The marathon is a long-distance footrace first held at the revival of the Olympic Games at Athens in 1896. It commemorates the legendary feat of a Greek soldier who, in 490 BC, is supposed to have run from Marathon to Athens, a distance of about 40 km (25 mi), to bring news of the Athenian victory over the Persians. Appropriately, the first modern marathon winner in 1896 was a Greek, Spyridon Louis. In 1924 the Olympic marathon distance was standardized at 42,195 m, or 26 mi 385 yd. This was based on a decision of the British Olympic Committee to start the 1908 Olympic race from Windsor Castle and finish it in front of the royal box in the stadium at London. The marathon was added to the women’s Olympic program in 1984. Because marathon courses are not of equal difficulty, the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) does not list a world record for the event. After the Olympic Games championship, one of the most coveted honors in marathon running is victory in the Boston Marathon, held annually since 1897. It draws athletes from all parts of the world and in 1972 became the first marathon officially to allow women to compete. The New York City Marathon also attracts participants from many countries, as does the Chicago Marathon. Other popular marathons are held in London, Berlin, Dublin, and Rotterdam (The Netherlands).
Boston Marathon
Won by an American runner except as indicated. Times are given in hours:minutes:seconds.
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men |
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|
YEAR |
WINNER |
TIME |
YEAR |
WINNER |
TIME |
|
1897 |
John J. McDermott |
2:55:10 |
1950 |
Ham Kee Yong (KOR) |
2:32:39 |
|
1898 |
Ronald J. McDonald (CAN) |
2:42:00 |
1951 |
Tanaka Shigeki (JPN) |
2:27:45 |
|
1899 |
Lawrence J. Brignoli |
2:54:38 |
1952 |
Doroteo Flores (GUA) |
2:31:53 |
|
1900 |
John J. Caffrey (CAN) |
2:39:44 |
1953 |
Yamada Keizo (JPN) |
2:18:51 |
|
1901 |
John J. Caffrey (can) |
2:29:23 |
1954 |
Veikko L. Karanen (FIN) |
2:20:39 |
|
1902 |
Sammy A. Mellor |
2:43:12 |
1955 |
Hamamura Hideo (JPN) |
2:18:22 |
|
1903 |
John C. Lorden |
2:41:29 |
1956 |
Antti Viskari (FIN) |
2:14:14 |
|
1904 |
Michael Spring |
2:39:04 |
1957 |
John J. Kelley |
2:20:05 |
|
1905 |
Frederick Lorz |
2:38:25 |
1958 |
Franjo Mihalic (YUG) |
2:25:54 |
|
1906 |
Tim Ford |
2:45:45 |
1959 |
Eino Oksanen (FIN) |
2:22:42 |
|
1907 |
Thomas Longboat (CAN) |
2:24:24 |
1960 |
Paavo Kotila (FIN) |
2:20:54 |
|
1908 |
Thomas P. Morrissey |
2:25:43 |
1961 |
