Marathon world record progression#Women

Marathon races were first held in 1896, but the distance was not standardized by the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF, now World Athletics) until 1921.{{cite web |date=April 25, 2008 |title=The Marathon journey to reach 42.195km |url=http://www.germanroadraces.de/274-1-16409-the-marathon-journey-to-reach-42195km-.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140306080943/http://www.germanroadraces.de/274-1-16409-the-marathon-journey-to-reach-42195km-.html |archive-date=March 6, 2014 |access-date=February 26, 2014 |publisher=european-athletics.org}}{{Cite book |last=Martin |first=David E. |url=https://archive.org/details/olympicmarathon00mart/page/113 |title=The Olympic Marathon |author2=Roger W. H. Gynn |date=May 2000 |publisher=Human Kinetics Publishers |isbn=978-0-88011-969-6 |page=[https://archive.org/details/olympicmarathon00mart/page/113 113] |url-access=registration}}

The actual distance for pre-1921 races frequently varied from the 1921 standard of 42.195 km (26 miles 385 yards). In qualifying races for the 1896 Summer Olympics, Greek runners Charilaos Vasilakos (3:18:00) and Ioannis Lavrentis (3:11:27) won the first two modern marathons.{{cite book |last=Martin |first=Dr. David |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=f15zoDdCa3oC |title=Marathon Medicine |publisher=Royal Society of Medicine Press |year=2000 |isbn=9781853154607 |editor-last=Pedoe |editor-first=Dan Tunstall |location=London |page=31 |chapter=Marathon running as a social and athletic phenomenon: historical and current trends |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=f15zoDdCa3oC&pg=PA28}} On April 10, 1896, Spiridon Louis of Greece won the first Olympic marathon in Athens, Greece, in a time of 2:58:50.{{cite web |last=De Coubertin |first=Pierre |author2=Timoleon J. Philemon |author3=N. G. Politis |author4=Charalambos Anninos |year=1897 |title=The Olympic Games, B.C. 776 – A.D. 1896, Second Part, The Olympic Games in 1896 |url=http://www.la84foundation.org/6oic/OfficialReports/1896/1896part2.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120815223911/http://www.la84foundation.org/6oic/OfficialReports/1896/1896part2.pdf |archive-date=August 15, 2012 |access-date=October 16, 2008 |publisher=Charles Beck (Athens), H. Grevel and Co. (London)}} However, the distance for the event was 40,000 meters.{{cite web |date=July 19, 1996 |title=Athletes | Olympic Medalist | Olympians | Gold Medalists | Medal Count |url=http://www.olympic.org/uk/athletes/profiles/bio_uk.asp?PAR_I_ID=58143 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090414094458/http://www.olympic.org/uk/athletes/profiles/bio_uk.asp?PAR_I_ID=58143 |archive-date=April 14, 2009 |access-date=September 26, 2011 |publisher=International Olympic Committee}}{{refn|The Association of Road Racing Statisticians has estimated the course distance to be 37–38 km.{{cite web|url=https://www.arrs.run/HP_OlyMa.htm|title=untitled|access-date=December 2, 2018|archive-date=September 17, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180917181650/https://arrs.run/HP_OlyMa.htm|url-status=live}}|group=nb}} Three months later, British runner Len Hurst won the inaugural Paris to Conflans Marathon (also around 40 km) in a time of 2:31:30.{{cite web |last=Milroy |first=Andy |title=The origins of the marathon |url=https://www.arrs.run/article_marathonorigins.php |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210825101156/https://www.arrs.run/article_marathonorigins.php |archive-date=August 25, 2021 |access-date=July 29, 2010 |publisher=Association of Road Racing Statisticians}} In 1900, Hurst would better his time on the same course with a 2:26:28 performance.{{refn|According to the "Sporting Records" section of The Canadian Year Book for 1905: "Len Hurst won the Marathon race, 40 kilometres (24 miles, 1505 yards), over roads, Conflans to Paris, Fr., in the record time of 2.26:27 3–5, July 8, 1900."{{Cite journal| title = Sporting Records

| journal = The Canadian Year Book for 1905

| volume = 8

| page = 147

| publisher = Alfred Hewitt

| place = Toronto Canada

| year = 1905

| url = https://books.google.com/books?id=bYACMpbJzQcC&pg=PA147

}} Other sources confirm that the direction of the 1900 race was reversed, but note Hurst's finishing time as 2:26:47.4.{{cite book|last=Martin|first=David E.|author2=Roger W. H. Gynn|title=The Olympic Marathon|url=https://archive.org/details/olympicmarathon00mart |url-access=registration|publisher=Human Kinetics Publishers |date=May 2000|page=[https://archive.org/details/olympicmarathon00mart/page/37 37]|isbn=978-0-88011-969-6}} or 2:26:48.{{cite book

