Marathon World Record Times in 2026: Men and Women
Check marathon world records with verified names, dates, and sanctioned race context.
Marathon World Record Times in 2026: Men and Women
Updated November 1, 2026 • U.S. English • Editorial draft
As of the November 1, 2026 review, the men’s marathon world record listed by World Athletics is 1:59:30, set by Sabastian Sawe of Kenya at the London Marathon on April 26, 2026. World Athletics announced its ratification on July 23, 2026. The women’s marathon record listing shows 2:09:56 by Ruth Chepngetich of Kenya, from the Chicago Marathon on October 13, 2024. The women-only marathon record is a separate category: 2:15:41 by Tigst Assefa, set at London on April 26, 2026.
Marathon world records: men, women and women-only
| Record category | Athlete | Time | Race/date |
| Men’s marathon | Sabastian Sawe (Kenya) | 1:59:30 | London, April 26, 2026 |
| Women’s marathon (mixed-race category) | Ruth Chepngetich (Kenya) | 2:09:56 | Chicago, Oct. 13, 2024 |
| Women-only marathon | Tigst Assefa (Ethiopia) | 2:15:41 | London, April 26, 2026 |
These are different classification categories, not three competing claims about one universal record. The figures should be checked against the governing body’s current records before a later update because record statuses can change following ratification, disqualification or other official decisions.
Why Sawe’s sub-two-hour marathon matters
In London on April 26, Sawe finished the official 42.195-km race in one hour, 59 minutes and 30 seconds. World Athletics subsequently listed the performance as a ratified men’s marathon world record. That crossed an important threshold: a sub-two-hour performance achieved in a record-eligible road race.
The distinction matters because earlier sub-two-hour exhibitions were not eligible for ordinary marathon world-record recognition. Controlled pacing arrangements, course eligibility and competition regulations can make an extraordinary performance a milestone without making it an official world record. World Athletics applies conditions to ratify record-setting performances.
The women’s record and the women-only category
World Athletics lists Chepngetich’s 2:09:56 at Chicago 2024 as the women’s marathon record. In the broader race classification, female athletes may share an event with male participants. World Athletics also maintains a women-only race category, where runners compete in a women-only field and conditions are evaluated under that classification.
Assefa’s 2:15:41 in London 2026 was announced and ratified as the women-only record. It should not replace 2:09:56 in a table headed simply “women’s marathon world record.” An article that fails to explain the categories can accidentally make the slower women-only performance appear to supersede the faster mixed-race mark.
How fast is a world-record marathon?
A marathon is exactly 42.195 km. Sawe’s 1:59:30 corresponds to roughly 2:50 per kilometer, or around 4:34 per mile. Chepngetich’s 2:09:56 averages approximately 3:05 per kilometer, or 4:57 per mile. These paces are rounded illustrations, not official split results.
To see the size of that effort, compare it with a four-hour marathon: approximately 5:41 per kilometer. Running twice as long at nearly twice the time does not mean training methods can simply be scaled; these performances represent different levels of endurance and speed. This article is a records reference, not a training prescription.
World records are not NYC Marathon race results
The marathon record is for the standardized distance across eligible events worldwide. The fastest time ever run at the NYC Marathon is a separate course-record question, and the 2026 NYC Marathon winner is another question entirely. A New York race-day news page should identify the actual winner only from verified race results, not from the world-record table.
A record can be set in a different city, year or course. The 2026 men’s marathon record listed here was run in London, not New York. For a distance explainer rather than records, read How Long Is a Marathon?
When this article should be updated
Check the latest World Athletics ratified record announcements, and consult the current event and all-time lists before changing any time. Note the precise record classification and whether a mark is pending confirmation. When updating the story, show the verification date without falsely presenting old record-setting performances as new events.
Frequently asked questions
What is the men’s marathon world record in 2026?
World Athletics ratified Sabastian Sawe’s 1:59:30 set in London on April 26, 2026.
What is the women’s marathon world record listed in 2026?
World Athletics lists Ruth Chepngetich’s 2:09:56 from Chicago on October 13, 2024.
Why is there a separate women-only marathon world record?
It is a distinct classification for women-only competitions; the record is not interchangeable with the women’s record in mixed-race settings.
Was the 2026 men’s record set at the NYC Marathon?
No. Sawe ran 1:59:30 at the London Marathon, not the New York City Marathon.