The Five Fastest Marathons Of All-Time
- By Mario Fraioli
- Published Oct. 13, 2011
- Updated Mar. 15, 2012 at 5:09 PM UTC
1. Geoffrey Mutai, 2:03:02
Kenyan Geoffrey Mutai shattered the course record at the 2011 Boston Marathon, taking 2:50 off the previous mark set just a year earlier. His time is not considered a world record, however, because of Boston's point-to-point net downhill course. Photo: PhotoRun.net
2. Moses Mosop, 2:03:06
Marathon rookie Moses Mosop ran what will probably be the fastest non-winning marathon of all-time earlier this year at Boston, finishing in 2:03:4 seconds behind Mutai in 2:03:06. Photo: PhotoRun.net
3. Patrick Makau, 2:03:38
Patrick Makau of Kenya took 21 seconds off Haile Gebrselassie's barrier-breaking mark last month at the BMW Berlin Marathon. Under IAAF rules, his time stands as the current world record. Photo: PhotoRun.net
4. Haile Gebrselassie, 2:03:59
Gebrselassie became the first sub-2:04 marathoner in history at the 2008 Berlin Marathon, breaking the tape in 2:03:59. Photo: PhotoRun.net
5. Duncan Kibet, 2:04:27
Duncan Kibet of Kenya won one of the closest major marathon finishes in history, running 2:04:27 to break the tape in Rotterdam in 2009. His countryman, James Kwambai, finished second in the same time. Photo: IAAF
FILED UNDER: Photos TAGS: Duncan Kibet / fastest marathons in history / Geoffrey Mutai / Haile Gebrselassie / Marathon World Record / Moses Mosop / Patrick Makau / Photo Gallery
Mario Fraioli
Mario Fraioli is a senior editor at Competitor magazine. A cross-country All-American at Stonehill College in 2003, he now coaches the Prado Women's Racing Team in San Diego and was the men's marathon coach for Costa Rica's 2012 Olympic team. His first book, The Official Rock 'n' Roll Guide To Marathon & Half-Marathon Training (VeloPress, 2013) is available in bookstores, running shops and online.