|last = Noakes

|first = Tim

|author-link = Tim Noakes

|title = The Lore of Running

|publisher = Oxford University Press

|edition = Fourth

|year = 2003

|isbn = 0-87322-959-2}}

|group=nb}}

Later, Shizo Kanakuri of Japan was reported to have set a world record of 2:32:45 in a November 1911 domestic qualification race for the 1912 Summer Olympics, but this performance was also run over a distance of approximately 40 km.{{cite web |date=July 15, 1912 |title=Running Training Blog Entry | Lydiard Foundation Members |url=http://www.lydiardfoundation.org/Blog/EntryDisplay.aspx?EntryID=111 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120302100521/http://www.lydiardfoundation.org/Blog/EntryDisplay.aspx?EntryID=111 |archive-date=March 2, 2012 |access-date=September 26, 2011 |publisher=Lydiardfoundation.org}}{{refn|Road running historian [https://www.arrs.run/members_andy_milroy.php Andy Milroy] writing for the Association of Road Racing Statisticians has indicated that 25 miles (40.234 km) was the distance of the first Japanese marathon held in 1911.

Predating Kanakuri's performance, Milroy also indicated that a "professional world record" at the 25-mile distance of 2:32:42 was set by British runner Len Hurst on August 27, 1903.{{cite web|url=https://www.arrs.run/article_marathonorigins.php|title=ARRS – Association of Road Racing Statisticians|access-date=December 2, 2018|archive-date=August 25, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210825101156/https://www.arrs.run/article_marathonorigins.php|url-status=live}}|group=nb}}

The first marathon over the official distance was won by American Johnny Hayes at the 1908 Summer Olympics, with a time of 2:55:18.4.{{cite web |title=Profiles – Johnny Hayes |url=http://www.runningpast.com/johnny_hayes.htm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210504054800/http://www.runningpast.com/johnny_hayes.htm |archive-date=May 4, 2021 |access-date=March 17, 2010 |publisher=Running Past}}

It is possible that Stamata Revithi, who ran the 1896 Olympic course a day after Louis, is the first woman to run the modern marathon; she is said to have finished in {{frac|5|1|2}} hours.{{cite journal |last=Tarasouleas |first=Athanasios |date=October–November 1997 |title=Stamata Revithi, "Alias Melpomeni" |url=http://www.la84foundation.org/OlympicInformationCenter/OlympicReview/1997/oreXXVI17/oreXXVI17zg.pdf |url-status=live |journal=Olympic Review |volume=26 |issue=17 |pages=53–55 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180414172250/http://library.la84.org/OlympicInformationCenter/OlympicReview/1997/oreXXVI17/oreXXVI17zg.pdf |archive-date=April 14, 2018 |access-date=May 19, 2010}} World Athletics credits Violet Piercy's 1926 performance as the first woman to race the standard marathon distance; however, other sources report that the 1918 performance of Marie-Louise Ledru in the Tour de Paris set the initial mark for women.{{sfn|ARRS World Best Progressions – Road|2015}}{{cite web |date=May 28, 2011 |title=Tour de Paris Marathon |url=https://www.arrs.run/HP_ParisTourMa.htm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180615190642/https://arrs.run/HP_ParisTourMa.htm |archive-date=June 15, 2018 |access-date=September 26, 2011 |publisher=ARRS}}Fast Tracks: The History of Distance Running Since 884 B.C. by Raymond Krise, Bill Squires. (1982).Endurance by Albert C. Gross. (1986) Other "unofficial" performances have also been reported to be world bests or world records over time: although her performance is not recognized by World Athletics, Adrienne Beames from Australia is frequently credited as the first woman to break the three-hour barrier in the marathon.{{cite web |last=Howe |first=Charles |title=Out of the bushes, ahead of the ambulance, and into the spotlight: milestones in the history of women's (mostly distance) running, Part I |url=http://rundynamics3.webs.com/timeline.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150422140641/http://rundynamics3.webs.com/timeline.pdf |archive-date=April 22, 2015 |access-date=February 26, 2014 |publisher=Rundynamics}}{{refn|According to the Association of Road Racing Statisticians, Beames' performance of 2:46:30 on August 31, 1971, in Werribee, Australia is regarded as a time trial.{{cite web

|title = World Marathon Rankings for 1971

|url = https://www.arrs.run/MaraRank/ATM_Mara1971.htm

|work = Association of Road Racing Statisticians

|access-date = July 29, 2009

|quote = Unverified (probably a time trial)

|archive-date = January 13, 2019

|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20190113182337/https://www.arrs.run/MaraRank/ATM_Mara1971.htm

|url-status = live

}}|group=nb}}

In the 1953 Boston Marathon, the top three male finishers were thought to have broken the standing world record,{{cite news |title=Boston Marathon history |url=http://www.boston.com/zope_homepage/sports/marathon_archive/history/1953.shtml |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090417100359/http://www.boston.com/zope_homepage/sports/marathon_archive/history/1953.shtml |archive-date=April 17, 2009 |access-date=March 17, 2010 |work=The Boston Globe}} but Keizo Yamada's mark of 2:18:51 is considered to have been set on a short course of 25.54 miles (41.1 km).{{cite web |title=World Marathon Rankings for 1953 |url=https://www.arrs.run/MaraRank/ATM_Mara1953.htm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180702233204/https://arrs.run/MaraRank/ATM_Mara1953.htm |archive-date=July 2, 2018 |access-date=November 2, 2009 |work=Association of Road Racing Statisticians |quote=Short Course (41.1 km)}} The Boston Athletic Association also does not report Yamada's performance as a world best for this reason.114th B.A.A Boston Marathon Official Program. April 19, 2010.

