Marathon world record progression - Wikiwand
World records in the marathon are ratified by World Athletics, the international governing body for the sport of athletics.
www.wikiwand.comI don’t have live access to current news in this turn, but here’s the latest widely reported progression up to early 2025 and how it stands generally.
Direct answer
- Marathon world records have continued to advance, with Eliud Kipchoge and others setting new marks in the 2010s and early 2020s, and the men’s best official record hovering around 2:01–2:02 in Berlin/Chicago events, while the women’s record has trended below 2:11 in Chicago and related races. For the very latest, please check World Athletics or major athletics outlets.
Key context you might find helpful
- Men’s progression highlights:
- 2011: Patrick Makau first broke 2:03 in Berlin (2:03:38) to set the modern era standard.
- 2013–2018: Wilson Kipsang and then Eliud Kipchoge pushed the bar further, with Kipchoge’s sub-2:02 era culminating in 2:01:39 at Berlin 2018.
- 2023: Kelvin Kiptum ran sub-2:01 at Chicago (2:00:35), the first sub-2:01 in a record-eligible race.
- Women’s progression highlights:
- Paula Radcliffe’s long-standing 2:15:25 (London 2003) stood for many years as the standard before later advances.
- Brigid Kosgei and Ruth Chepngetich pushed the mark below 2:11 in the late 2010s and early 2020s, with Chepngetich crossing under 2:10 in Chicago.
- Sub-two-hour attempts:
- The unofficial Two Hour Marathon for Kipchoge in a controlled event (Vienna) demonstrated the potential for even faster times, though it isn’t an IAAF/World Athletics record due to conditions and non-race context. It’s frequently cited as a milestone in human performance.
Where to get the latest
- World Athletics world record progression page for the marathon.
- Reputable news outlets covering major marathons (Berlin, London, Chicago, Dubai, Tokyo) and their official race results.
- Reputable running sites like Runner’s World, Athletics Weekly, and Marathon World to track ongoing progression and any official changes.
Would you like me to pull the most recent official record times and the current record holders for both men and women, with dates and race names? I can compile a concise snapshot if you want.