Eino Oksanen (FIN) |
2:23:39 |
|
1909 |
Henri Renaud |
2:53:36 |
1962 |
Eino Oksanen (fin) |
2:23:48 |
|
1910 |
Fred L. Cameron (CAN) |
2:28:52 |
1963 |
Aurele Vandendriessche (BEL) |
2:18:58 |
|
1911 |
Clarence H. DeMar |
2:21:39 |
1964 |
Aurele Vandendriessche (BEL) |
2:19:59 |
|
1912 |
Michael J. Ryan |
2:21:18 |
1965 |
Shigematsu Morio (JPN) |
2:16:33 |
|
1913 |
Fritz Carlson |
2:25:14 |
1966 |
Kimihara Kenji (JPN) |
2:17:11 |
|
1914 |
James Duffy (CAN) |
2:25:01 |
1967 |
David McKenzie (NZL) |
2:15:45 |
|
1915 |
Edouard Fabre (CAN) |
2:31:41 |
1968 |
Amby Burfoot |
2:22:17 |
|
1916 |
Arthur V. Roth |
2:27:16 |
1969 |
Unetani Yoshiaki (JPN) |
2:13:49 |
|
1917 |
William K. Kennedy |
2:28:37 |
1970 |
Ron Hill (GBR) |
2:10:30 |
|
1918 |
not held |
|
1971 |
Alvaro Mejia (COL) |
2:18:45 |
|
1919 |
Carl W.A. Linder |
2:29:13 |
1972 |
Olavi Suomalainen (FIN) |
2:15:30 |
|
1920 |
Peter Trivoulides |
2:29:31 |
1973 |
Jon Anderson |
2:16:03 |
|
1921 |
Frank Zuna |
2:18:57 |
1974 |
Neil Cusack |
2:13:39 |
|
1922 |
Clarence H. DeMar |
2:18:10 |
1975 |
Bill Rodgers |
2:09:55 |
|
1923 |
Clarence H. DeMar |
2:23:47 |
1976 |
Jack Fultz |
2:20:19 |
|
1924 |
Clarence H. DeMar |
2:29:40 |
1977 |
Jerome Drayton (CAN) |
2:14:46 |
|
1925 |
Charles L. Mellor |
2:33:06 |
1978 |
Bill Rodgers |
2:10:13 |
|
1926 |
John C. Miles (CAN) |
2:25:40 |
1979 |
Bill Rodgers |
2:09:27 |
|
1927 |
Clarence H. DeMar |
2:40:22 |
1980 |
Bill Rodgers |
2:12:11 |
|
1928 |
Clarence H. DeMar |
2:37:07 |
1981 |
Seko Toshihiko (JPN) |
2:09:26 |
|
1929 |
John C. Miles (CAN) |
2:33:08 |
1982 |
Alberto Salazar |
2:08:51 |
|
1930 |
Clarence H. DeMar |
2:34:48 |
1983 |
Greg A. Meyer |
2:09:00 |
|
1931 |
James P. Hennigan |
2:46:45 |
1984 |
Geoff Smith (GBR) |
2:10:34 |
|
1932 |
Paul DeBruyn (GER) |
2:33:36 |
1985 |
Geoff Smith (GBR) |
2:14:05 |
|
1933 |
Leslie S. Pawson |
2:31:01 |
1986 |
Robert de Castella (AUS) |
2:07:51 |
|
1934 |
Dave Komonen (CAN) |
2:32:53 |
1987 |
Seko Toshihiko (JPN) |
2:11:50 |
|
1935 |
John A. Kelley |
2:32:07 |
1988 |
Ibrahim Hussein (KEN) |
2:08:43 |
|
1936 |
Ellison M. Brown |
2:33:40 |
1989 |
Abebe Mekonnen (ETH) |
2:09:06 |
|
1937 |
Walter Young (CAN) |
2:33:20 |
1990 |
Gelindo Bordin (ITA) |
2:08:19 |
|
1938 |
Leslie S. Pawson |
2:35:34 |
1991 |
Ibrahim Hussein (KEN) |
2:11:06 |
|
1939 |
Ellison M. Brown |
2:28:51 |
1992 |
Ibrahim Hussein (KEN) |
2:08:14 |
|
1940 |
Gerard Cote (CAN) |
2:28:28 |
1993 |
Cosmas N’Deti (KEN) |
2:09:33 |
|
1941 |
Leslie S. Pawson |
2:30:38 |
1994 |
Cosmas N’Deti (KEN) |
2:07:15 |
|
1942 |
