The Running Times Marathoners of the Year rankings honor the finest marathon specialists in the world and in the U.S. These athletes who focus on the marathon tend to have limited racing schedules, meaning that few of them typically factor into our year-end overall “Runners of the Year” rankings. We take into account fast times in our Marathoner of the Year formula, unlike in our other rankings, because time takes on greater significance when athletes race infrequently and match up against each other less often.

Because 2014 was neither an Olympic nor world championships year, elite marathoners primarily focused their competitive efforts on the six events in the World Marathon Majors schedule. For the third straight year, the London Marathon had the deepest fields for men and women. Highlights on the men’s side included a new world record of 2:02:57 run in Berlin by Dennis Kimetto and American Meb Keflezighi’s triumph in Boston. Scandal stood out in women’s marathoning, as Rita Jeptoo of Kenya, the 2013 No. 1 marathoner, failed a late summer drug test and was removed from consideration for a World Marathon Majors title and the top position in these rankings.

Marathoners of the Year Rankings

World Men

World Women

U.S. Men

U.S. Women

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Marathoners of the Year: World Men

Although he no longer holds the world record, Wilson Kipsang continued his exemplary marathon career in 2014 with victories at London and New York to claim the top position in the rankings, as he did in 2012. Runner-up Eliud Kipchoge took fast wins at Chicago and Rotterdam in an average time of 2:04:36. Third on the list is Dennis Kimetto, the 2013 No. 1, who became history’s first sub-2:03 marathoner when he won in Berlin with a time of 2:02:57. The new world record was a remarkable 26-second improvement on Kipsang’s 2013 mark. Kimetto started the 2014 Boston Marathon but dropped out after 35 kilometers. Notable in the ninth position is Meb Keflezighi, U.S. No. 1, who won Boston in dramatic fashion and came in fourth in New York.

World Men

1. Wilson Kipsang, 32 (KEN)

First, Apr. 13, London Marathon, 2:04:29

First, Nov. 2 New York Marathon, 2:10:59





2. Eliud Kipchoge, 30 (KEN)

First, Oct. 12 Chicago Marathon, 2:04:11

First, Apr. 13 Rotterdam Marathon, 2:05:00





3. Dennis Kimetto, 30 (KEN)

First, Sept. 28 Berlin Marathon, 2:02:56

DNF, April 21 Boston Marathon

4. Sammy Kitwara, 28 (KEN)

Second, Oct. 12 Chicago Marathon, 2:04:28

Third, Feb. 23 Tokyo Marathon, 2:06:30

5. Dickson Chumba, 28 (KEN)

First, Feb. 23 Tokyo Marathon, 2:05:42

Third, Oct. 12 Chicago Marathon, 2:04:32

6. Emmanuel Mutai, 30 (KEN)

Second, Sept. 28 Berlin Marathon, 2:03:13

Seventh, April 13 London Marathon, 2:08:19

7. Tsegay Mekonen, 19 (ETH)

First, Jan. 24, Dubai Marathon, 2:04:32

Fifth, April 13 London Marathon, 2:08:06

8. Stanley Biwott, 28 (KEN)

Second, April 13, London Marathon, 2:04:55

9. Meb Keflezighi, 39 (USA)

First, April 21 Boston Marathon, 2:08:37

Fourth, Nov. 2 New York Marathon, 2:13:18

10. Wilson Chebet, 29 (KEN)

Second, April 21 Boston Marathon, 2:08:48

First, Dec. 14 Honolulu Marathon, 2:15:35

Most competitive men’s marathon fields in 2014

1. London

2. Chicago

3. Boston

4. New York

5. Berlin

6. Tokyo

7. Rotterdam

8. Biwa-ko

9. Dubai

10. Frankfurt

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Marathoners of the Year: World Women

The marathon world was rocked in late October when it was learned that Rita Jeptoo had tested positive for the banned blood-boosting substance EPO. Jeptoo, who was then in position to claim the WMM crown with her back-to-back victories at both Boston and Chicago, had undergone an out-of-competition drug test in her native Kenya on Sept. 25. When her “A” sample came up positive, the WMM awards ceremony, set for Nov. 3, was postponed. In December, Athletics Kenya announced that Jeptoo’s “B” sample confirmed her use of EPO. Although Jeptoo’s disqualification from the WMM has yet to be finalized, such a development would mean the $500,000 prize would go to Edna Kiplagat. Jeptoo still has the option of making an appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