On October 25, 1981, American Alberto Salazar and New Zealander Allison Roe set apparent world bests at the New York City Marathon (2:08:13 and 2:25:29), however, these marks were invalidated when the course was later found to have been 151 meters short.{{cite web |title=World Marathon Major Event Records |url=http://static.worldmarathonmajors.com/downloads/CourseRecordProgressions_10-11-09.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111009113052/http://static.worldmarathonmajors.com/downloads/CourseRecordProgressions_10-11-09.pdf |archive-date=October 9, 2011}}{{cite web |title=World Marathon Rankings for 1981 |url=https://www.arrs.run/MaraRank/ATM_Mara1981.htm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180916130227/https://arrs.run/MaraRank/ATM_Mara1981.htm |archive-date=September 16, 2018 |access-date=July 29, 2009 |work=Association of Road Racing Statisticians |quote=Short Course (150 m short on remeasurement)}} Although World Athletics' progression notes three performances set on the same course in 1978, 1979, and 1980 by Norwegian Grete Waitz, the Association of Road Racing Statisticians considers the New York City course suspect for those performances, too.{{cite web |title=New York City Marathon |url=https://www.arrs.run/HP_NYCMa.htm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181112021644/https://www.arrs.run/HP_NYCMa.htm |archive-date=November 12, 2018 |access-date=July 29, 2009 |work=Association of Road Racing Statisticians |quote=The course used for the 1981 race was remeasured at 42.044 km or 151 meters short of the full marathon distance. Since a major part of the shortness was within the Central Park portion of the course, all "five borough" races prior to 1981 must also be considered suspect (1976–1980) and are not considered acceptable for statistical purposes.}}

On April 18, 2011, the Boston Marathon produced what were at that time the two fastest marathon performances of all time. Winner Geoffrey Mutai of Kenya recorded a time of 2:03:02,{{cite news |date=April 18, 2011 |title=Mutai wins Boston in world-record time: Kilel edges American in women's race |url=http://news.bostonherald.com/news/regional/view/20110418kenyas_geoffrey_mutai_wins_mens_race_in_boston_marathon/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110421030641/http://news.bostonherald.com/news/regional/view/20110418kenyas_geoffrey_mutai_wins_mens_race_in_boston_marathon |archive-date=April 21, 2011 |access-date=April 18, 2011 |newspaper=Boston Herald |agency=Associated Press}} followed by countryman Moses Mosop in 2:03:06. However, since the Boston course does not meet the criteria for record attempts, these times were not ratified by the IAAF.

Eight IAAF world records were set at the Polytechnic Marathon (1909, 1913, 1952–1954, 1963–1965).{{cite web |title=The Polytechnic Marathon 1909–1996 |url=http://www.ianridpath.com/polymarathon/history.htm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101007134500/http://ianridpath.com/polymarathon/history.htm |archive-date=October 7, 2010 |access-date=June 2, 2010 |publisher=Ianridpath.com}} WA-recognized world records have been broken at all of the original five World Marathon Majors on numerous occasions (updated 09/2022); twelve times at the Berlin Marathon, three times at the Boston Marathon, five times at the Chicago Marathon, six times at the London Marathon, and five times at the New York City Marathon. However, the records established in the Boston event have been disputed on grounds of a downhill point-to-point course, while four of the five New York records have been disputed on grounds of a short course.

{{See also|List of world records in athletics#Criteria}}

For a performance to be ratified as a world record by World Athletics, the marathon course on which the performance occurred must be {{convert|42.195|km|mi|abbr=on}} long, measured in a defined manner using the calibrated bicycle method{{cite web |url=http://aimsworldrunning.org/measurement/MeasurementOfRoadRaceCourses.pdf |title=IAAF Publication, "The Measurement of Road Race Courses", Second Edition, 2004, Updated 2008. |access-date=March 17, 2010 |archive-date=December 12, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101212111524/http://aimsworldrunning.org/measurement/MeasurementOfRoadRaceCourses.pdf |url-status=dead }} (the distance in kilometers being the official distance; the distance in miles is an approximation) and meet other criteria that rule out artificially fast times produced on courses aided by downhill slope or tailwind.{{cite news |title=Kenya's Mutai Wins Boston in 2:03:02 |first=Peter |last=May |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2011/04/19/sports/19marathon.html |newspaper=The New York Times |date=April 18, 2011 |access-date=April 18, 2011 |archive-date=December 1, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171201133631/http://www.nytimes.com/2011/04/19/sports/19marathon.html |url-status=live }} The criteria include:

