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, Kelvin Kiptum and Eliud Kipchoge both appear twice in the fastest-performances list for men.
All tables are current as of November 1, 2026.
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10 Fastest Marathoners on Record-Eligible Course: Men
| Runner | Finish Time | Pace/Mile | Marathon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sabastian Sawe (Kenya) | 1:59:30 | 4:33.5 | London, 2026 |
| Yomif Kejelcha (Ethiopia) | 1:59:41 | 4:33.9 | London, 2026 |
| Jacob Kiplimo (Uganda) | 2:00:28 | 4:35.7 | London, 2026 |
| Kelvin Kiptum (Kenya) | 2:00:35 | 4:36.0 | Chicago, 2023 |
| Eliud Kipchoge (Kenya) | 2:01:09 | 4:37.2 | Berlin, 2022 |
| Amos Kipruto (Kenya) | 2:01:09 | 4:37.2 | Chicago, 2026 |
| Kenenisa Bekele (Ethiopia) | 2:01:41 | 4:38.5 | Berlin, 2019 |
| Sisay Lemma (Ethiopia) | 2:01:48 | 4:38.7 | Valencia, 2023 |
| Benson Kipruto (Kenya) | 2:02:16 | 4:39.8 | Tokyo, 2024 |
| John Korir (Kenya) | 2:02:24 | 4:40.1 | Valencia, 2025 |
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 |
| Fotyen Tesfay (Ethiopia) | 2:10:51 | 4:59.4 | Barcelona, 2026 |
| Tigist Assefa (Ethiopia) | 2:11:04 | 4:59.9 | Berlin, 2026 |
| Hawi Feysa (Ethiopia) | 2:13:33 | 5:02.6 | Chicago, 2026 |
| Sifan Hassan (Netherlands) | 2:13:44 | 5:06.0 | Chicago, 2023 |
| Joyciline Jepkosgei (Kenya) | 2:14:00 | 5:06.7 | Valencia, 2025 |
| Brigid Kosgei (Kenya) | 2:14:04 | 5:06.8 | Chicago, 2019 |
| Sharon Lokedi (Kenya) | 2:14:07 | 5:06.9 | Chicago, 2026 |
| Peres Jepchirchir (Kenya) | 2:14:43 | 5:08.3 | Valencia, 2025 |
| Amane Beriso (Ethiopia) | 2:14:58 | 5:08.9 | Valencia, 2022 |
10 Fastest American Marathoners on Record-Eligible Course: Men
| Runner | Finish Time | Pace/Mile | Marathon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Conner Mantz | 2:04:43 | 4:45.4 | Chicago, 2025 |
| Clayton Young | 2:05:23 | 4:46.9 | Chicago, 2026 |
| Charles Hicks | 2:05:35 | 4:47.4 | Chicago, 2026 |
| Khalid Khannouchi | 2:05:38 | 4:47.5 | London, 2002 |
| Zouhair Talbi | 2:05:45 | 4:47.7 | Houston, 2026 |
| Vinny Mauri | 2:05:54 | 4:48.1 | Glass City, 2026 |
| Galen Rupp | 2:06:06 | 4:48.6 | Prague, 2018 |
| Ryan Hall | 2:06:17 | 4:49.0 | London, 2008 |
| Biya Simbassa | 2:06:53 | 4:50.4 | Valencia, 2024 |
| Ahmed Muhumed | 2:07:09 | 4:51.0 | New York City, 2026 |
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 |
| Emma Grace Hurley | 2:20:47 | 5:22.2 | Chicago, 2026 |
| 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 |
| Amy Cragg | 2:21:42 | 5:24.3 | Tokyo, 2018 |
10 Fastest Marathons on Record-Eligible Course: Men
| Runner | Finish Time | Pace/Mile | Marathon |
| Sabastian Sawe (Kenya) | 1:59:30 | 4:33.5 | London, 2026 |
| Yomif Kejelcha (Ethiopia) | 1:59:41 | 4:33.9 | London, 2026 |
| Jacob Kiplimo (Uganda) | 2:00:28 | 4:35.7 | London, 2026 |
| Kelvin Kiptum (Kenya) | 2:00:35 | 4:36.0 | Chicago, 2023 |
| Eliud Kipchoge (Kenya) | 2:01:09 | 4:37.2 | Berlin, 2022 |
| Amos Kipruto (Kenya) | 2:01:09 | 4:37.2 | Chicago, 2026 |
| Kelvin Kiptum (Kenya) | 2:01:25 | 4:37.8 | London, 2023 |
| Amos Kipruto (Kenya) | 2:01:39 | 4:38.4 | London, 2026 |
| Eliud Kipchoge (Kenya) | 2:01:39 | 4:38.4 | Berlin, 2018 |
| Kenenisa Bekele (Ethiopia) | 2:01:41 | 4:38.5 | Berlin, 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 |
| Fotyen Tesfay (Ethiopia) | 2:10:51 | 4:59.4 | Barcelona, 2026 |
| Tigist Assefa (Ethiopia) | 2:11:04 | 4:59.9 | Berlin, 2026 |
| Tigist Assefa (Ethiopia) | 2:11:53 | 5:01.8 | Berlin, 2023 |
| Hawi Feysa (Ethiopia) | 2:13:33 | 5:02.6 | Chicago, 2026 |
| Sifan Hassan (Netherland) | 2:13:44 | 5:06.0 | Chicago, 2023 |
| Joyciline Jepkosgei (Kenya) | 2:14:00 | 5:06.7 | Valencia, 2025 |
| Brigid Kosgei (Kenya) | 2:14:04 | 5:06.8 | Chicago, 2019 |
| Sharon Lokedi (Kenya) | 2:14:07 | 5:06.9 | Chicago, 2026 |
| Ruth Chegngetich (Kenya) | 2:14:18 | 5:07.3 | Chicago, 2022 |
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 |
| Sabastian Sawe (Kenya) | 1:59:30 | 4:33.5 | London, 2026 |
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 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.
