Fastest marathons run each year

Annual Fastest Marathon Performance By Men

Year  Athlete            Nation   Time  Seconds Venue              Date  

1924  Shizo Kanaguri        JPN   2:36:10 9370  Tokyo, JPN         13-Apr

1925  Samuel Ferris         GBR   2:35:59       Windsor, GBR       30-May

1926  Iivari Rotko          FIN   2:34:26 9266  Helsinki, FIN      12-Sep

1927  Verner Laaksonen      FIN   2:35:22       Helsinki, FIN      11-Sep

1928  Boughera El Ouafi     MAR   2:32:57 9177  Amsterdam, NED      5-Aug

1929  Harry Payne           GBR   2:30:58 9058  Stamford Bridge, G  5-Jul

1930  Fukutaro Shibui       JPN   2:36:33       Tokyo, JPN         28-May

1931  Jaun Zabala           ARG   2:33:19       Kosice, SVK        28-Oct

1932  Tanji Yahagi          JPN   2:31:31 9091  Tokyo, JPN         30-Apr

1933  Kozo Kusunoki         JPN   2:31:10       Tokyo, JPN         03-Nov

1934  Tamao Shiaku          JPN   2:32:56       Osaka, JPN         23-Nov

1935  Kitei Son             JPN   2:26:42 8802  Tokyo, JPN          3-Nov

1936  Kitei Son             JPN   2:28:32 8912  Tokyo, JPN         18-Apr

1937  Manuel Dias           POR   2:30:38 9038  Lisboa, POR        28-Mar

1938  Patrick Dengis        USA   2:30:28 9028  Salisbury, USA     30-May

1939  Ellison Brown         USA   2:28:52 8932  Boston, USA        19-Apr

1940  Ellison Brown         USA   2:27:30 8850  Salisbury, USA     30-May

1941  Leslie Pawson         USA   2:30:38 9038  Boston, USA        19-Apr

1942  Joseph Smith          USA   2:26:52 8812  Boston, USA        19-Apr

1943  Gerard Cote           CAN   2:28:26 8906  Boston, USA        18-Apr

1944  Gerard Cote           CAN   2:31:51 9111  Boston, USA        19-Apr

1945  John A. Kelley        USA   2:30:41 9041  Boston, USA        19-Apr

1946  Stylianos Kyriakidis  GRE   2:29:27 8967  Boston, USA        19-Apr

1947  Yun Bok Suh           KOR   2:25:39 8739  Boston, USA        19-Apr

1948  Gerard Cote           CAN   2:31:02 9062  Boston, USA        19-Apr

1949  Salomon Komonen       FIN   2:28:40 8970  Turku, FIN          2-Oct

1950  Feodosiy Vanin        URS   2:29:10 8950  Moskva, URS        15-Jul

1951  Veikko Karvonen       FIN   2:28:08 8888  Tampere, FIN        3-Aug

1952  James Peters          GBR   2:20:43 8443  Chiswick, GBR      14-Jun

1953  James Peters          GBR   2:18:35 8315  Turku, FIN          4-Oct

1954  James Peters          GBR   2:17:40 8260  Chiswick, GBR      26-Jun

1955  Veikko Karvonen       FIN   2:21:22 8482  Kobenhavn, DEN      4-Sep

1956  Paavo Kotila          FIN   2:18:05 8285  Pieksamaki, FIN    12-Aug

1957  Sergey Popov          URS   2:19:50 8390  Moskva, URS         1-Sep

1958  Sergey Popov          URS   2:15:17 8117  Stockholm, SWE     24-Aug

1959  Sergey Popov          URS   2:17:46 8266  Kosice, SVK        11-Oct

1960  Abebe Bikila          ETH   2:15:17 8317  Roma, ITA          10-Sep

1961  Takayuki Nakao        JPN   2:18:54 8334  Nagoya, JPN        21-Mar

1962  Yu-Mang Hyang         PRK   2:16:10 8170  Pyongyang, PRK     24-Oct

1963  Leonard Edelen        GBR   2:14:28 8068  Chiswick, GBR      15-Jun

1964  Abebe Bikila          USA   2:12:12 7932  Tokyo, JPN         21-Oct

1965  Morio Shigematsu      JPN   2:12:00 7920  Chiswick, GBR      12-Jun

1966  Alastair Wood         GBR   2:13:45 8025  Forres, GBR         9-Jul

1967  Derek Clayton         AUS   2:09:37 7777  Fukuoka, JPN        3-Dec

1968  William Adcocks       GBR   2:10:48 7848  Fukuoka, JPN        8-Dec

1969  Derek Clayton         AUS   2:08:34 7724  Antwerpen, BEL     30-May

