World records in the marathon are ratified by World Athletics, the international governing body for the sport of athletics.
Evans Rutto is a Kenyan long-distance runner, who specialises in road running events. He made the fastest-ever marathon debut by winning the 2003 Chicago Marathon in a time of 2:05:50. He won the London Marathon and a second title in Chicago the following year.
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 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 2006 New York City Marathon was the 37th running of the annual marathon race in New York City, United States, which took place on Sunday, November 5. The men's elite race was won by Brazil's Marílson Gomes dos Santos in a time of 2:09:58 hours while the women's race was won by Latvia's Jeļena Prokopčuka in 2:25:05.
The 1998 New York City Marathon was the 29th 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 Kenya's John Kagwe in a time of 2:08:45 hours while the women's race was won by Italy's Franca Fiacconi in 2:25:17.
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 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 1977 Chicago Marathon was the first running of the annual marathon race in Chicago, United States and was held on September 25. The elite men's and women's races were won by Americans Dan Cloeter and Dorothy Doolittle (2:50:47). A total of 2128 runners finished the race. It marked a return of a full marathon race to the city, following on from the Windy City Marathon of the 1960s.
The Avon International Marathon was an annual women's marathon event that was held at various locations from 1978 to 1984. Sponsored and organised by Avon Products, a beauty and household goods company, it was the longest distance race within the Avon International Women's Running Circuit, which was created with the aim of promoting elite and grassroots road running for women. The circuit was headed by former runner Kathrine Switzer, whose efforts had led to the formal acceptance of women at the Boston Marathon.
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.
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