Since Ibrahim Hussein outkicked Tanzania’s Juma Ikangaa in 1988 to becomeBoston’s first African champion, Kenyans have won a total of 18 Boston Marathon titles, Ethiopians 3, Italy and Korea 1 each.  It is the most dominant stretch ever seen by a single nation in Boston history. It included a 10 year win streak from 1991 to 2000.   

Previous 23 years,  1965 – 1987:

USA  8 wins – Japan 5 – England  3 – New Zealand, Australia, Colombia, Finland, Ireland, Canada  1

Previous 23 years, 1942 – 1964

Finland  6 -USA  3 – Canada  3 – Japan, Belgium, Korea  2 -Greece, Guatamala, Yugoslavia 1

Even as far back as the original 23 years from 1897 – 1919 when Boston was essentially a dual meet between the USA and Canada,

 16 USA –   7 Canada

From 1920 – 1941

 USA  15 – Canada  5 – Greece, Germany 1

    Boston isn’t alone.  The dominance ofEast African the world of marathon running has become so pervasive on both the men’s and women’s sides that it’s as if the rest of the world no longer competes at all.  Below are tables showing the number of men’s sub-2:10 marathons of 2010 and the corresponding number of women’s sub-2:30s.

Of 149 sub-2:10 Marathons in  2010

 Kenya    – 79 (53%)

Ethiopia  – 48 (32%)

USA         –   2 (.013%)

Of 135 sub-2:30 Marathons in 2010, Women

Ethiopia– 60  (44%)

Kenya    – 17  (12.5%)

Russia   – 15  (11%)

Japan     – 14  (10%)

USA      –   4  (.03%)