With Jeptoo removed from the rankings, 2013 runner-up Edna Kiplagat is the year’s No. 1 marathoner by the narrowest of margins over her (unrelated) compatriot Florence Kiplagat. The two battled over the streets of London on April 13 before Edna prevailed by 3 seconds, 2:20:21 to 2:20:24. Third in the rankings is Ethiopia’s Mare Dibaba, who finished a strong third at Boston in 2:20:35 and was runner-up to the DQ’d Jeptoo at Chicago in 2:25:37.

World Women

1. Edna Kiplagat, 35 (KEN)

First, April 13 London Marathon, 2:20:21

13th, Nov. 2 New York City Marathon, 2:36:24

2. Florence Kiplagat, 27 (KEN)

Second, April 13 London Marathon, 2:20:24

Third, Oct. 12 Chicago Marathon, 2:25:57

3. Mare Dibaba, 25 (ETH)

Second, Oct. 12 Chicago Marathon, 2:25:37

Third, April 21 Boston Marathon, 2:20:35

4. Tirfe Tsegaye, 30 (ETH)

First, Feb. 23 Tokyo Marathon, 2:22:23

First, Sept. 28 Berlin Marathon, 2:20:18

5. Buzunesh Deba, 27 (ETH)

Second, April 21 Boston Marathon, 2:19:59

Ninth, Nov. 2 New York City Marathon, 2:31:40

6. Tirunesh Dibaba, 29 (ETH)

Third, April 13 London Marathon, 2:20:35

7. Feyissa Tadese, 26 (ETH)

Second, Sept. 28 Berlin Marathon, 2:20:27

Fourth, April 13 London Marathon, 2:21:42

8. Jemima Sumgong, 30 (KEN)

Fourth, April 21 Boston Marathon, 2:20:41

Second, Nov. 2 New York City Marathon, 2:25:10

9. Birhane Dibaba, 21 (ETH)

Second, Feb. 23 Tokyo Marathon, 2:22.30

Fourth, Oct. 12 Chicago Marathon, 2:27.02

10. Mary Keitany, 32 (KEN)

First, Nov. 2 New York City Marathon, 2:25.07

Most competitive women’s marathon fields in 2014

1. London

2. Chicago

3. Boston

4. New York

5. Dubai

6. Tokyo

7. Frankfurt

8. Berlin

9. Yokohama

10. Nagoya

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Marathoners of the Year: U.S. Men

The runaway performance of the year in U.S. marathoning was Meb Keflezighi’s Boston triumph. In becoming the first male American winner at Boston in 31 years, Meb claimed an emotional victory after the tragic ending of the 2013 event. And his 2:08:37 finish time was the fastest U.S. time by more than 2 minutes. Keflezighi also performed admirably in New York, finishing fourth on a day when headwinds buffeted the runners virtually the entire race. Boston was the year’s deepest marathon field for U.S. men, so Jeffrey Eggleston’s 2:11:57 performance there, which put him in eighth place, pushed him up the rankings to the runner-up spot. Eggleston also recorded the year’s second-fastest marathon time by an American, a 2:10:52 mark in finishing second at Australia’s Gold Coast Airport Marathon. Bobby Curtis only finished one marathon, Chicago, but he made it count with a 2:11:20 ninth-place performance that positioned him third behind Keflezighi and Eggleston.

