break the 28-minute barrier in the event. The result was also officially certified by World Athletics, signaling China’s entry into world-class competition in men’s long distance running.
Born in 2004, Wang Wenjie is a student at Tsinghua University and represents the Beijing team. He trains under renowned coach Cao Zhenshui, balancing academics and professional training. Hailing from Jining, Shandong Province, Wang showed early running talent and entered the affiliated high school of Tsinghua University at age 15 for systematic training. Through extraordinary discipline and perseverance, he overcame injuries and has been steadily improving. From a third-place finish at the 2023 Xiamen Tong’an Half Marathon to winning the 2024 Hefei Marathon Half Marathon, and now holding two national records, Wang has demonstrated the power of talent combined with hard work.
This official World Athletics certification of his half marathon record not only affirms Wang Wenjie’s personal ability but also highlights the progress and breakthrough of Chinese middle and long distance running. In recent years, post-2000 athletes like Wang have collectively risen, pushing Chinese distance running to new heights and gradually closing the gap with the world’s elite. As a model of the integration of sports and education, Wang has proven the potential and responsibility of the young generation, injecting strong momentum into the future development of Chinese long distance running. 
It is reported that Wang Wenjie has now shifted focus to full marathon training. Based on his half marathon time, his potential in the full marathon could be under 2 hours and 8 minutes. The 22-year-old will continue to pursue higher goals on the track, aiming for Asian and even world records, writing more glory for Chinese middle and long distance running.