Joe Smith |
2:26:51 |
1995 |
Cosmas N’Deti (KEN) |
2:09:22 |
|
1943 |
Gerard Cote (CAN) |
2:28:25 |
1996 |
Moses Tanui (KEN) |
2:09:16 |
|
1944 |
Gerard Cote (CAN) |
2:31:50 |
1997 |
Lameck Aguta (KEN) |
2:10:34 |
|
1945 |
John A. Kelley |
2:30:40 |
1998 |
Moses Tanui (KEN) |
2:07:34 |
|
1946 |
Stylianos Kyriakides (GRE) |
2:29:27 |
1999 |
Joseph Chebet (KEN) |
2:09:52 |
|
1947 |
Suh Yun Bok (KOR) |
2:25:39 |
2000 |
Elijah Lagat (KEN) |
2:09:47 |
|
1948 |
Gerard Cote (CAN) |
2:31:02 |
2001 |
Lee Bong Ju (KOR) |
2:09:43 |
|
1949 |
Karl G. Leandersson (SWE) |
2:31:50 |
2002 |
Rodgers Rop (KEN) |
2:09:02 |
|
men |
||||
|
YEAR 2003 2004 2005 |
WINNER Robert Kipkoech Cheruiyot (KEN) Timothy Cherigat (KEN) Hailu Negussie (ETH) |
TIME YEAR 2:10:11 2006 2:10:37 2007 2:11:45 2008 |
WINNER Robert Kipkoech Cheruiyot (KEN) Robert Kipkoech Cheruiyot (KEN) Robert Kipkoech Cheruiyot (KEN) |
TIME 2:07:14 2:14:13 2:07:46 |
|
women |
|||||
|
YEAR |
WINNER |
TIME |
YEAR |
WINNER |
TIME |
|
1972 |
Nina Kuscsik |
3:10:26 |
1991 |
Wanda Panfil (POL) |
2:24:18 |
|
1973 |
Jacqueline Hansen |
3:05:59 |
1992 |
Olga Markova (RUS) |
2:23:43 |
|
1974 |
Michiko Gorman |
2:47:11 |
1993 |
Olga Markova (RUS) |
2:25:27 |
|
1975 |
Liane Winter (FRG) |
2:42:24 |
1994 |
Uta Pippig (GER) |
2:21:45 |
|
1976 |
Kim Merritt |
2:47:10 |
1995 |
Uta Pippig (GER) |
2:25:11 |
|
1977 |
Michiko Gorman |
2:46:22 |
1996 |
Uta Pippig (GER) |
2:27:12 |
|
1978 |
Gayle S. Barron |
2:44:52 |
1997 |
Fatuma Roba (ETH) |
2:26:23 |
|
1979 |
Joan Benoit |
2:35:15 |
1998 |
Fatuma Roba (ETH) |
2:23:21 |
|
1980 |
Jacqueline Gareau (CAN) |
2:34:28 |
1999 |
Fatuma Roba (eTh) |
2:23:25 |
|
1981 |
Allison Roe (NZL) |
2:26:46 |
2000 |
Catherine Ndereba (KEN) |
2:26:11 |
|
1982 |
Charlotte Teske (FRG) |
2:29:33 |
2001 |
Catherine Ndereba (KEN) |
2:23:53 |
|
1983 |
Joan Benoit |
2:22:42 |
2002 |
Margaret Okayo (KEN) |
2:20:43 |
|
1984 |
Lorraine Moller (NZL) |
2:29:28 |
2003 |
Svetlana Zakharova (RUS) |
2:25:20 |
|
1985 |
Lisa Larsen |
2:34:06 |
2004 |
Catherine Ndereba (KEN) |
2:24:27 |
|
1986 |
Ingrid Kristiansen (NOR) |
2:24:55 |
2005 |
Catherine Ndereba (KEN) |
2:25:13 |
|
1987 |
Rosa Mota (POR) |
2:25:21 |
2006 |
Rita Jeptoo (KEN) |
2:23:38 |
|
1988 |
Rosa Mota (pOr) |
2:24:30 |
2007 |
Lidiya Grigoryeva (RUS) |
2:29:18 |
|
1989 |
Ingrid Kristiansen (NOR) |
2:24:33 |
2008 |
Dire Tune (ETH) |
2:25:25 |
|
1990 |
Rosa Mota (POR) |
2:25:23 |
|
|
|
New York City Marathon
Won by an American runner except as indicated. Times are given in hours:minutes:seconds.