U.S. Men

1. Meb Keflezighi, 39 (CA)

First, April 12 Boston Marathon, 2:08:37

Fourth, Nov. 2 New York City Marathon, 2:13:18

2. Jeffrey Eggleston, 30 (CO)

Eighth, April12 Boston Marathon, 2:11:57

Second, July 6 Gold Coast Airport Marathon (Australia), 2:10:52

3. Bobby Curtis, 30 (MI)

Ninth, Oct. 12 Chicago Marathon, 2:11:20

4. Nicholas Arciniaga, 31 (AZ)

Seventh, April 12 Boston Marathon, 2:11:47

Ninth, June 30 Grandmas/Duluth, 2:14:31

10th, Nov. 2 New York City Marathon, 2:15:39

5. Ryan Vail, 28 (OR)

Ninth, Nov. 2 New York City Marathon, 2:15:08

10th, April 13 London Marathon, 2:10:57

6. Jacob Riley, 26 (MI)

11th, Oct. 12 Chicago Marathon, 2:13:16

7. Fernando Cabada, 32 (CO)

11th, Sept. 28 Berlin Marathon, 2:11:36

8. Josphat Boit, 31 (CA)

11th, April 12 Boston Marathon, 2:12:52

9. Tyler Pennell, 27 (NC)

First, Oct. 5 Twin Cities Marathon, 2:13:32

10. Gabriel Proctor (CA)

12th, Oct. 12 Chicago Marathon, 2:13:45

Sixth, March 9 Los Angeles Marathon, 2:16:17

Most competitive U.S. men’s marathon fields in 2014

1. Boston

2. Chicago

3. New York City

4. Twin Cities

5. Houston

6. Duluth

7. CIM

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Marathoners of the Year: U.S. Women

For the third year in a row, Shalane Flanagan tops the list of U.S. marathoners, thanks to two notable performances. In Boston, she crossed the line seventh in 2:22:02, after pushing the pace from the gun and leading until the Newton hills. At the Berlin Marathon on Sept. 28, Flanagan made a gallant attempt to take down Deena Kastor’s American record of 2:19:36. Reaching 13.1 miles in 69:38, she was out front and on pace for a new record. Soon thereafter, she slowed and had to settle for third place in 2:21:14, a mark that puts her ahead of Joan Benoit Samuelson as the second-fastest marathoner in U.S. history.

Rankings runner-up Desiree Linden also ran well at Boston, finishing 10th in 2:23:54. Third behind Flanagan and Linden in the rankings is Amy Hastings, who tied her marathon PR with a 2:27:03, fifth-place performance at Chicago. Deena Kastor, 41,may have dropped to ninth this year after ranking third in 2013, but her 11th-place 2:33:18 run at New York was exemplary for a masters runner.

U.S. Women

1. Shalane Flanagan, 33 (OR)

Third, Sept. 28 Berlin Marathon, 2:21:14

Seventh, April 21 Boston Marathon, 2:22:02

2. Desiree Linden, 31 (MI)

10th, April 21 Boston Marathon, 2:23:54

Fifth, Nov. 2 New York City Marathon, 2:28:11

3. Amy Hastings, 30 (RI)

Fifth, Oct. 12 Chicago Marathon, 2:27:03

4. Annie Bersagel, 31 (Oslo, Norway)

First, April 27 Düsseldorf Marathon, 2:28:59

10th, Nov. 2 New York City Marathon, 2:33.02

5. Lauren Kleppin, 28 (CA)

Third, March 9 Los Angeles Marathon, 2:28:48

15th, Nov. 2 New York City Marathon, 2:39:13

6. Clara Santucci, 27 (PA)

Sixth, Oct. 12 Chicago Marathon, 2:32:21

First, May 4 Pittsburgh Marathon, 2:32:25

7. Adriana Nelson, 34 (CO)

15th, April 21 Boston Marathon, 2:31:15

Ninth, Oct. 26 Frankfurt Marathon, 2:33:54

8. Esther Erb, 28 (NC)

20th, April 21 Boston Marathon, 2:33:15

First, Oct. 5 Twin Cities Marathon, 2:34:00

9. Deena Kastor, 41 (CA)

11th, Nov. 2 New York City Marathon, 2:33:18

10. (tie) Sarah Crouch, 25 (NC)

Seventh, Oct. 12 Chicago Marathon, 2:32:44

10. (tie) Heather Lieberg, 35 (MT)

Second, Oct. 5 Twin Cities Marathon, 2:34:08

Most competitive U.S. women’s marathon fields in 2014

1. Boston

2. New York City

3. Chicago

4. Twin Cities

5. CIM

6. Duluth

7. Indianapolis

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