With the Fukuoka Marathon just completed, the fall marathon season (at least in terms of fast times) has come to its completion. From a competitive standpoint the Honolulu Marathon still awaits this Sunday morning December 8th.
But this is how the marathon year shook out in 2013 via the IAAF.org lists.
***
Top time of the year: 2:03:23 – Wilson Kipsang, Kenya – Berlin Marathon
3 < 2:04 2012 – 0
9 < 2:05 2012 – 11
14 < 2:06 2012 – 24
34 < 2:07 2012 – 51
60 < 2:08 2012 – 92
111 < 2:09 2012 – 153
184 < 2:10 2012 – 225
100th best of 2013: 2:08:46 – Abebe Negewo, Ethiopia – 4th, Beijing
Of 100 best times of 2013:
– 55 by Kenyans (including top 4)
– 34 by Ethiopians
– 4 by Japanese
– 3 by Eritreans
– 1 by runners from Morocco, Uganda, South Africa, France
First non Kenyan or Ethiopian on list: Abraham Tadese, Eritrea at 51st in 2:07:45
Top American: Dathan Ritzenhein, 5th in Chicago in 2:09:45
2nd best USA: Matt Tegenkamp, 10th in Chicago in 2:12:28
***
WOMEN
Top time of the year: 2:19:57 – Rita Jeptoo – Chicago
1 < 2:20 2012 – 6 (incl. 2 < 2:19)
3 < 2:21 2012 – 11
6 < 2:22 2012 – 18
9 < 2:23 2012 – 24
28 < 2:24 2012 – 44
39 < 2:25 2012 – 61
61 < 2:26 2012 – 88
80 < 2:27 2012 – 111
103 < 2:28 2012 – 143
128 < 2:29 2012 – 178
153 < 2:30 2012 – 207
100th best of 2013: 2:27:49 – Yukiko Akaba, Japan – 7th, Chicago
Of 100 best time of 2013:
– 42 by Ethiopians
– 26 by Kenyans (Including top 3)
– 11 by Japanese
– 3 by Russians
– 2 by Latvians; Ukrainians; Germans
– 1 by 12 other nations
Top American: Serena Burla, 2:28:01 – 5th, Amsterdam
Second USA: Desi Davila, 2:29:15, 5th, in Berlin
END
WANDERING IN A RUNNING WORLD 
Quite good times!
Rgds,
Matt
It’s remarkable that despite Wilson Kipsang’s new world record and the first time we’ve had two sub-2:04 finishers in one race (Chicago 2013), there were more fast times in 2012. It’s great that you put these stats together to show that both years were true outliers in the marathon world in their own ways.
I hadn’t realized that Ritz’s time in Chicago was the FASTEST American time of the year. I tip my hat to him, but it puts in stark perspective the enormous divide between our boys and the top, top tier of athletes. Thanks for the stats.
Fun stats. Thanks
Boston times not even in the hunt .
Regards, Patrick
>