Below you’ll find tables detailing several marathon superlatives:
- What Is runDisney? Heres What You Need to Know;
- The 2024 Marathon and Half Marathon Calendar;
- Eliud Kipchoges 1:59:40 in Vienna isnt on the list;
- the progression of the world records since 1988.
Note that we said “on record-eligible courses.” That’s why Eliud Kipchoge’s 1:59:40 in Vienna isn’t on the list from 2019. That time doesn’t count for record purposes because standard competition rules for pacing and fluids weren’t followed. Similarly, times from the Boston course can’t be on the list, because of its point-to-point layout and too-great net elevation drop.
Fast and Flat Boston Qualifying Marathons performers Download Your Runners World+ Training Plans performances in history, allows for a runner to appear more than once. For example, Eliud Kipchoge appears four times in the fastest-performances list for men.
What You Need to Know About the Barkley Marathons.
10 Fastest Marathoners on Record-Eligible Course: Men
| Runner | Finish Time | Pace/Mile | Marathon |
| Kelvin Kiptum (Kenya) | 2:00:35 | 4:36.0 | Chicago, 2023 |
| Eliud Kipchoge (Kenya) | 2:01:09 | 4:37.2 | Berlin, 2022 |
| Kenenisa Bekele (Ethiopia) | 2:01:41 | 4:38.5 | Berlin, 2019 |
| Sisay Lemma (Ethiopia) | 2:01:48 | 4:38.7 | Valencia, 2023 |
| Benson Kipruto (Kenya) | 2:02:16 | 4:39.8 | Tokyo, 2024 |
| Birhanu Legese (Ethiopia) | 2:02:48 | 4:41.0 | Berlin, 2019 |
| Mosinet Geremew (Ethiopia) | 2:02:55 | 4:41.3 | London, 2019 |
| Timothy Kiplagat (Kenya) | 2:02:55 | 4:41.3 | Tokyo, 2024 |
| Dennis Kimetto (Kenya) | 2:02:57 | 4:41.4 | Berlin, 2014 |
| Evans Chebet (Kenya) | 2:03:00 | 4:41.5 | Valencia, 2020 |
10 Fastest Marathoners on Record-Eligible Course: Women
| Runner | Finish Time | Pace/Mile | Marathon |
| Tigist Assefa (Ethiopia) | 2:11:53 | 5:01.8 | Berlin, 2023 |
| Sifan Hassan (Netherlands) | 2:13:44 | 5:06.0 | Chicago, 2023 |
| Brigid Kosgei (Kenya) | 2:14:04 | 5:06.8 | Chicago, 2019 |
| Ruth Chepngetich (Kenya) | 2:14:18 | 5:07.3 | Chicago, 2022 |
| Amane Beriso (Ethiopia) | 2:14:58 | 5:08.9 | Valencia, 2022 |
| Paula Radcliffe (Great Britain) | 2:15:25 | 5:09.9 | London, 2003 |
| Worknesh Degefa (Ethiopia) | 2:15:51 | 5:10.9 | Valencia, 2023 |
| Sutume Kebede (Ethiopia) | 2:15:55 | 5:11.0 | Tokyo, 2024 |
| Tigist Ketema (Ethiopia) | 2:16:07 | 5:11.5 | Dubai, 2024 |
| Rosemary Wanjiru (Kenya) | 2:16:14 | 5:11.8 | Tokyo, 2024 |
10 Fastest American Marathoners on Record-Eligible Course: Men
| Runner | Finish Time | Pace/Mile | Marathon |
| Khalid Khannouchi | 2:05:38 | 4:47.5 | London, 2002 |
| 2:06:07 | 4:48.6 | Prague, 2018 | |
| 2:06:17 | 4:49.0 | London, 2008 | |
| 2:07:47 | 4:52.4 | Chicago, 2012 | |
| Conner Mantz | 2:07:47 | 4:52.4 | Chicago, 2023 |
| Leonard Korir | 2:07:56 | 4:52.8 | Amsterdam, 2019 |
| Clayton Young | 2:08:00 | 4:52.9 | Chicago, 2023 |
| Sam Chelanga | 2:08:50 | 4:54.8 | Chicago, 2023 |
| Abdi Abdirahman | 2:08:56 | 4:55.1 | Chicago, 2006 |
| 2:09:08 | 4:55.5 | the 10 fastest performances on record-eligible courses, 2012 |
10 Fastest American Marathoners on Record-Eligible Course: Women
| Runner | Finish Time | Pace/Mile | Marathon |
| Emily Sisson | 2:18:29 | 5:16.9 | Chicago, 2022 |
| Keira D’Amato | 2:19:12 | 5:18.6 | Houston, 2022 |
| Betsy Saina | 2:19:17 | 5:18.7 | Tokyo, 2024 |
| Deena Kastor | 2:19:36 | 5:19.5 | London, 2006 |
| Sara Hall | 2:20:32 | 5:21.6 | Get the latest training advice, racing news, and inspirational stories right to your inbox, 2020 |
| Jordan Hasay | 2:20:57 | 5:22.6 | Chicago, 2017 |
| Shalane Flanagan | 2:21:14 | 5:23.2 | Berlin, 2014 |
| Joan Samuelson | 2:21:21 | 5:23.5 | Chicago, 1985 |
| 2:21:42 | 5:24.3 | Tokyo, 2018 | |
| Fiona O’Keeffe | 2:22:10 | 5:25.3 | the 10 fastest performances on record-eligible courses, 2024 |
