The question of how many US high school boys have beaten the women’s 400mH world record of 50.37 has a concrete, data-driven answer — and the numbers vary dramatically by event. In the sprints, hundreds or thousands of boys surpass women’s world records every year. In the throws, only a handful have ever done it in recorded history.
The Numbers
| Women’s World Record | All-Time HS Boys Count | Annual Count (2024) | Annual Count (2023) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 50.37 | 12 | 1 | n/a |
* = estimate. See methodology notes below.
Top Performances vs. Women’s World Record
The following US high school boys have run faster than the women’s 400mH world record of 50.37:
| # | Athlete | Performance | School / State | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kennen Davis | 49.20 | Archbishop Carroll HS, DC | 2026 |
| 2 | Kenneth Ferguson | 49.38 | Mumford HS, MI | 2002 |
| 3 | Robert Griffin | 49.56 | Copperas Cove HS, TX | 2007 |
| 4 | William Wynne | 49.70 | McEachern HS, GA | 2007 |
| 5 | Kerron Clement | 49.77 | La Porte HS, TX | 2002 |
| 6 | Vance Nilsson | 49.77 | Gilbert HS, AZ | 2024 |
| 7 | Reggie Wyatt | 49.78 | La Sierra HS, CA | 2009 |
| 8 | Jason Richardson | 49.79 | Cedar Hill HS, TX | 2004 |
| 9 | Kenneth Ferguson | 49.83 | Mumford HS, MI | 2002 |
| 10 | William Wynne | 49.84 | McEachern HS, GA | 2008 |
* = estimated count extrapolated from annual top-25 depth over 30+ tracked seasons.
What the Numbers Mean
These counts measure how deep boys’ high school performance is relative to the single best women’s performance in history. The women’s 400mH world record represents the peak of elite female athletics — a performance that most professional women will never match. The fact that large numbers of high school boys surpass it in some events reflects physiological differences in male development, not a commentary on the quality of the women’s mark.
In events like the 400mH, the count reveals exactly how the performance gap translates to participation depth. A boy who barely surpasses the women’s world record is still an elite teenage athlete — competing at the very top of US high school competition.
All-time list sourced from TFN all-time top 10 plus supplementary records (Kennen Davis 2026 national record, Bob Bornkessel 1968). The women's WR threshold is 50.37s; the entire TFN top 10 runs sub-50. Many additional performers in the 50.00-50.37 range exist but no comprehensive all-time depth list beyond TFN top 10 was accessible. 2023 annual top 19 ranged from 50.96-52.96 (none beat WR). 2024 ...
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the women's world record in the 400mH?
The women's world record in the 400mH is 50.37, set at the elite international level.
How many US high school boys have beaten the women's 400mH world record all-time?
Approximately 12 US high school boys have beaten the women's 400mH world record of 50.37 in recorded history. This figure is a confirmed minimum count from documented performances.
How many high school boys beat the women's 400mH world record in 2024?
In 2024, approximately 1 US high school boys surpassed the women's 400mH world record of 50.37.
Why do so many (or so few) boys beat the women's 400mH world record?
The count depends on three factors: participation volume (sprints have far more athletes than distance events or throws), the margin of the women's world record, and equipment differences where applicable. The 400mH falls in the rare-achievement category, reflecting the structure of competitive depth at the high school level.