World Records - Marathon Men
The Marathon Men world record stands at 2:00:35, set by Kelvin Kiptum (KEN) in 2023. Explore its full progression through athletics history.
KK
MarathonMen
WR
2:00:35WR
KENKENOctober 8, 2023
Chicago Marathon
Record standing for: 2 years, 11 months
Record History
| Performance | Athlete | Country | Date | Competitions | Gap vs WR | Duration | Improvement |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2:00:35WR | Kelvin Kiptum | KEN | Oct 8, 2023 | Chicago Marathon | WR | 2y 11mo (Current) | -34.00s |
2:01:09 | Eliud Kipchoge | KEN | Sep 25, 2022 | Berlin Marathon | +34.00s | 1y 1mo | -30.00s |
2:01:39 | Eliud Kipchoge | KEN | Sep 16, 2018 | Berlin Marathon | +64.00s | 4y | -78.00s |
2:02:57 | Dennis Kimetto | KEN | Sep 28, 2014 | Berlin Marathon | +142.00s | 4y | -26.00s |
2:03:23 | William Kipsang | KEN | Sep 29, 2013 | Berlin Marathon | +168.00s | 1y | -15.00s |
2:03:38 | Patrick Makau | KEN | Sep 25, 2011 | Berlin Marathon | +183.00s | 2y | -21.00s |
2:03:59 | Haile Gebrselassie |  ETH | Sep 28, 2008 | Berlin Marathon | +204.00s | 3y | -27.00s |
2:04:26 | Haile Gebrselassie | ETH | Sep 30, 2007 | Berlin Marathon | +231.00s | 1y | -29.00s |
2:04:55 | Paul Tergat | KEN | Sep 28, 2003 | Berlin Marathon | +260.00s | 4y | -43.00s |
2:05:38 | Khalid Khannouchi |  MAR | Apr 14, 2002 | London Marathon | +303.00s | 1y 5mo | -4.00s |
2:05:42 | Khalid Khannouchi | MAR | Oct 24, 1999 | Chicago Marathon | +307.00s | 2y 6mo | -23.00s |
2:06:05 | Ronaldo Da Costa |  BRA | Sep 20, 1998 | Berlin Marathon | +330.00s | 1y 1mo | -45.00s |
2:06:50 | Belayneh Dinsamo | ETH | Apr 17, 1988 | Rotterdam Marathon | +375.00s | 10y 5mo | -22.00s |
2:07:12 | Carlos Lopes |  POR | Apr 20, 1985 | Rotterdam Marathon | +397.00s | 3y | -53.00s |
2:08:05 | Steve Jones |  GBR | Oct 21, 1984 | Chicago Marathon | +450.00s | 6mo | -13.00s |
2:08:18 | Robert De Castella |  AUS | Dec 6, 1981 | Fukuoka Marathon | +463.00s | 2y 10mo | -43.00s |
2:09:01 | Gerard Nijboer |  NED | Apr 26, 1980 | Amsterdam Marathon | +506.00s | 1y 8mo | -4.60s |
2:09:05.6 | Shigeru So |  JPN | Feb 5, 1978 | Beppu-Ōita Marathon | +510.60s | 2y 2mo | -6.40s |
2:09:12 | Ian Thompson |  BAH | Jan 31, 1974 | Christchurch Commonwealth Games, New Zealand | +517.00s | 4y 1mo | -16.80s |
2:09:28.8 | Richard Hill | GBR | Jul 23, 1970 | Edinburgh Commonwealth Games, Scotland | +533.80s | 3y 6mo | +55.20s |
2:08:33.6 | Derek Clayton | AUS | May 30, 1969 | Antwerp, Belgium | +478.60s | 1y 2mo | -62.80s |
2:09:36.4 | Derek Clayton | AUS | Dec 3, 1967 | Fukuoka Marathon | +541.40s | 1y 5mo | -143.60s |
2:12:00 | Morio Shigematsu | JPN | Jun 12, 1965 | Polytechnic Marathon | +685.00s | 2y 6mo | -11.20s |
2:12:11.2 | Abebe Bikila | ETH | Oct 21, 1964 | Tokyo Olympics, Japan | +696.20s | 8mo | -103.80s |
2:13:55 | Basil Heatley | GBR | Jun 13, 1964 | Polytechnic Marathon | +800.00s | 4mo | -48.00s |
