I’m a statistics junkie, especially when it comes to history & records in sports. I really feel that as a runner and former cross-country and track & field student athlete, I should know the history and legends in road racing, marathon and track. And if you’ve never looked at the fastest marathon times by an American, I’ve got you covered.
Are they legit? Oh yea, they’re completely legit and verified times. And to make you feeling a bit more baffled, I’ve shown their pace so you can cringe a little more. Remember, that’s the average pace gone through the entire 26.2-mile battle.
Just a reminder: The Boston Marathon, for our glorious it is, is not recognized/ratified as an official course to qualify times in IAAF record books. Any times run at Boston in the top 25 are still and will always be included in the American records.
1. Ryan Hall—2:04:58 (4:45/mile), Boston Marathon, 2011
- Khalid Khannouchi—2:05:38 (4:47/mile), London Marathon, 2002
- Dathan Ritzenhein—2:07:47 (4:52/mile), Chicago Marathon, 2012
- Meb Keflezighi—2:08:37 (4:54/mile), Boston Marathon, 2014
- Bob Kempainen—2:08:47 (4:54/mile), Boston Marathon, 1994
- Alberto Salazar—2:08:52 (4:54/mile), Boston Marathon, 1982
- Dick Beardsley—2:08:54 (4:54/mile), Boston Marathon, 1982
- Abdi Abdirahman—2:08:56 (4:55/mile), Chicago Marathon, 2006
- Greg Meyer—2:09:00 (4:55/mile), Boston Marathon, 1983
- Bill Rodgers—2:09:27 (4:56/mile), Boston Marathon, 1979
- Ron Tabb—2:09:31 (4:56/mile), Boston Marathon, 1983
- David Morris—2:09:32 (4:56/mile), Chicago Marathon, 1999
- Jerry Lawson—2:09:35 (4:56/mile), Chicago Marathon, 1997
- Ken Martin—2:09:38 (4:56/mile), New York City Marathon, 1989
- Alan Culpepper—2:09:41 (4:56/mile), Chicago Marathon, 2002
- Benji Durden—2:09:57 (4:57/mile), Boston Marathon, 1983
- Pat Petersen—2:10:04 (4:57/mile), London Marathon, 1989
- Phil Coppess—2:10:05 (4:57/mile), Twin Cities Marathon, 1985
- Ed Mendoza—2:10:07 (4:57/mile), Boston Marathon, 1983
- Jeff Wells—2:10:16 (4:58/mile), Boston Marathon, 1983
- Tony Sandoval—2:10:19 (4:58/mile), U.S. Olympic Trials (Buffalo), 1980
- Garry Bjorklund—2:10:20 (4:58/mile), Grandma’s Marathon, 1980
- Craig Virgin—2:10:27 (4:58/mile), Boston Marathon, 1981
- Kirk Pfeffer—2:10:29 (4:58/mile), Fukuoka Marathon, 1980
- Frank Shorter—2:10:30 (4:58/mile), Fukuoka Marathon, 1972
