Marathon World Records (men)
Getting Closer to under two hours
An official sub-2 hour marathon appears to be getting closer to reality (see our poll about it). In the 2023 Chicago marathon Kelvin Kiptum from Kenya, set a new marathon world record with a time of two hours and 35 seconds, taking 34 seconds off the previous best.
marathon runnersThere has been a sub-2 hr marathon, though with disallowed assistance. In 2019, Eliud Kipchoge ran staged marathon, the Ineos 1:59 Challenge, and was successful in breaking the two hour barrier (1:59:40). However, because of various assistances it is not a IAAF ratified world record. Specifically, the problem was that it was not an open event, he was handed fluids by a team coordinator riding alongside him on a bicycle, the run featured a pace car which projected a laser to the ground in front of him to mark the desired pace, and the competition included rotating teams of pacers running in a 'V' formation designed to reduce wind resistance.
The current women's marathon world record is held by Ruth Chepngetich of Kenya. She shocked the running world by smashing the record on October 13, 2024. Chepngetich finished the Chicago Marathon in 2 hours, 09 minutes, and 56 seconds, beating the previous record by nearly two minutes.
Below is the men's marathon running world record evolution (the more recent best times listed first), showing only those times that have been officially listed by the IAAF.
| Time | Date | Athlete | Nationality | Marathon Event |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2:00:35 | Oct 8, 2023 | Kelvin Kiptum | Kenya | Chicago Marathon |
| 2:01:09 | Sept 25, 2022 | Eliud Kipchoge | Kenya | Berlin Marathon |
| 2:01:39 | Sept 16, 2018 | Eliud Kipchoge | Kenya | Berlin Marathon |
| 2:02:57 | Sept 28, 2014 | Dennis Kimetto | Kenya | Berlin Marathon |
| 2:03:23 | Sept 29, 2013 | Wilson Kipsang | Kenya | Berlin Marathon |
| 2:03:38 | Sept 25, 2011 | Patrick Makau | Kenya | Berlin Marathon |
| 2:03:59 | Sept 28, 2008 | Haile Gebrselassie | Ethiopia | Berlin Marathon |
| 2:04:26 | Sept 30, 2007 | Haile Gebrselassie | Ethiopia | Berlin Marathon |
| 2:04:55 | Sept 28, 2003 | Paul Tergat | Kenya | Berlin Marathon |
| 2:05:38 | April 14, 2002 | Khalid Khannouchi | USA | London Marathon |
| 2:05:42 | Oct 24, 1999 | Khalid Khannouchi | Morocco | Chicago Marathon |
| 2:06:05 | Sept 20, 1998 | Ronaldo da Costa | Brazil | Berlin Marathon |
| 2:06:50 | April 17, 1988 | Belayneh Dinsamo | Ethiopia | Rotterdam Marathon |
| 2:07:12 | April 20, 1985 | Carlos Lopes | Portugal | Rotterdam Marathon |
| 2:08:05 | Oct 21, 1984 | Steve Jones | UK | Chicago Marathon |
| 2:08:18 | Dec 6, 1981 | Robert De Castella | Australia | Fukuoka Marathon, Japan |
| 2:08:33.60 | May 30, 1969 | Derek Clayton | Australia | Antwerp, Belgium |
| 2:09:36.40 | Dec 3, 1967 | Derek Clayton | Australia | Fukuoka Marathon, Japan |
| 2:12:00 | June 12, 1965 | Morio Shigematsu | Japan | Polytechnic Marathon |
| 2:12:12.20 | Oct 21, 1964 | Abebe Bikila | Ethiopia | Tokyo, Japan |
| 2:13:55 | June 13, 1964 | Basil Heatley | UK | Polytechnic Marathon |
| 2:14:28 | June 15, 1963 | Leonard Edelen | USA | Polytechnic Marathon |
| 2:15:15.80 | Feb 17, 1963 | Toru Terasawa | Japan | Beppu-Ōita Marathon, Japan |
| 2:15:16.20 | Sept 10, 1960 | Abebe Bikila | Ethiopia | Rome, Italy |
| 2:15:17.00 | Aug 24, 1958 | Sergei Popov | USSR | Stockholm, Sweden |
| 2:17:39.40 | June 26, 1954 | Jim Peters | UK | Polytechnic Marathon |
| 2:18:34.80 | Oct 4, 1953 | Jim Peters | UK | Turku Marathon |
| 2:18:40.40 | June 13, 1953 | Jim Peters | UK | Polytechnic Marathon |
| 2:20:42.20 | June 14, 1952 | Jim Peters | UK | Polytechnic Marathon |
| 2:25:39 | April 19, 1947 | Suh Yun-bok | South Korea | Boston Marathon |
| 2:26:42 | Nov 3, 1935 | Son Kitei | Japan | Tokyo, Japan |
| 2:26:44.00 | April 3, 1935 | Yasuo Ikenaka | Japan | Tokyo, Japan |
| 2:27:49.00 | Mar 31, 1935 | Fusashige Suzuki | Japan | Tokyo, Japan |
| 2:29:01.80 | Oct 12, 1925 | Albert Michelsen | USA | Port Chester, USA |
| 2:32:35.80 | Aug 22, 1920 | Hannes Kolehmainen | Finland | Antwerp, Belgium |
| 2:36:06.60 | May 31, 1913 | Alexis Ahlgren | Sweden | Polytechnic Marathon |
| 2:38:16.20 | May 12, 1913 | Harry Green | UK | Polytechnic Marathon |
| 2:40:34.20 | Aug 31, 1909 | Thure Johansson | Sweden | Stockholm, Sweden |
| 2:42:31.00 | May 26, 1909 | Henry Barrett | UK | Polytechnic Marathon |
| 2:46:04.60 | May 8, 1909 | Albert Raines | USA | New York City, USA |
| 2:46:52.80 | Feb 12, 1909 | James Clark | USA | New York City, USA |
| 2:52:45.40 | Jan 1, 1909 | Robert Fowler | USA | Yonkers, USA |
| 2:55:18.40 | July 24, 1908 | Johnny Hayes | USA | London |
Related Pages
- About Marathon World Records
- Women's marathon record progression
- Major marathon races from around the world
- More Athletics Records
- Other sports and fitness records
- Poll: Which record time will be broken next—100m or marathon?
- Sub 2-hour marathon blog post
Any comments, suggestions, or corrections? Please let us know.
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