2:14:43 | Brian Kilby | GBR | Jul 6, 1963 | Port Talbot, Wales | +848.00s | 11mo | +15.00s |
2:14:28 | Leonard Edelen |  USA | Jun 15, 1963 | Polytechnic Marathon | +833.00s | 1mo | -47.80s |
2:15:15.8 | Toru Terasawa | JPN | Feb 17, 1963 | Beppu-Ōita Marathon | +880.80s | 4mo | -0.40s |
2:15:16.2 | Abebe Bikila | ETH | Sep 10, 1960 | Rome Olympics, Italy | +881.20s | 2y 5mo | -0.80s |
2:15:17.0 | Sergei Popov |  URS | Aug 24, 1958 | European Athletics Championships, Stockholm, Sweden | +882.00s | 2y 1mo | -167.80s |
2:18:04.8 | Paavo Kotila |  FIN | Aug 12, 1956 | Finnish Athletics Championships, Pieksämäki, Finland | +1049.80s | 2y | +25.40s |
2:17:39.4 | Jim Peters | GBR | Jun 26, 1954 | Polytechnic Marathon | +1024.40s | 2y 2mo | -55.40s |
2:18:34.8 | Jim Peters | GBR | Oct 4, 1953 | Turku Marathon | +1079.80s | 8mo | -5.60s |
2:18:40.4 | Jim Peters | GBR | Jun 13, 1953 | Polytechnic Marathon | +1085.40s | 4mo | -121.80s |
2:20:42.2 | Jim Peters | GBR | Jun 14, 1952 | Polytechnic Marathon | +1207.20s | 1y | -296.80s |
2:25:39 | Suh Yun-bok |  KOR | Apr 19, 1947 | Boston Marathon | +1504.00s | 5y 2mo | -65.00s |
2:26:44.0 | Yasuo Ikenaka | JPN | Apr 3, 1935 | Tokyo, Japan | +1569.00s | 12y | -65.00s |
2:27:49.0 | Fumihito Suzuki | JPN | Mar 31, 1935 | Tokyo, Japan | +1634.00s | 1mo | -188.60s |
2:30:57.6 | Howard Payne | GBR | Jul 5, 1929 | AAA Championships, London, England | +1822.60s | 5y 8mo | +115.80s |
2:29:01.8 | Albert Michelsen | USA | Oct 12, 1925 | Port Chester Marathon, United States | +1706.80s | 3y 9mo | -214.00s |
2:32:35.8 | Hannes Kolehmainen | FIN | Aug 22, 1920 | Antwerp Olympics, Belgium | +1920.80s | 5y 2mo | -325.00s |
2:38:00.8 | Umberto Blasi |  ITA | Nov 29, 1914 | Legnano, Italy | +2245.80s | 5y 9mo | +114.20s |
2:36:06.6 | Alexis Ahlgren |  SWE | May 31, 1913 | Polytechnic Marathon | +2131.60s | 1y 6mo | -129.60s |
2:38:16.2 | Harry Green | GBR | May 12, 1913 | Polytechnic Marathon | +2261.20s | 19d | -138.00s |
2:40:34.2 | Thure Johansson | SWE | Aug 31, 1909 | Stockholm, Sweden | +2399.20s | 3y 9mo | -330.40s |
2:46:04.6 | Albert Raines | USA | May 8, 1909 | New York City, United States | +2729.60s | 3mo | -400.80s |
2:52:45.4 | Robert Fowler | USA | Jan 1, 1909 | Yonkers,[nb 5] United States | +3130.40s | 4mo | -153.00s |
2:55:18.4 | Johnny Hayes | USA | Jul 24, 1908 | London Olympics, England | +3283.40s | 6mo | - |
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Who holds the Marathon Men world record?
Kelvin Kiptum (Kenya) holds the Marathon Men world record with 2:00:35, set on October 8, 2023 in Chicago Marathon.
Who held the Marathon Men world record before Kelvin Kiptum?
Eliud Kipchoge (Kenya) held it with 2:01:09, from September 25, 2022 until October 8, 2023 (1 years).
How many times has the Marathon Men world record been improved?
Elite Trackr's progression lists 47 improvements since 1908, when Johnny Hayes set 2:55:18.4.