• "The start and finish points of a course, measured along a theoretical straight line between them, shall not be further apart than 50% of the race distance."{{cite web|title= IAAF Competition Rules 2016–2017|url= http://www.iaaf.org/download/download?filename=fa556b18-c75f-4b3d-b952-7348645bccb5.pdf&urlslug=IAAF%20Competition%20Rules%202016-2017%2C%20in%20force%20from%201%20November%202015|page= 275|format= PDF|year= 2015|access-date= November 11, 2015|archive-date= March 18, 2016|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20160318173741/http://www.iaaf.org/download/download?filename=fa556b18-c75f-4b3d-b952-7348645bccb5.pdf&urlslug=IAAF%20Competition%20Rules%202016-2017%2C%20in%20force%20from%201%20November%202015|url-status= live}}
• "The decrease in elevation between the start and finish shall not exceed an average of one in a thousand (i.e., 1m per km)."

In recognizing Kenyan Geoffrey Mutai's mark of 2:03:02 at the 2011 Boston Marathon as (at the time) "the fastest Marathon ever run", the IAAF said: "Due to the elevation drop and point-to-point measurements of the Boston course, performances [on that course] are not eligible for World record consideration."{{cite web |url=http://www.iaaf.org/news/report/strong-winds-and-ideal-conditions-propel-muta-1 |title=Strong winds and ideal conditions propel Mutai to fastest Marathon ever – Boston Marathon report |first=David |last=Monti |date=April 18, 2011 |work=iaaf.org |publisher=International Association of Athletics Federations |access-date=February 26, 2014 |archive-date=October 6, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141006083719/http://www.iaaf.org/news/report/strong-winds-and-ideal-conditions-propel-muta-1 |url-status=live }}{{cite news |work=Boston.com |last=Bird |first=Hayden |title=Why a world record set in the Boston Marathon wouldn't officially count |date=5 April 2023 |url=https://www.boston.com/sports/boston-marathon/2021/09/28/why-world-record-set-in-the-boston-marathon-wouldnt-officially-count/ |access-date=17 December 2024}}

The Association of Road Racing Statisticians, an independent organization that compiles data from road running events, also maintains an alternate marathon world best progression but with standards they consider to be more stringent.{{cite web |url=https://www.arrs.run/article_iaaf.php |title=Association of Road Racing Statisticians |publisher=ARRS |date=January 1, 2003 |access-date=November 11, 2015 |archive-date=April 22, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230422052525/https://www.arrs.run/article_iaaf.php |url-status=live }}

File:Berlin-Marathon 2023 Tigist Assefa (cropped).jpg during her women's world record run at the 2023 Berlin Marathon with 2:11:53]]

The IAAF Congress, at the 2011 World Championships, passed a motion changing the record eligibility criteria effective October 6, 2007, so that women's world records must be set in all-women competitions.{{cite news |title=Argument erupts over Radcliffe's marathon record |first=Alan |last=Baldwin |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-athletics-marathon-idUSTRE78J4DG20110920 |agency=Reuters |newspaper=Reuters.com |date=September 20, 2011 |access-date=September 29, 2011 |archive-date=April 25, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170425121022/http://www.reuters.com/article/us-athletics-marathon-idUSTRE78J4DG20110920 |url-status=live }} The result of the change was that Radcliffe's 2:17:42 performance at the 2005 London Marathon supplanted her own existing women's mark as the "world record"; the earlier performance is to be referred to as a "world best".

Per the 2021 IAAF Competition Rules, "a World Record for performance achieved in mixed sex ("Mixed") races and a World Record for performance achieved in single sex ("Women only") races" are tracked separately.{{Cite book |url=https://www.worldathletics.org/download/download?filename=117e4572-be07-4fee-a734-5b878420e525.pdf&urlslug=C1.1%20-%20Competition%20Rules |title=IAAF Book of Rules |publisher=IAAF |year=2021 |volume=Book C – C1.1 |pages=32 |access-date=October 8, 2022 |archive-date=October 8, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221008161511/https://www.worldathletics.org/download/download?filename=117e4572-be07-4fee-a734-5b878420e525.pdf&urlslug=C1.1%20-%20Competition%20Rules |url-status=live }}