1970  Ronald Hill           GBR   2:09:28 7768  Edinburgh, GBR     23-Jul

1972  Frank Shorter         USA   2:10:30 7830  Fukuoka, JPN        3-Dec

1973  John Farrington       AUS   2:11:13 7873  Richmond, GBR      14-Jul

1974  Ian Thompson          GBR   2:09:12 7752  Christchurch, NZL  31-Jan

1975  William Rodgers       USA   2:09:55 7795  Boston, USA        21-Apr

1976  Waldemar Cierpinski   GDR   2:09:55 7795  Montreal, CAN      31-Jul

1977  William Rodgers       USA   2:10:56 7856  Fukuoka, JPN        4-Dec

1978  Shigeru Soh           JPN   2:09:06 7746  Oita, JPN           5-Feb

1979  William Rodgers       USA   2:09:27 7767  Boston, USA        16-Apr

1980  Gerard Nijboer        NED   2:09:01 7741  Amsterdam, NED     26-Apr

1981  Rob de Castella       AUS   2:08:18 7690  Fukuoka, JPN        6-Dec

1982  Alberto Salazar       USA   2:08:51 7731  Boston, USA        19-Apr

1983  Rob de Castella       AUS   2:08:37 7717  Rotterdam, NED      9-Apr

1984  Steve Jones           GBR   2:08:05 7735  Chicago, USA       21-Oct

1985  Carlos Lopes          POR   2:07:12 7632  Rotterdam, NED     20-Apr

1986  Taisuke Kodama        JPN   2:07:35 7655  Beijing, CHN       19-Oct

1987  Takeyuki Nakayama     JPN   2:08:18 7698  Fukuoka, JPN        6-Dec

1988  Belayneh Dinsamo      ETH   2:06;50 7610  Rotterdam, NED     17-Apr

1989  Juma Ikangaa          TAN   2:08:01 7681  New York, USA       5-Nov

1990  Stephen Moneghetti    AUS   2:08:16 7696  Berlin, FRG        30-Sep

1991  Koichi Morishita      JPN   2:08:53 7733  Oita, JPN           3-Feb

1992  David Tsebe           RSA   2:08:07 7687  Berlin, GER        28-Sep

1993  Dionicio Ceron        MEX   2:08:51 7731  Fukuoka, JPN        5-Dec

1994  Cosmus N'Deti         KEN   2:07:15 7635  Boston, USA        18-Apr

1995  Samuel Lelei          KEN   2:07:02 7622  Berlin, GER        24-Sep

1996  Martin Fiz            ESP   2:08:25 7705  Kyongju, KOR       24-Mar

1997  Khalid Khannouchi     MAR   2:07:10 7630  Chicago, USA       19-Oct

1998  Ronaldo da Costa      BRA   2:06:05 7565  Berlin, GER        20-Sep

1999  Khalid Khannouchi     USA   2:05:42 7542  Chicago, USA       24-Oct

2000  Antonio Pinto         POR   2:06:36 7596  London, GBR        16-Apr

2001  Josephat Kiprono      KEN   2;06:50 7610  Rotterdam, NED     22-Apr

2002  Khalid Khannouchi     USA   2:05:38 7538  London, GBR        14-Apr

2003  Paul Tergat           KEN   2:04:55 7465  Berlin, GER        28-Sep

2004  Felix Limo            KEN   2:06:14 7574  Rotterdam, NED      4-Apr

2005  Haile Gebrselassie    ETH   2:06:20 7580  Amsterdam, NED     16-Oct

2006  Haile Gebrselassie    ETH   2:05:56 7556  Berlin, GER        24-Sep

2007  Haile Gebrselassie    ETH   2:04:26 7466  Berlin, GER        30-Sep

2008  Haile Gebrselassie    ETH   2:03:59 7439  Berlin, GER        28-Sep

2009  Duncan Kibet Kirong   KEN   2:04:27 7467  Rotterdam, NED     05-Apr

2010  Patrick Makau Musyoki KEN   2:04:48 7488  Rotterdam, NED     11-Apr

2011  Patrick Makau Musyoki KEN   2:03:38 7418  Berlin, GER        25-Sep

[2011 Geoffrey Mutai        KEN   2:03:02 7382  Boston, USA*      18-Apr]

2012  Geoffrey Mutai        KEN   2:04:15 7455  Berlin, GER        30 SEP

2013  Wilson Kipsang        KEN   2:03:23 7403  Berlin, GER        29 SEP

2014  Dennis Kimetto        KEN   2:02:57 7377  Berlin, GER        28 SEP

2015  Eliud Kipchoge        KEN   2:04:00       Berlin, GER        27 SEP

2016  Kenenisa Bekele       ETH   2:03:03       Berlin, GER        25 SEP

2017  Eliud Kipchoge‡       KEN   2:03:32       Berlin, GER        24-Sep

‡Kipchoge also ran an 'assisted' time as follows:

