Below you’ll find tables detailing several marathon superlatives:
- Why Do Road Races Cost So Much;
- the 10 fastest 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
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Beginners 10K Plan 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, Kelvin Kiptum appears three times in the fastest-performances list for men.
All tables are current as of April 27, 2025.
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 |
| Sabastian Sawe (Kenya) | 2:02:05 | 4:39.4 | Valencia, 2024 |
| Benson Kipruto (Kenya) | 2:02:16 | 4:39.8 | Tokyo, 2024 |
| Deresa Geleta (Ethiopia) | 2:02:38 | 4:40.6 | Valencia, 2024 |
| John Korir (Kenya) | 2:02:44 | 4:40.8 | Chicago, 2024 |
| Birhanu Legese (Ethiopia) | 2:02:48 | 4:41.0 | Berlin, 2019 |
| Mosinet Geremew (Ethiopia) | 2:02:55 | 4:41.3 | London, 2019 |
10 Fastest Marathoners on Record-Eligible Course: Women
| Runner | Finish Time | Pace/Mile | Marathon |
| Ruth Chepngetich (Kenya) | 2:09:56 | 4:57.4 | Chicago, 2024 |
| 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 |
| 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 | |
| Biya Simbassa | 2:06:53 | 4:50.4 | Valencia, 2024 |
| 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 |
| CJ Albertson | 2:08:17 | 4:53.6 | Chicago, 2024 |
| Alex Maier | 2:08:33 | 4:54.2 | Dusseldorf, 2025 |
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 | The Marathon Project, 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 | |
| Susanna Sullivan | 2:21:56 | 5:24.8 | Chicago, 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 |
| Sabastian Sawe (Kenya) | 2:02:05 | 4:39.4 | Valencia, 2024 |
| Benson Kipruto (Kenya) | 2:02:16 | 4:39.8 | Tokyo, 2024 |
| Eliud Kipchoge (Kenya) | 2:02:37 | 4:40.6 | London, 2019 |
10 Fastest Marathons on Record-Eligible Course: Women
| Runner | Finish Time | Pace/Mile | Marathon |
| Ruth Chepngetich (Kenya) | 2:09:56 | 4:57.4 | Chicago, 2024 |
| 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 |
| Tigist Assefa (Ethiopia) | 2:15:50 | 5:10.8 | London, 2025 |
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 |
| 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 |
| Ruth Chepngetich (Kenya) | 2:09:56 | 4:47.4 | Chicago, 2024 |
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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 Why Do Road Races Cost So Much, 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.