In December 2016, Nike, Inc., announced that three top distance runners — Eliud Kipchoge, Zersenay Tadese, and Lelisa Desisa — had agreed to forgo the spring marathon season to work with the company in an effort to run a sub-two-hour marathon.{{cite magazine | url = https://www.wired.com/2016/12/nike-two-hour-marathon/ | title = Inside Nike's Quest for the Impossible: a Two-Hour Marathon | date = 12 December 2016 | access-date = 12 December 2016 | magazine = Wired | author = Ed Caesar | archive-date = October 2, 2018 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20181002020300/https://www.wired.com/2016/12/nike-two-hour-marathon/ | url-status = live }}{{cite magazine | url = http://www.runnersworld.com/marathon/nikes-audacious-plan-break-the-2-hour-marathon-barrier-in-2017 | title = Nike's Audacious Plan: Break the 2-Hour Marathon Barrier in 2017 | date = 12 December 2016 | access-date = 15 December 2016 | magazine = Runner's World | author = Alex Hutchinson | archive-date = January 13, 2018 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20180113064829/https://www.runnersworld.com/marathon/nikes-audacious-plan-break-the-2-hour-marathon-barrier-in-2017 | url-status = live }}{{cite web | url = http://sportsscientists.com/2016/12/sub-2-hour-marathon-2017-thoughts-concept/ | title = The sub-2 hour marathon in 2017? Thoughts on concept | date = 13 December 2016 | access-date = 15 December 2016 | publisher = The Science of Sport | author = Ross Tucker, PhD | archive-date = October 2, 2018 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20181002070343/https://sportsscientists.com/2016/12/sub-2-hour-marathon-2017-thoughts-concept/ | url-status = live }}{{Cite news|url=http://graphics.straitstimes.com/STI/STIMEDIA/Interactives/2017/05/sub-2hr-marathon-attempt/index.html|title=Interactive: A look at how three marathoners could break the sub-2hr barrier on May 6|work=The Straits Times|access-date=2017-05-12|language=en|archive-date=September 18, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180918123540/https://graphics.straitstimes.com/STI/STIMEDIA/Interactives/2017/05/sub-2hr-marathon-attempt/index.html|url-status=live}}

The Breaking2 event took place in the early morning of May 6, 2017; Kipchoge crossed the finish line with a time of 2:00:25.{{cite news|title=Kipchoge a 'happy man' in Monza|url=https://www.iaaf.org/news/report/breaking-2-marathon-eliud-kipchoge-monza|publisher=IAAF|author=Jon Mulkeen|date=6 May 2017|access-date=6 May 2017|archive-date=May 6, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170506110939/https://www.iaaf.org/news/report/breaking-2-marathon-eliud-kipchoge-monza|url-status=live}} This time was more than two minutes faster than the world record.[http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-05-07/kipchoge-falls-26-seconds-short-of-first-sub-2-hour-marathon/8504084 Eliud Kipchoge falls 26 seconds short of first sub two-hour marathon] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180922080720/http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-05-07/kipchoge-falls-26-seconds-short-of-first-sub-2-hour-marathon/8504084 |date=September 22, 2018 }}, Australian Broadcasting Corporation, 7-May-2017

Kipchoge took part in a similar attempt to break the two-hour barrier in Vienna on October 12, 2019, as part of the Ineos 1:59 Challenge. He successfully ran the first sub two-hour marathon distance, with a time of 1:59:40.2.{{Cite web|url=https://www.ineos159challenge.com/|title=INEOS 1:59 Challenge|last=INEOS|website=ineos159challenge.com|language=en|access-date=2019-09-16|archive-date=August 23, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190823140356/https://www.ineos159challenge.com/|url-status=live}} The effort did not count as a new world record under IAAF rules due to the setup of the challenge. Specifically, it was not an open event, Kipchoge was handed fluids by his support team throughout, the run featured a pace car, and included rotating teams of other runners pacing Kipchoge in a formation designed to reduce wind resistance and maximize efficiency.{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2019/10/12/eliud-kipchoge-breaks-two-hour-marathon-record/|newspaper=The Washington Post|title=Kenya's Eliud Kipchoge Just Became the First Person to Break the 2-Hour Barrier|author=Derek Hawkins|date=12 October 2019|access-date=12 October 2019|archive-date=October 12, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191012124800/https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2019/10/12/eliud-kipchoge-breaks-two-hour-marathon-record/|url-status=live}}{{cite web |last1=Agnew |first1=Mark |title=Eliud Kipchoge runs sub two-hour marathon in 1:59:40, making history with first four-minute mile equivalent |url=https://www.scmp.com/sport/outdoor/trail-running/article/3032651/eliud-kipchoge-runs-sub-two-hour-marathon-15940-making |work=South China Morning Post |access-date=13 October 2019 |date=12 October 2019 |archive-date=October 12, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191012114936/https://www.scmp.com/sport/outdoor/trail-running/article/3032651/eliud-kipchoge-runs-sub-two-hour-marathon-15940-making |url-status=live }} The achievement was recognized by Guinness World Records with the titles 'Fastest marathon distance (male)' and 'First marathon distance run under two hours' instead of an official world record.{{Cite web|url=https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/595048-fastest-marathon-distance-male|title=Fastest marathon distance (male)|website=Guinness World Records|date=October 12, 2019|access-date=October 25, 2019|archive-date=August 10, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200810002349/https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/595048-fastest-marathon-distance-male|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/595080-first-marathon-distance-under-two-hours|title=First marathon distance run under two hours|website=Guinness World Records|date=October 12, 2019|access-date=October 25, 2019|archive-date=May 9, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210509052811/https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/595080-first-marathon-distance-under-two-hours|url-status=live}}

