Top Ten Best Marathon Runners In the World
On this list we will provide the rankings on who is currently or was the best Men and Women Marathon Runners from around the world.
Was a current world record holder, with a record time of 2:03.23 at the Berlin Marathon 2013. One of the fastest marathon times ever seen.
When you can run a 4:35 mile for 26.2 miles, even with all the specialized help like pacers, shoes, and looped courses, that is something special. No one talks about how the same materials didn't help Lelisa and Tadese. They had the same advantage as Kipchoge but could only handle the pace for half the distance. Don't even think guys like Kipsang, Bekele, and Kimetto would have been able to keep that pace.
He only came in second once in a marathon, and has won all others with a strong field. After his only loss, he came back strong and has such a perfect running form, wasting no energy unlike other elite marathon runners.
Is currently one of the best marathon runners to support Team USA, with a time of 2:08:37 at the Boston Marathon 2014. First American to win the Boston Marathon.
Current world record holder, with a marathon time of 2:02.57 at the Berlin Marathon 2014. Fastest marathon time ever seen or recorded.
I admired Paula for a while, but she gave up when she started losing. It should have given her the incentive to keep going and get to the top of her game again, but it didn't. She gave up, and it's such a shame. Fantastic runner at her peak, though.
Is currently the best female marathon runner ever seen, with a time of 2:15.25 at the London Marathon 2003. Holds the female world record.
Is the top marathon runner from Ethiopia and still holds the nation's best marathon time of 2:03:59 at the Berlin Marathon 2007. Also held the World Record.
He is from Ethiopia, and I mean that Ethiopia is the best country in the world.
Khalid Khannouchi could be called the best marathon runner to support Team USA with a time of 2:05.38 at the London Marathon 2002.
Fastest American marathoner, with a time of 2:04.58 at the 2011 Boston Marathon. He currently holds the U.S. record in the half marathon.
Is one of the most famous marathon and long-distance runners to ever support Kenya, with a marathon time and personal best of 2:07:14 at the Boston Marathon 2010. Broke the all-time Boston Marathon course record.
Steve Jones is ranked one of the best marathon runners from the United Kingdom, with a time of 2:08.05 at the Chicago Marathon 1984.
Steve Jones would probably run sub-2:04 with today's technology. He is probably the most natural marathoner that has ever lived.
One of the hardest marathon runners ever, but a very down-to-earth person. Should have been Olympic, World, European, and Commonwealth marathon champion.
The Newcomers
With a marathon time of 2:06:05 at the 2011 Amsterdam Marathon, he can be considered one of the best runners to support Team Kenya.
With a marathon time of 2:08:05 at the 2015 Warszawa Marathon, he is one of the best marathon runners in the world.
Ronaldo Da Costa is the best marathon runner from Brazil with a time of 2:06.05 at the Berlin Marathon.
Is one of the most famous American marathon runners to ever support the USA, with a marathon time of 2:22.43 at the Boston Marathon 1983.
Is considered one of the best marathoners to ever support Kenya, with an Olympic record time of 2:12.11 at the 1968 Olympic Marathon in Tokyo.
Abebe Bikila was Ethiopian and represented Ethiopia.
Is one of the top-ranked marathon runners to ever run for the country of Ethiopia, with a marathon time of 2:06.38 at the Beijing Olympics 2008.
Paul Tergat is one of Kenya's best marathon runners, with a time of 2:04.55 at the Berlin Marathon 2003. He also held the world record.
Is one of Kenya's top marathon runners and for a period of time held the record, with a time of 2:03.38 at the Berlin Marathon 2011.
Is currently the best female marathon runner from Kenya, with a record time of 2:17:18 at the Chicago Marathon. She also held the World Record.
Carlos Lopes is ranked as one of the best Portuguese marathon runners with a time of 2:07.12 at the Rotterdam Marathon 1985.
Easily one of the best marathon runners of the 20th century, she was European, World, and Olympic Champion at the same time period (1986-1988). She also won Boston (the first non-American woman to achieve back-to-back wins), Chicago, Tokyo, and London - meaning she only missed two modern majors. She won almost 70% of all marathons she ran.
Rosa Mota was considered one of the best female marathon runners of all time, clocking in at 2:24.30 at the Boston Marathon in 1988.
Greg Meyer was one of the best American long distance runners ever, with a marathon time of 2:09 flat at the 1983 Boston Marathon.
With a marathon time of 2:28.01 at the 2011 Amsterdam Marathon, she is one of the top marathon runners in the United States.
Robert De Castella is one of the best marathon runners ever to support the Australian team, with a time of 2:08.37 at the 1982 Rotterdam Marathon.
Robert De Castella is one of the top-ranked runners from Australia with a marathon time of 2:08.18 at the Fukuoka Marathon 1981.
Is one of the best marathon runners for Kenya, with a marathon time of 2:05.10 at the 2009 London Marathon. He currently holds the course record.
He is now dead, having died at the age of 24 by falling from a balcony.
Is most likely ranked one of the greatest marathon and long-distance runners ever to run for the country of Norway, with a marathon time of 2:21:06 at the London Marathon.
In 2007, Keitany earned a silver medal at her debut performance at the IAAF World Road Running Championships. With a marathon time of 2:18:37 at the 2012 London Marathon, she can be considered one of the fastest women marathon runners.