Marathon World Record Progression Comparison (Men)
Compare 13 mens marathon world records, from Hayes 2:55:18 to Kiptum 2:00:35. World Athletics data in a linked tool. See bars here. Verified. Verified now.
Visual comparison
All values
Click any row to load it as Entry A.
| Name | Value | Context | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hayes 2:55:18 1908 Slowest here at 175.3 min. | 175.3 minutes | 1908 London Olympics | World Athletics progression: Hayes 2:55:18 London 1908 |
| Shigematsu 2:12:00 1965 132.0 min. | 132 minutes | 1965 Chiswick | World Athletics progression: Shigematsu 2:12:00 Chiswick 1965 |
| Clayton 2:09:36 1967 129.6 min. | 129.6 minutes | 1967 Fukuoka, first sub 2:10 | World Athletics Clayton article: 2:09:36 Fukuoka 1967 |
| Clayton 2:08:33 1969 128.55 min. | 128.55 minutes | 1969 Antwerp, first sub 2:09 | World Athletics Clayton article: 2:08:33 Antwerp 1969 |
| Tergat 2:04:55 2003 124.92 min. | 124.92 minutes | 2003 Berlin, first ratified sub 2:05 | World Athletics progression: Tergat 2:04:55 Berlin 2003 |
| Gebrselassie 2:04:26 2007 124.43 min. | 124.43 minutes | 2007 Berlin | World Athletics progression: Gebrselassie 2:04:26 Berlin 2007 |
| Gebrselassie 2:03:59 2008 123.98 min. | 123.98 minutes | 2008 Berlin, first sub 2:04 | World Athletics progression: Gebrselassie 2:03:59 Berlin 2008 |
| Makau 2:03:38 2011 123.63 min. | 123.63 minutes | 2011 Berlin | World Athletics Makau report: 2:03:38 Berlin 2011 |
| Kipsang 2:03:23 2013 123.38 min. | 123.38 minutes | 2013 Berlin | World Athletics progression: Kipsang 2:03:23 Berlin 2013 |
| Kimetto 2:02:57 2014 122.95 min. | 122.95 minutes | 2014 Berlin | World Athletics progression: Kimetto 2:02:57 Berlin 2014 |
| Kipchoge 2:01:39 2018 121.65 min. | 121.65 minutes | 2018 Berlin | World Athletics progression: Kipchoge 2:01:39 Berlin 2018 |
| Kipchoge 2:01:09 2022 121.15 min. | 121.15 minutes | 2022 Berlin | World Athletics progression: Kipchoge 2:01:09 Berlin 2022 |
| Kiptum 2:00:35 2023 Fastest here at 120.58 min. | 120.58 minutes | 2023 Chicago, latest here | World Athletics ratification release: Kiptum 2:00:35 Chicago 2023 |
About this converter
World Athletics progression tables fix thirteen mens marathon world records from 1908 to 2023. Johnny Hayes 1908 holds 175.3 minutes for 2:55:18, Morio Shigematsu 1965 holds 132.0 for 2:12:00, Derek Clayton 1967 holds 129.6 for 2:09:36, Clayton 1969 holds 128.55 for 2:08:33, Paul Tergat 2003 holds 124.92 for 2:04:55, Haile Gebrselassie 2007 holds 124.43 for 2:04:26, Gebrselassie 2008 holds 123.98 for 2:03:59, Patrick Makau 2011 holds 123.63 for 2:03:38, Wilson Kipsang 2013 holds 123.38 for 2:03:23, Dennis Kimetto 2014 holds 122.95 for 2:02:57, Eliud Kipchoge 2018 holds 121.65 for 2:01:39, Kipchoge 2022 holds 121.15 for 2:01:09 and Kelvin Kiptum 2023 holds 120.58 for 2:00:35. Kiptum at 120.58 is the latest ratified record here. Pre 2003 marks were world bests before formal ratification.
How to use it
Pick two marks and the minute unit in the top row. The three boxes below stay linked. Change any box and the other two update. Try Hayes 1908 against Kiptum 2023 to feel the 54.7 minute gap. Times read in decimal minutes straight since only one unit exists.
Marks follow World Athletics record progression tables. Hayes at 175.3 corrects older tables that name McDonald for 1908. Tergat at 124.92 was the first formally ratified sub 2:05 mark. Kiptum at 120.58 was ratified in February 2024. Later marks past 2023 stay out of this table. Berlin hosts nine of the thirteen rows, which shows its fast course role.
FAQ
What is the marathon record here?
Kelvin Kiptum 2023 in 2:00:35 at Chicago.
Who ran the first mark?
Johnny Hayes in 1908, not McDonald as older tables claim.
How many rows are Berlin?
Nine of thirteen rows, from Tergat 2003 to Kipchoge 2022.
What changed in 2003?
Pre 2003 marks were recognized world bests. Formal ratification starts with Tergat.
Sources
- World Athletics progression: Hayes 2:55:18, Shigematsu 2:12:00, Clayton 2:09:36 and 2:08:33
- World Athletics progression and reports: Tergat 2:04:55 through Kipsang 2:03:23
- World Athletics progression and ratification: Kimetto 2:02:57 through Kiptum 2:00:35
Last verified: 2026-10-08 · 13 entries
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