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from: start till: end atpos: 50

from: start till: end atpos: 80

from: start till: end atpos: 110

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from: start till: 01/01/1915 atpos: 200

from: start till: 01/01/1915 atpos: 230

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pos:(0,110) text: "2:20:00"

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pos:(0,20) text: "1:50:00"

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at: 12/07/1908 tillpos: 215.9

at: 01/01/1909 tillpos: 208.2

at: 12/02/1909 tillpos: 190.4

at: 08/05/1909 tillpos: 188.2

at: 08/05/1909 tillpos: 177.5

at: 31/08/1909 tillpos: 171.7

at: 12/05/1913 tillpos: 164.8

at: 22/08/1920 tillpos: 147.3

at: 12/10/1925 tillpos: 137.0

at: 31/03/1935 tillpos: 133.5

at: 03/04/1935 tillpos: 129.1

at: 03/11/1935 tillpos: 129.0

at: 19/04/1947 tillpos: 127.0

at: 14/06/1952 tillpos: 112.0

at: 13/06/1953 tillpos: 106.1

at: 04/10/1953 tillpos: 105.2

at: 26/06/1954 tillpos: 102.0

at: 24/08/1958 tillpos: 95.9

at: 10/09/1960 tillpos: 95.8

at: 17/02/1963 tillpos: 95.8

at: 15/06/1963 tillpos: 92.4

at: 13/06/1964 tillpos: 91.8

at: 21/10/1964 tillpos: 86.6

at: 12/06/1965 tillpos: 86.0

at: 03/12/1967 tillpos: 78.8

at: 30/05/1969 tillpos: 75.2

at: 06/12/1981 tillpos: 74.9

at: 21/10/1984 tillpos: 74.3

at: 20/04/1985 tillpos: 71.6

at: 17/04/1988 tillpos: 70.5

at: 20/09/1998 tillpos: 68.3

at: 24/10/1999 tillpos: 67.1

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at: 28/09/2003 tillpos: 64.8

at: 30/09/2007 tillpos: 63.8

at: 28/09/2008 tillpos: 62.0

at: 25/09/2011 tillpos: 60.9

at: 29/09/2013 tillpos: 60.1

at: 28/09/2014 tillpos: 58.9

at: 16/09/2018 tillpos: 54.8

at: 25/09/2022 tillpos: 53.2

at: 08/10/2023 tillpos: 51.39

The edition of the marathon is linked on some of the dates.

1. >

The chart is clipped at 2 hours 10 minutes (130 minutes, or 7800 seconds), and magnified by .05 (one pixel height equals 20 seconds)

<#

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from: start till: end atpos: 200

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pos:(118,320) textcolor: red text: Listed by World Athletics as world best prior to official acceptance

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pos:(118,300) textcolor: blue text: Ratified by World Athletics as a world best (since January 1, 2003)\n or world record (since January 1, 2004)

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at: 03/10/1926 tillpos: 291.1

at: 16/12/1963 tillpos: 281.4

at: 23/05/1964 tillpos: 253.3

at: 21/07/1964 tillpos: 228.7

at: 06/05/1967 tillpos: 216.2

at: 16/09/1967 tillpos: 192.4

at: 28/02/1970 tillpos: 178.7

at: 09/05/1971 tillpos: 175.1

at: 19/09/1971 tillpos: 156.1

at: 05/12/1971 tillpos: 139.0

at: 02/12/1973 tillpos: 130.3

at: 27/10/1974 tillpos: 129.2

at: 01/12/1974 tillpos: 121.7

at: 21/04/1975 tillpos: 117.2

at: 03/05/1975 tillpos: 110.7

at: 12/10/1975 tillpos: 104.9

at: 01/05/1977 tillpos: 95.7

at: 10/09/1977 tillpos: 94.3

at: 22/10/1978 tillpos: 87.4

at: 21/10/1979 tillpos: 72.6

at: 26/10/1980 tillpos: 67.0

at: 17/04/1983 tillpos: 66.4

at: 18/04/1983 tillpos: 58.1

at: 21/04/1985 tillpos: 53.2

at: 19/04/1998 tillpos: 52.1

at: 26/09/1999 tillpos: 49.3

at: 30/09/2001 tillpos: 46.3

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at: 13/10/2002 tillpos: 41.9

at: 13/04/2003 tillpos: 36.3

at: 13/10/2019 tillpos: 32.2

|- style="background:#d6ecf3;"

| 2:18:47 || Catherine Ndereba || {{Flagu|Kenya}} || October 7, 2001 || Chicago Marathon || IAAF,{{sfn|IAAF Statistics Handbook – Daegu|2011}} ARRS{{sfn|ARRS World Best Progressions – Road|2015}} ||

|- style="background:skyBlue;"

| 2:17:18|| Paula Radcliffe || {{Flagu|United Kingdom}} || October 13, 2002 || Chicago Marathon || IAAF,{{sfn|IAAF Statistics Handbook – Daegu|2011}} ARRS{{sfn|ARRS World Best Progressions – Road|2015}} || First "World's Best" recognized by the International Association of Athletics Federations. The ARRS notes Radcliffe's extended time as 2:17:17.7{{sfn|ARRS World Best Progressions – Road|2015}}

