World records in the marathon are ratified by World Athletics, the international governing body for the sport of athletics.
Kim Merritt is a former American long-distance runner who competed in the marathon. Her career coincided with the development of women's running in the United States and she was at the forefront of distance running in the mid-1970s.
The 2014 New York City Marathon was the 44th running of the annual marathon race in New York City, United States, which took place on November 2. The elite men's race was won by Wilson Kipsang Kiprotich of Kenya with a time of 2:10:59 and the women's race by Mary Jepkosgei Keitany, also of Kenya, with a time of 2:25:07.
The 2016 New York City Marathon was the 46th running of the annual marathon race in New York City, United States, which took place on November 6. The elite men's race was won by Eritrea's Ghirmay Ghebreslassie in a time of 2:07:51 hours while Kenya's Mary Jepkosgei Keitany won the women's race in 2:24:26 for a third consecutive victory.
The 2009 Chicago Marathon was the 32nd running of the annual marathon race in Chicago, United States and was held on October 11. The elite men's race was won by Kenya's Samuel Wanjiru in a time of 2:05:41 hours and the women's race was won by Germany's Irina Mikitenko in 2:26:31. The competition was originally won by Russia's Liliya Shobukhova in a time of 2:25:56, but she was retrospectively disqualified due to doping violations.
The 2008 New York City Marathon was the 39th running of the annual marathon race in New York City, United States, which took place on Sunday, November 2. The men's elite race was won by Brazil's Marílson Gomes dos Santos in a time of 2:08:43 hours while the women's race was won by Great Britain's Paula Radcliffe in 2:23:56.
The 2005 New York City Marathon was the 36th running of the annual marathon race in New York City, United States, which took place on Sunday, November 6. The men's elite race was won by Kenya's Paul Tergat in a time of 2:09:29.9 hours, while the women's race was won by Latvia's Jeļena Prokopčuka in 2:24:41.
The 1993 New York City Marathon was the 24th running of the annual marathon race in New York City, United States, which took place on Sunday, November 14. The men's elite race was won by Mexico's Andrés Espinosa in a time of 2:10:04 hours while the women's race was won by Germany's Uta Pippig in 2:26:24.
The 1992 New York City Marathon was the 23rd running of the annual marathon race in New York City, United States, which took place on Sunday, November 1. The men's elite race was won by South Africa's Willie Mtolo in a time of 2:09:29 hours while the women's race was won by Australia's Lisa Ondieki in 2:24:40.
The 1989 Chicago Marathon was the 12th running of the annual marathon race in Chicago, United States and was held on October 29. The elite men's race was won by Britain's Paul Davies-Hale in a time of 2:11:25 hours and the women's race was won by America's Lisa Rainsberger in 2:28:15. A total of 5635 runners finished the race.
The 1988 Chicago Marathon was the 11th running of the annual marathon race in Chicago, United States and was held on October 30. The elite men's race was won by Mexico's Alejandro Cruz in a time of 2:08:57 hours and the women's race was won by America's Lisa Rainsberger in 2:29:17. It marked the return of the marathon distance at the competition, following a half marathon in 1987 due to sponsorship issues. A total of 5795 runners finished the race, a drop of over 2000 from the previous marathon-length outing in 1986.
The 1986 Chicago Marathon was the tenth running of the annual marathon race in Chicago, United States, and was held on October 26. The elite men's race was won by Japan's Toshihiko Seko in a time of 2:08:27 hours, and the women's race was won by Norway's Ingrid Kristiansen in 2:27:08. A total of 8173 runners finished the race, an increase of over 600 from the previous year, and a number that would not be beaten until 1995.
The 1985 Chicago Marathon was the ninth running of the annual marathon race in Chicago, United States and was held on October 20. The elite men's race was won by Britain's Steve Jones in a time of 2:07:13 hours and the women's race was won by America's Joan Samuelson in 2:21:21. A total of 7562 runners finished the race, an increase of over 1700 from the previous year.
The 1984 Chicago Marathon was the eighth running of the annual marathon race in Chicago, United States and was held on October 21. The elite men's race was won by Britain's Steve Jones in a time of 2:08:05 hours and the women's race was won by Portugal's Rosa Mota in 2:26:01. A total of 5844 runners finished the race, an increase of over 600 from the previous year.
The 1983 Chicago Marathon was the seventh running of the annual marathon race in Chicago, United States and was held on October 16. The elite men's race was won by Kenya's Joseph Nzau in a time of 2:09:44.3 hours and the women's race was won by Portugal's Rosa Mota in 2:31:12. Nzau edged Britain's Hugh Jones by half a second in a tight finish. A total of 5237 runners finished the race, an increase of nearly 600 from the previous year.
The 1982 Chicago Marathon was the sixth running of the annual marathon race in Chicago, United States and was held on September 26. The elite men's and women's races were won by Americans Greg Meyer and Nancy Conz (2:33:24). A total of 4642 runners finished the race, an increase of nearly 400 from the previous year.
The 1981 Chicago Marathon was the fifth running of the annual marathon race in Chicago, United States and was held on September 27. The elite men's and women's races were won by Americans Phil Coppess and Tina Gandy (2:49:39). A total of 4252 runners finished the race, an increase of over 600 from the previous year.
The 1980 Chicago Marathon was the fourth running of the annual marathon race in Chicago, United States and was held on September 28. The elite men's and women's races were won by Americans Frank Richardson and Sue Petersen (2:45:03). A total of 3624 runners finished the race, an increase of over 750 from the previous year.
The 1979 Chicago Marathon was the third running of the annual marathon race in Chicago, United States and was held on October 21. The elite men's and women's races were won by Americans Dan Cloeter and Laura Michalek (3:15:45). A total of 2869 runners finished the race, a drop of nearly 1200 from the previous year.
The 25K run is a long distance running footrace that is between the distance of a half marathon and a marathon. It was formerly an official world record distance in road running by World Athletics, but has since been downgraded to world best status. Separately, the Association of Road Racing Statisticians retains world records in the 25K distance. The ARRS holds different standards for records than World Athletics, with exclusions for certain point-to-point races and mixed sex races. As a result its women's world record is 1:26:34 by Nancy Conz, set in 1982.
United States 