2017  Eliud Kipchoge        KEN   2:00:25       Monza, ITA         07 May

2018  Eliud Kipchoge        KEN   2:01:39       Berlin, GER        16 Sep

*course drops 3.2m/km, separation 91%

Annual Fastest Marathon Performance By Women

Year  Athlete            Nation   Time  Seconds Venue              Date  

1970  Caroline Walker       USA   3:02:53 10973 Seaside, USA       28-Feb

1971  Adrienne Beames       AUS   2:46:30 9990  Werribee, AUS      31-Aug

1972  Cheryl Bridges        USA   2:55:45 10545 Terre Haute, USA   12-Aug

1973  Michiko Gorman        USA   2:46:36 9996  Culver City, USA    2-Dec

1974  Jacqueline Hansen     USA   2:43:55 9835  Culver City, USA    1-Dec

1975  Jacqueline Hansen     USA   2:38:19 9499  Eugene, USA        12-Oct

1976  Michiko Gorman        USA   2:39:11 9551  New York, USA      24-Oct

1977  Christa Vahlensieck   FRG   2:34:48 9288  West Berlin, FRG   10-Sep

1978  Grete Waitz           NOR   2:32:30 9150  New York, USA      22-Oct

1979  Grete Waitz           NOR   2:27:33 8853  New York, USA      21-Oct

1980  Grete Waitz           NOR   2:25:42 8742  New York, USA      26-Oct

1981  Allison Roe           NZL   2:26:46 8806  Boston, USA        20-Apr

1982  Joan Benoit           USA   2:26:11 8771  Eugene, USA        12-Sep

1983  Joan Benoit           USA   2:22:43 8563  Boston, USA        18-Apr

1984  Ingrid Kristiansen    NOR   2:24:26 8666  London, GBR        13-May

1985  Ingrid Kristiansen    NOR   2:21:06 8466  London, GBR        21-Apr

1986  Grete Waitz           NOR   2:24:54 8694  London, GBR        20-Apr

1987  Ingrid Kristiansen    NOR   2:22:48 8568  London, GBR        10-May

1988  Lisa Ondieki          AUS   2:23:51 8631  Osaka, JPN         31-Jan

1989  Ingrid Kristiansen    NOR   2:24:33 8673  Boston, USA        12-Apr

1990  Rosa Mota             POR   2:25:24 8724  Boston, USA        18-Apr

1991  Wanda Panfil          POL   2:24:18 8658  Boston, USA        15-Apr

1992  Olga Markova          RUS   2:23:43 8623  Boston, USA        20-Apr

1993  Wang Junxia           CHN   2:24:07 8647  Tianjin, CHN        4-Apr

1994  Uta Pippig            GER   2:21:45 8505  Boston, USA        18-Apr

1995  Uta Pippig            GER   2:25:11 8711  Boston, USA        17-Apr

1996  Katrin Doerre-Heinig  GER   2:26:04 8764  Osaka, JPN         28-Jan

1997  Tegla Loroupe         KEN   2:22:07 8527  Rotterdam, NED     20-Apr

1998  Tegla Loroupe         KEN   2:20:47 8447  Rotterdam, NED     19-Apr

1999  Tegla Loroupe         KEN   2:20:43 8443  Berlin, GER        26-Sep

2000  Catherine Ndereba     KEN   2:21:33 8493  Chicago, USA       22-Oct

2001  Catherine Ndereba     KEN   2:18:47 8327  Chicago, USA        7-Oct

2002  Paula Radcliffe       GBR   2:17:18 8238  Chicago, USA       13-Oct

2003  Paula Radcliffe       GBR   2:15:25 8125  London, GBR        13-Apr

2004  Yoko Shibui           JPN   2:19:41 8381  Berlin, GER        26-Sep

2005  Paula Radcliffe       GBR   2:17:42 8262  London, GBR        17-Apr

2006  Deena Kastor          USA   2:19:36 8376  London, GBR        23-Apr

2007  Chunxiu Zhou          CHN   2:20:38 8438  London, GBR        22-Apr

2008  Irina Mikitenko       GER   2:19:19 8359  Berlin, GER        28-Sep

2009  Irina Mikitenko       GER   2:22:11 8531  London, GBR        26-Apr

2010  Liliya Shobukhova*    RUS   2:20:25 8425  Chicago, USA       10-Oct

2010  Atsede Bayisa         ETH   2:22:04       Paris, FRA         11 Apr

2011  Liliya Shobukhova*    RUS   2:18:20 8300  Chicago, USA       09 Oct

2011  Mary Keitany          KEN   2:19:19       London, GBR        17 Apr

2012  Mary Keitany          KEN   2:18:37 8317  London, GBR        22 APR

2013  Rita Jeptoo*          KEN   2:19:57 8397  Chicago, USA       13 OCT

2013  Priscah Jeptoo        KEN   2:20:15       London, GBR        21 Apr

2014  Tirfi Tsegaye         ETH   2:20:18 8418  Berlin, GER        28 SEP

2015  Gladys Cherono        KEN   2:19:25       Berlin, GER        27 SEP

2016  Tirfi Tsegaye         ETH   2:19:41       Dubai, UAE         22 JAN

2017  Mary Keitany          KEN   2:17:01       London, GBR        23 Apr

2018  Gladys Cherono        KEN   2:18:11       Berlin, GER        16 Sep 

2019  Brigid Kosgei         KEN   2:14:04       Chicago, USA       13 Oct

* Later returned a positive drug test result