|- style="background:skyBlue;"

| 2:15:25 {{AthAbbr|Mx}} || Paula Radcliffe || {{Flagu|United Kingdom}} || April 13, 2003 || London Marathon || IAAF,{{sfn|IAAF Statistics Handbook – Daegu|2011}} ARRS{{sfn|ARRS World Best Progressions – Road|2015}} || First world record for the women's marathon ratified by the International Association of Athletics Federations.{{cite web|url=http://www.athletics.hitsites.de/events_info.php?eventNr=308 |title=Del's Athletics Almanac Olympics Commonweath European World Championship Results [Event Information] |publisher=Athletics.hitsites.de |access-date=November 11, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090228132327/http://www.athletics.hitsites.de/events_info.php?eventNr=308 |archive-date=February 28, 2009 }} The ARRS notes Radcliffe's extended time as 2:15:24.6{{sfn|ARRS World Best Progressions – Road|2015}}

|- style="background:skyBlue;"

|2:17:42 {{AthAbbr|Wo}}

|Paula Radcliffe

|{{flagu|Great Britain}}

|April 17, 2005

|London Marathon

|IAAF{{cite web|title=IAAF Statistic Handbook Beijing 2015|url=http://iaaf-ebooks.s3.amazonaws.com/2015/Beijing-2015-Statistics-Handbook/index.htm|publisher=IAAF|year=2015|access-date=23 April 2017|archive-date=October 18, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151018122334/http://iaaf-ebooks.s3.amazonaws.com/2015/Beijing-2015-Statistics-Handbook/index.htm|url-status=live}}

|

|-style="background:skyBlue;"

|2:17:01 {{AthAbbr|Wo}}

|Mary Jepkosgei Keitany

|{{flagu|Kenya}}

|April 23, 2017

|London Marathon

|IAAF{{cite news|title=Keitany breaks women's-only world record at London Marathon|url=https://www.iaaf.org/news/report/london-marathon-2017-keitany-world-record|publisher=IAAF|date=23 April 2017|access-date=23 April 2017|archive-date=April 24, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170424001813/https://www.iaaf.org/news/report/london-marathon-2017-keitany-world-record|url-status=live}}

|

|- style="background:skyBlue;"

| 2:14:04 {{AthAbbr|Mx}} || Brigid Kosgei || {{Flagu|Kenya}} || October 13, 2019 || Chicago Marathon || IAAF{{cite web |title=World Record Progression of Marathon |url=https://www.iaaf.org/records/by-progression/6240?type=2 |website=iaaf.org |publisher=IAAF |access-date=13 October 2019 |archive-date=July 26, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190726095746/https://www.iaaf.org/records/by-progression/6240?type=2 |url-status=live }} ||

|- style="background:skyBlue;"

|2:11:53 {{AthAbbr|Mx}}

|Tigst Assefa

|{{flagu|Ethiopia}}

|September 24, 2023

|Berlin Marathon

|World Athletics{{cite web|title=Assefa smashes world marathon record in Berlin with 2:11:53, Kipchoge achieves record fifth win|url=https://worldathletics.org/competitions/world-athletics-label-road-races/news/tigst-assefa-world-marathon-record-berlin-kipchoge-2023|work=World Athletics|date=24 September 2023|access-date=24 September 2023|archive-date=September 26, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230926153900/https://worldathletics.org/competitions/world-athletics-label-road-races/news/tigst-assefa-world-marathon-record-berlin-kipchoge-2023|url-status=live}}

|First woman to break the 2:12:00 barrier in the marathon.{{cite web|url=https://letsrun.com/news/2023/09/tigist-assefa-obliterates-womens-marathon-world-record-with-21153-in-berlin|title=Tigst Assefa Sets Womens Marathon Record in 2023 Berlin Marathon|website=letsrun.com|date=September 24, 2023|accessdate=September 26, 2023|archive-date=September 26, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230926110606/https://www.letsrun.com/news/2023/09/tigist-assefa-obliterates-womens-marathon-world-record-with-21153-in-berlin/|url-status=live}}

|- style="background:skyBlue;"

|2:16:16 {{AthAbbr|Wo}}

|Peres Jepchirchir

|{{flagu|Kenya}}

|April 21, 2024

|London Marathon

|World Athletics{{cite news|title=Jepchirchir breaks women-only world marathon record in London|url=https://worldathletics.org/competitions/world-athletics-label-road-races/news/peres-jepchirchir-women-world-marathon-record-london|work=World Athletics|date=21 April 2024|access-date=21 April 2024}}

|

|- style="background:skyBlue;"

| 2:09:56 {{AthAbbr|Mx}}

| Ruth Chepng'etich

| {{flagu|Kenya}}

| October 13, 2024

| Chicago Marathon

| World Athletics

| First woman to break the 2:11:00 and 2:10:00 barriers in the marathon.