|
YEAR |
MEN |
TIME |
WOMEN |
TIME |
|
1970 |
Gary Muhrcke |
2:31:38 |
no finisher |
|
|
1971 |
Norm Higgins |
2:22:54 |
Beth Bonner |
2:55:22 |
|
1972 |
Robert Karlin |
2:27:52 |
Nina Kuscsik |
3:08:41 |
|
1973 |
Tom Fleming |
2:21:54 |
Nina Kuscsik |
2:57:07 |
|
1974 |
Norbert Sander |
2:26:30 |
Katherine Switzer |
3:07:29 |
|
1975 |
Tom Fleming |
2:19:27 |
Kim Merritt |
2:46:14 |
|
1976 |
Bill Rodgers |
2:10:09 |
Michiko Gorman |
2:39:11 |
|
1977 |
Bill Rodgers |
2:11:28 |
Michiko Gorman |
2:43:10 |
|
1978 |
Bill Rodgers |
2:12:12 |
Grete Waitz(NOR) |
2:32:30 |
|
1979 |
Bill Rodgers |
2:11:42 |
Grete Waitz(NOR) |
2:27:33 |
|
1980 |
Alberto Salazar |
2:09:41 |
Grete Waitz(NOR) |
2:25:41 |
|
1981 |
Alberto Salazar |
2:08:13 |
Allison Roe (NZL) |
2:25:29 |
|
1982 |
Alberto Salazar |
2:09:29 |
Grete Waitz(NOR) |
2:27:14 |
|
1983 |
Rod Dixon |
2:08:59 |
Grete Waitz(NOR) |
2:27:00 |
|
1984 |
Orlando Pizzolato |
2:14:53 |
Grete Waitz(NOR) |
2:29:30 |
|
1985 |
Orlando Pizzolato |
2:11:34 |
Grete Waitz(NOR) |
2:28:34 |
|
1986 |
Gianni Poli (ITA) |
2:11:06 |
Grete Waitz(NOR) |
2:28:06 |
|
1987 |
Ibrahim Hussein (KEN) |
2:11:01 |
Priscilla Welch (GBR) |
2:30:17 |
|
1988 |
Steve Jones (WAL) |
2:08:20 |
Grete Waitz(NOR) |
2:28:07 |
|
1989 |
Juma Ikangaa (TAN) |
2:08:01 |
Ingrid Kristiansen (NOR) |
2:25:30 |
|
1990 |
Douglas Wakiihuri (KEN) |
2:12:39 |
Wanda Panfil (POL) |
2:30:45 |
|
1991 |
Salvador Garcia (MEX) |
2:09:28 |
Liz McColgan (GBR) |
2:27:23 |
|
1992 |
Willie Mtolo (RSA) |
2:09:29 |
Lisa Ondieki (AUS) |
2:24:40 |
|
1993 |
Andres Espinosa (MEX) |
2:10:04 |
Uta Pippig (GER) |
2:26:24 |
|
1994 |
German Silva (MEX) |
2:11:21 |
Tegla Loroupe (KEN) |
2:27:37 |
|
1995 |
German Silva (MEX) |
2:11:00 |
Tegla Loroupe (KEN) |
2:28:06 |
|
1996 |
Giacomo Leone (ITA) |
2:09:54 |
Anuta Catuna (ROM) |
2:28:18 |
|
1997 |
John Kagwe (KEN) |
2:08:12 |
Franziska Rochat-Moser (SUI) |
2:28:43 |
|
1998 |
John Kagwe (ken) |
2:08:45 |
Franca Fiacconi (ITA) |
2:25:17 |
|
1999 |
Joseph Chebet(KEN) |
2:09:14 |
Adriana Fernandez (MEX) |
2:25:06 |
|
2000 |
Abdelkhader El Mouaziz (MAR) |
2:10:09 |
Lyudmila Petrova (RUS) |
2:25:45 |
|
2001 |
Tesfaye Jifar (ETH) |
2:07:43 |
Margaret Okayo (KEN) |
2:24:21 |
|
2002 |
Rodgers Rop (KEN) |
2:08:07 |
Joyce Chepchumba (KEN) |
2:25:56 |
|
YEAR |
MEN |
TIME |
WOMEN |
TIME |
|
2003 |
Martin Lel (KEN) |
2:10:30 |
Margaret Okayo (KEN) |
2:22:31 |
|
2004 |
Hendrik Ramaala (RSA) |
2:09:28 |
Paula Radcliffe (GBR) |
2:23:10 |
|
2005 |
Paul Tergat (KEN) |
2:09:30 |
Jelena Prokopcuka (LAT) |
2:24:41 |
|
2006 |
Marilson Gomes dos Santos (BRA) |
2:09:58 |
Jelena Prokopcuka (LAT) |
2:25:05 |
|
2007 |
Martin Lel (KEN) |
2:09:04 |
Paula Radcliffe (GBR) |
2:23:09 |
Chicago Marathon
Won by an American runner except as indicated. Times are given in hours:minutes:seconds.
