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, Geoffrey Mutai’s Boston Marathon course record of 2:03:03 isn’t on the list. Because of its point-to-point layout and too-great net elevation drop, Boston’s course doesn't count for record purposes.

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, former world record-holder Paula Radcliffe appears three times in the fastest-performances list for women. (All tables are current as of March 1, 2020.)

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10 Fastest Marathoners on Record-Eligible Course: Men

Runner Finish Time Pace/Mile Marathon Eliud Kipchoge (Kenya) 2:01:39 4:38.4 Berlin, 2018 Kenenisa Bekele (Ethiopia) 2:01:41 4:38.5 Berlin, 2019 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 Wilson Kipsang (Kenya) 2:03:13 4:42.0 Berlin, 2016 Emmanuel Mutai (Kenya) 2:03:13 4:42.0 Berlin, 2014

Mule Wasihun (Ethiopia) 2:03:16 4:42.1 London, 2019 Getaneh Molla (Ethiopia) 2:03:34 4:42.0 Dubai, 2019 Sisay Lemma (Ethiopia) 2:03:36 4:42.9 Berlin, 2019

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 Paula Radcliffe (Great Britain) 2:15:25 5:09.9 London, 2003 Mary Keitany (Kenya) 2:17:01 5:13.6 London, 2017 Ruth Chepngetich (Kenya) 2:17:08 5:13.8 Dubai, 2019 Worknesh Degefa (Ethiopia) 2:17:41 5:15.1 Dubai, 2019 Lonah Salpeter (Israel)

2:17:45 5:15.2 Tokyo, 2020 Tirunesh Dibaba (Ethiopia) 2:17:56 5:15.7 London, 2017 Gladys Cherono (Kenya) 2:18:11 5:16.2 Berlin, 2018 Roza Dereje (Ethiopia)

2:18:30 5:17.1 Valencia, 2019

Vivian Cheruiyot (Kenya)

2:18:31 5:17.1 London, 2018



10 Fastest American Marathoners on Record-Eligible Course: Men

10 Fastest American Marathoners on Record-Eligible Course: Women

Runner Finish Time Pace/Mile Marathon Deena Kastor 2:19:36 5:19.5 London, 2006 Jordan Hasay 2:20:57 5:22.7 Chicago, 2017 Shalane Flanagan 2:21:14 5:23.2 Berlin, 2014 Joan Samuelson 2:21:21 5:23.5 Chicago, 1985 Amy Cragg 2:21:42 5:24.3 Tokyo, 2018 Sara Hall

2:22:16 5:25.6 Berlin, 2019

Emily Sisson

2:23:08 5:27.5 London, 2019 Sally Kipyego

2:25:10 5:32.2 Berlin, 2019

Emma Bates

2:25:27 5:32.8 Chicago, 2019

Laura Thweatt

2:25:38 5:33.3 London, 2017



10 Fastest Marathons on Record-Eligible Course: Men

Runner Finish Time Pace/Mile Marathon Eliud Kipchoge (Kenya) 2:01:39 4:38.4 Berlin, 2018 Kenenisa Bekele (Ethiopia) 2:01:41 4:38.5 Berlin, 2019 Eliud Kipchoge (Kenya) 2:02:37 4:40.6 London, 2019 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 Kenenisa Bekele (Ethiopia) 2:03:03 4:41.6 Berlin, 2016 Eliud Kipchoge (Kenya) 2:03:05 4:41.7 London, 2016 Wilson Kipsang (Kenya) 2:03:13 4:42.0 Berlin, 2016

Emmanuel Mutai (Kenya) 2:03:13 4:42.0 Berlin, 2014

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 Paula Radcliffe (Great Britain) 2:15:25 5:09.9 London, 2003 Mary Keitany (Kenya) 2:17:01 5:13.6 London, 2017 Ruth Chepngetich (Kenya) 2:17:08 5:13.8 Dubai, 2019 Paula Radcliffe (Great Britain) 2:17:18 5:14.2 Chicago, 2002 Worknesh Degefa (Ethiopia) 2:17:41 5:15.1 Dubai, 2019 Paula Radcliffe (Great Britain) 2:17:42 5:15.1 London, 2005 Lonah Salpeter (Israel) 2:17:45 5:15.2 Tokyo, 2020 Tirunesh Dibaba (Ethiopia)

2:17:56 5:15.7 London, 2017 Gladys Cherono (Kenya) 2:18:11 5:16.2 Berlin, 2018

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 4:43.7 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

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

Scott Douglas Scott is a veteran running, fitness, and health journalist who has held senior editorial positions at Runner’s World and Running Times.

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