|- style="background:white;"

| 2:15:50 {{AthAbbr|Wo}}

| Tigst Assefa

| {{flagu|Ethiopia}}

| April 27, 2025

| London Marathon

| World Athletics{{Cite web |title=Assefa breaks women-only marathon world record with 2:15:50 in London {{!}} REPORTS {{!}} World Athletics |url=https://worldathletics.org/competitions/world-athletics-label-road-races/news/tigist-assefa-women-only-world-marathon-record-london |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250428013252/https://worldathletics.org/competitions/world-athletics-label-road-races/news/tigist-assefa-women-only-world-marathon-record-london |archive-date=2025-04-28 |access-date=2025-04-28 |website=worldathletics.org |language=en}}

|Not yet ratified.

|}

File:Hayes shore ac sm.jpg|Johnny Hayes

File:Sohn Kee-chung (Kitei Son) Marathon 1936 Summer Olympics.jpg|Sohn Kee-chung

File:Robert de Castella 1983.jpg|Robert de Castella

File:20071103 Khalid Khannouchi.jpg|Khalid Khannouchi

File:Kelvin Kiptum (KEN) 2023.jpg|Kelvin Kiptum

File:Haile Gebrselassie at Vienna City Marathon 2011.jpg|Haile Gebrselassie

File:Patrick Makau at the Berlin Marathon 2011.jpg|Patrick Makau

File:Joan Benoit 2008.jpg|Joan Benoit

File:Takahashi Naoko Nagoya Womens Marathon 2008.jpg|Naoko Takahashi

File:Osaka07 D9M WMarathon Ndereba running.jpg|Catherine Ndereba

File:Paula Radcliffe NYC Marathon 2008 cropped.jpg|Paula Radcliffe

File:London Marathon 2018 (27765192508).jpg|Brigid Kosgei

File:Eliud Kipchoge in Berlin - 2015 (cropped).jpg|Eliud Kipchoge

{{portal|Sport of athletics}}

• Marathon year rankings
• National records in the marathon

Men's Masters Records

• Masters M35 marathon world record progression
• Masters M40 marathon world record progression
• Masters M45 marathon world record progression
• Masters M50 marathon world record progression
• Masters M55 marathon world record progression
• Masters M60 marathon world record progression
• Masters M65 marathon world record progression
• Masters M70 marathon world record progression
• Masters M75 marathon world record progression
• Masters M80 marathon world record progression
• Masters M85 marathon world record progression
• Masters M90 marathon world record progression

Women's Masters Records

• Masters W35 marathon world record progression
• Masters W40 marathon world record progression
• Masters W45 marathon world record progression
• Masters W50 marathon world record progression
• Masters W55 marathon world record progression
• Masters W60 marathon world record progression
• Masters W65 marathon world record progression
• Masters W70 marathon world record progression
• Masters W75 marathon world record progression
• Masters W80 marathon world record progression
• Masters W85 marathon world record progression
• Masters W90 marathon world record progression

{{reflist}}

{{refbegin|2}}

• {{cite web

|url=https://www.arrs.run/RecProg/RP_wwR.htm

|title=untitled

|website=ARRS

|access-date=2015-11-11

|ref={{harvid|ARRS World Best Progressions – Road|2015}}

|archive-date=December 15, 2018

|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181215121010/https://www.arrs.run/RecProg/RP_wwR.htm

|url-status=live

}}

• {{cite book

|editor1-first = Mark

|editor1-last = Butler

|title = 13th IAAF World Championships in Athletics – IAAF Statistics Handbook – Daegu 2011

|url = http://media.aws.iaaf.org/competitioninfo/c36ff61e-f89f-4205-a873-8f3dff0fff67.pdf

|access-date = 2015-11-11

|year = 2011

|publisher = IAAF Media & Public Relations Department

|series = Part 5 (of 5)

|pages = 595, 612, 614–615, 705, 707

|ref = {{harvid|IAAF Statistics Handbook – Daegu|2011}}

|archive-date = October 3, 2020

|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20201003214014/http://media.aws.iaaf.org/competitioninfo/c36ff61e-f89f-4205-a873-8f3dff0fff67.pdf

|url-status = live

}}

{{refend|2}}

• [http://www.iaaf.org/competitions/iaaf-world-championships/13th-iaaf-world-championships-in-athletics-4147 13th IAAF World Championships in Athletics – IAAF Statistics Handbook – Daegu 2011 (all 5 parts)]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20150516042325/http://rw.runnersworld.com/sub-2/ Runner's World {{!}} What Will It Take to Run A 2-Hour Marathon?]
• [https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-12933932 BBC – "Could a marathon ever be run in under two hours?"]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20190506234828/http://www.marathonguide.com/history/records/index.cfm Interactive graph of men's and women's marathon times with race descriptions (outdated)]

{{Athletics record progressions}}

{{Marathon}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Marathon World Record Progression}}

Marathon