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Below you’ll find tables detailing several marathon superlatives:
- the 10 fastest marathoners in history on record-eligible courses;
- the 10 fastest American marathoners in history on record-eligible courses;
- the 10 fastest performances on record-eligible courses;
- 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.
Each marathoner appears on the first list, for the fastest performers in history, only once. The third set of tables, for fastest 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.
All tables are current as of March 5, 2023.
10 Fastest Marathoners on Record-Eligible Course: Men
| Runner | Finish Time | Pace/Mile | Marathon |
| Eliud Kipchoge (Kenya) | 2:01:09 | 4:37.2 | Berlin, 2022 |
| Kenenisa Bekele (Ethiopia) | 2:01:41 | 4:38.5 | Berlin, 2019 |
| Kelvin Kiptum (Kenya) | 2:01:53 | 4:38.9 | Valencia, 2022 |
| Birhanu Legese (Ethiopia) | 2:02:48 | 4:41.0 | Berlin, 2019 |
| Mosinet Geremew (Ethiopia) | 2:02:55 | 4:41.3 | London, 2019 |
| Dennis Kimetto (Kenya) | 2:02:57 | 4:41.4 | Berlin, 2014 |
| Titus Ekiru (Kenya) | 2:02:57 | 4:41.4 | Milan, 2021 |
| Evans Chebet (Kenya) | 2:03:00 | 4:41.5 | Valencia, 2020 |
| Gabriel Geay (Tanzania) | 2:03:00 | 4:41.5 | Valencia, 2022 |
| Lawrence Cherono (Kenya) | 2:03:04 | 4:41.6 | Valencia, 2020 |
10 Fastest Marathoners on Record-Eligible Course: Women
| Runner | Finish Time | Pace/Mile | Marathon |
| 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 |
| Rosemary Wanjiru (Kenya) | 2:16:28 | 5:12.3 | Tokyo, 2023 |
| Letesenbet Gidey (Ethiopia) | 2:16:49 | 5:13.1 | Valencia, 2022 |
| Tsehay Gemechu (Ethiopia) | 2:16:56 | 5:13.4 | Tokyo, 2023 |
| Mary Keitany (Kenya) | 2:17:01 | 5:13.6 | London, 2017 |
| Peres Jepchirchir (Kenya) | 2:17:16 | 5:14.1 | Valencia, 2020 |
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 | |
| Leonard Korir | 2:07:56 | 4:52.8 | Amsterdam, 2019 |
| Conner Mantz | 2:08:18 | 4:53.6 | Chicago, 2022 |
| 2:08:56 | 4:55.1 | Chicago, 2006 | |
| Martin Hehir | 2:08:59 | 4:55.2 | The Marathon Project, 2020 |
| 2:09:08 | 4:55.5 | Olympic Marathon Trials, 2012 | |
| Noah Droddy | 2:09:09 | 4:55.6 | The Marathon Project, 2020 |
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 |
| 2:19:36 | 5:19.5 | London, 2006 | |
| Sara Hall | 2:20:32 | 5:21.6 | The Marathon Project, 2020 |
| 2:20:57 | 5:22.6 | Chicago, 2017 | |
| 2:21:14 | 5:23.2 | Berlin, 2014 | |
| 2:21:21 | 5:23.5 | Chicago, 1985 | |
| Betsy Saina | 2:21:40 | 5:24.2 | Tokyo, 2023 |
| 2:21:42 | 5:24.3 | Tokyo, 2018 | |
| Emma Bates | 2:23:18 | 5:27.9 | Eugene, 2022 |
10 Fastest Marathons on Record-Eligible Course: Men
| Runner | Finish Time | Pace/Mile | Marathon |
| Eliud Kipchoge (Kenya) | 2:01:09 | 4:37.2 | Berlin, 2022 |
| Eliud Kipchoge (Kenya) | 2:01:39 | 4:38.4 | Berlin, 2018 |
| Kenenisa Bekele (Ethiopia) | 2:01:41 | 4:38.5 | Berlin, 2019 |
| Kelvin Kiptum (Kenya) | 2:01:53 | 4:38.9 | Valencia, 2022 |
| Eliud Kipchoge (Kenya) | 2:02:37 | 4:40.6 | London, 2019 |
| Eliud Kipchoge (Kenya) | 2:02:40 | 4:40.7 | Tokyo, 2022 |
| Birhanu Legese (Ethiopia) | 2:02:48 | 4:41.0 | Berlin, 2019 |
| Mosinet Geremew (Ethiopia) | 2:02:55 | 4:41.3 | London, 2019 |
| Dennis Kimetto (Kenya) | 2:02:57 | 4:41.4 | Berlin, 2014 |
| Titus Ekiru (Kenya) | 2:02:57 | 4:41.4 | Milan, 2021 |
10 Fastest Marathons on Record-Eligible Course: Women
| Runner | Finish Time | Pace/Mile | Marathon |
| 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 |
| Brigid Kosgei (Kenya) | 2:16:02 | 5:11.3 | Tokyo, 2022 |
| Rosemary Wanjiru (Kenya) | 2:16:28 | 5:12.3 | Tokyo, 2023 |
| Letesenbet Gidey (Ethiopia) | 2:16:49 | 5:13.1 | Valencia, 2022 |
| Tsehay Gemechu (Ethiopia) | 2:16:56 | 5:13.4 | Tokyo, 2023 |
| Mary Keitany (Kenya) | 2:17:01 | 5:13.6 | London, 2017 |
Progression of World Record Since 1988: Men
| Runner | Finish Time | Pace/Mile | Marathon |
| Belayneh Densamo (Ethiopia) | 2:06:50 | 4:50.3 | Rotterdam, 1988 |
| Ronaldo da Costa (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 |
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 |
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Scott is a veteran running, fitness, 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 Meb for Mortals. Scott has also written about running for 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.