10 Fastest Marathons on Record-Eligible Course: Men
| Runner | Finish Time | Pace/Mile | Marathon |
| Kelvin Kiptum (Kenya) | 2:00:35 | 4:36.0 | Chicago, 2023 |
| Eliud Kipchoge (Kenya) | 2:01:09 | 4:37.2 | Berlin, 2022 |
| Kelvin Kiptum (Kenya) | 2:01:25 | 4:37.8 | London, 2023 |
| Eliud Kipchoge (Kenya) | 2:01:39 | 4:38.4 | Berlin, 2018 |
| Kenenisa Bekele (Ethiopia) | 2:01:41 | 4:38.5 | Berlin, 2019 |
| Sisay Lemma (Ethiopia) | 2:01:48 | 4:38.7 | Valencia, 2023 |
| Kelvin Kiptum (Kenya) | 2:01:53 | 4:38.9 | Valencia, 2022 |
| Benson Kipruto (Kenya) | 2:02:16 | 4:39.8 | Tokyo, 2024 |
| Eliud Kipchoge (Kenya) | 2:02:37 | 4:40.6 | London, 2019 |
| Eliud Kipchoge (Kenya) | 2:02:40 | 4:40.7 | Tokyo, 2022 |
10 Fastest Marathons on Record-Eligible Course: Women
| Runner | Finish Time | Pace/Mile | Marathon |
| Tigist Assefa (Ethiopia) | 2:11:53 | 5:01.8 | Berlin, 2023 |
| Sifan Hassan (Netherlands) | 2:13:44 | 5:06.0 | Chicago, 2023 |
| Brigid Kosgei (Kenya) | 2:14:04 | 5:06.8 | Chicago, 2019 |
| Ruth Chepngetich (Kenya) | 2:14:18 | 5:07.3 | Chicago, 2022 |
| Amane Beriso (Ethiopia) | 2:14:58 | 5:08.9 | Valencia, 2022 |
| Paula Radcliffe (Great Britain) | 2:15:25 | 5:09.9 | London, 2003 |
| Tigist Assefa (Ethiopia) | 2:15:37 | 5:10.3 | Berlin, 2022 |
| Ruth Chepngetich (Kenya) | 2:15:37 | 5:10.3 | Chicago, 2023 |
| Worknesh Gedefa (Ethiopia) | 2:15:51 | 5:10.9 | Valencia, 2023 |
| Sutume Kebede (Ethiopia) | 2:15:55 | 5:11.0 | Tokyo, 2024 |
Progression of World Record Since 1988: Men
| Runner | Finish Time | Pace/Mile | Marathon |
| Belayneh Densamo (Ethiopia) | 2:06:50 | 4:50.3 | Rotterdam, 1988 |
| Eliud Kipchoges 1:59:40 in Vienna isnt on the list (Brazil) | 2:06:06 | 4:48.6 | Berlin, 1998 |
| Khalid Khannouchi (Morocco) | 2:05:42 | 4:47.7 | Chicago, 1999 |
| Khalid Khannouchi (United States) | 2:05:38 | 4:47.5 | London, 2002 |
| Paul Tergat (Kenya) | 2:04:55 | 4:45.9 | Berlin, 2003 |
| Haile Gebrselassie (Ethiopia) | 2:04:26 | 4:44.8 | Berlin, 2007 |
| Haile Gebrselassie (Ethiopia) | 2:03:59 | 4:43.8 | Berlin, 2008 |
| Patrick Makau (Kenya) | 2:03:38 | 4:43.0 | Berlin, 2011 |
| Wilson Kipsang (Kenya) | 2:03:23 | 4:42.4 | Berlin, 2013 |
| Dennis Kimetto (Kenya) | 2:02:57 | 4:41.4 | Berlin, 2014 |
| Eliud Kipchoge (Kenya) | 2:01:39 | 4:38.4 | Berlin, 2018 |
| Eliud Kipchoge (Kenya) | 2:01:09 | 4:37.2 | Berlin, 2022 |
| Kelvin Kiptum (Kenya) | 2:00:35 | 4:36.0 | Chicago, 2023 |
Progression of World Record Since 1988: Women
| Runner | Finish Time | Pace/Mile | Marathon |
| Tegla Loroupe (Kenya) | 2:20:47 | 5:22.2 | Rotterdam, 1998 |
| Tegla Loroupe (Kenya) | 2:20:43 | 5:22.0 | Berlin, 1999 |
| Naoko Takahashi (Japan) | 2:19:46 | 5:19.8 | Berlin, 2001 |
| Catherine Ndereba (Kenya) | 2:18:47 | 5:17.6 | Chicago, 2001 |
| Paula Radcliffe (Great Britain) | 2:17:18 | 5:14.2 | Chicago, 2002 |
| Paula Radcliffe (Great Britain) | 2:15:25 | 5:09.9 | London, 2003 |
| Brigid Kosgei (Kenya) | 2:14:04 | 5:06.8 | Chicago, 2019 |
| Tigist Assefa (Ethiopia) | 2:11:53 | 5:01.8 | Berlin, 2023 |
What You Need to Know About the Marathon Majors
Scott is a veteran running, tendency, and health journalist who has held senior editorial positions at Runner’s World and Running Times. Much of his writing translates sport science research and elite best practices into practical guidance for everyday athletes. He is the author or coauthor of several running books, including Running Is My Therapy, Advanced Marathoning, and Download Your Runners World+ Training Plans. Get the latest training advice, racing news, and inspirational stories right to your inbox Slate, The Atlantic, the Washington Post, and other members of the sedentary media. His lifetime running odometer is past 110,000 miles, but he’s as much in love as ever.