|
YEAR |
MEN |
TIME |
WOMEN |
TIME |
|
1977 |
Dan Cloeter |
2:17:52 |
Dorothy Doolittle |
2:50:47 |
|
1978 |
Mark Stanforth |
2:19:20 |
Lynae Larson |
2:59:25 |
|
1979 |
Dan Cloeter |
2:23:20 |
Laura Michalek |
3:15:45 |
|
1980 |
Frank Richardson |
2:14:04 |
Sue Petersen |
2:45:03 |
|
1981 |
Philip Coppess |
2:16:13 |
Tina Gandy |
2:49:39 |
|
1982 |
Greg Meyer |
2:10:59 |
Nancy Conz |
2:33:23 |
|
1983 |
Joseph Nzau (KEN) |
2:09:44 |
Rosa Mota (POR) |
2:31:12 |
|
1984 |
Steve Jones (GBR) |
2:08:05 |
Rosa Mota (POR) |
2:26:01 |
|
1985 |
Steve Jones (GBR) |
2:07:13 |
Joan Benoit Samuelson |
2:21:21 |
|
1986 |
Toshihiko Seko (JPN) |
2:08:27 |
Ingrid Kristiansen (NOR) |
2:27:08 |
|
1987 |
not held |
|
|
|
|
1988 |
Alejandro Cruz (MEX) |
2:08:57 |
Lisa Weidenbach |
2:29:17 |
|
1989 |
Paul Davis-Hale (GBR) |
2:11:25 |
Lisa Weidenbach |
2:28:15 |
|
1990 |
Martin Pitayo (MEX) |
2:09:41 |
Aurora Cunha (POR) |
2:30:11 |
|
1991 |
Joseildo Rocha (BRA) |
2:14:33 |
Midde Hamrin-Senorski (SWE) |
2:36:21 |
|
1992 |
Jose Cesar de Souza (BRA) |
2:16:14 |
Linda Somers |
2:37:41 |
|
1993 |
Luiz Antonio dos Santos (BRA) |
2:13:15 |
Ritva Lemettinen (FIN) |
2:33:18 |
|
1994 |
Luiz Antonio dos Santos (BRA) |
2:11:16 |
Kristy Johnston |
2:31:34 |
|
1995 |
Eamonn Martin (GBR) |
2:11:18 |
Ritva Lemettinen (FIN) |
2:28:27 |
|
1996 |
Paul Evans (GBR) |
2:08:52 |
Marian Sutton (GBR) |
2:30:41 |
|
1997 |
Khalid Khannouchi (MAR) |
2:07:10 |
Marian Sutton (GBR) |
2:29:03 |
|
1998 |
Ondoro Osoro (KEN) |
2:06:54 |
Joyce Chepchumba (KEN) |
2:23:57 |
|
1999 |
Khalid Khannouchi (MAR) |
2:05:42 |
Joyce Chepchumba (KEN) |
2:25:59 |
|
2000 |
Khalid Khannouchi (USA) |
2:07:01 |
Catherine Ndereba (KEN) |
2:21:33 |
|
2001 |
Ben Kimondiu (KEN) |
2:08:52 |
Catherine Ndereba (KEN) |
2:18:47 |
|
2002 |
Khalid Khannouchi (USA) |
2:05:56 |
Paula Radcliffe (GBR) |
2:17:18 |
|
2003 |
Evans Rutto (KEN) |
2:05:50 |
Svetlana Zakharova (RUS) |
2:23:07 |
|
2004 |
Evans Rutto (ken) |
2:06:16 |
Constantina Tomescu-Dita (ROM) |
2:23:45 |
|
2005 |
Felix Limo (KEN) |
2:07:02 |
Deena Kastor |
2:21:25 |
|
2006 |
Robert K. Cheruiyot (KEN) |
2:07:35 |
Berhane Adere (ETH) |
2:20:42 |
|
2007 |
Patrick Ivuti (KEN) |
2:11:11 |
Berhane Adere (ETH) |
2:33:49 |
