Is Catherine Ndereba The Greatest Female Marathoner in History? Rank Your Top 10 Here

No to 2012 wrote:

PeteRose wrote:

#1 right now (historically speaking) is Joan Benoit hands down. Her times from nearly 30 years ago on tougher courses still rival the world's top times. (obviously Paula's WR is a good deal below those, but still)

Really?

Benoit’s PB is 2.21.21.

Really. 2.21.21 is still a very, very burly time for a women's marathon.

I think this question is very boring if you just point to the world record holder and say that they are the best because, gee, no one has run faster. For all time greatest we should really be looking at records set, major victories, longevity, gap between them and other athletes, etc.

That said, Paula is obviously a great candidate (and an Olympic Gold would, IMHO, put it completely beyond question), but if you can't make a good case for N'dereba, Kristiansen, or Benoit-Samuelson then you aren't really trying.

In an event it is tough to be consistent in, Ndereba is remarkably consistent in major championships.

Either 1st or 2nd in every major championship the last 5 years.

Yes, she has earned the moniker "Catherine the Great".

I was a spectator at Chicago when Joanie ran her 2:21:21 in '85. She and Kristiansen were sharing a water bottle, passing it back and forth around mile 20. I thought that was very cool.

I think Catherine right now is #1 because she has beaten good competition on a number of occasions.

Once Paula wins a world title or an olympic medal, then she will have cemented #1 status. Catherine has won a lot of major marathons and medaled in the olympics, but Paula's WR's to me are much more superior. Taking 3 minutes off your PR at Catherine's level is more than just a PR, it's a major improvement. Yet, that's what Catherine would have to do to match Paula's best.

Joanie could be either 1, 2, or 3. She was the first olympic gold medalist, she still runs faster than 99% of the marathoning community (men and women). We should all be so lucky to be that fast when we are her age.

Random Lurker Guy wrote:

I think Catherine right now is #1 because she has beaten good competition on a number of occasions.

Once Paula wins a world title or an olympic medal, then she will have cemented #1 status. Catherine has won a lot of major marathons and medaled in the olympics, but Paula's WR's to me are much more superior. Taking 3 minutes off your PR at Catherine's level is more than just a PR, it's a major improvement. Yet, that's what Catherine would have to do to match Paula's best.

Joanie could be either 1, 2, or 3. She was the first olympic gold medalist, she still runs faster than 99% of the marathoning community (men and women). We should all be so lucky to be that fast when we are her age.

paula did win a world championship in the marathon.

Catherine Ndereba has earned the name Catherine the Great because she is the only person on this list named Catherine

paula is a choke artist. just like the cubs. joan benoit all the way.

I am surprised Lynn Petronella is not on that list

Nderaba is great, but not the greatest. That title must go to Paula.

2002

1st London 2:18:56

1st Chicago 2:17:18

2003

1st London 2:15:25

2004

DNF Olympics, Athens

1st New York 2:23:10

2005

1st London 2:17:42

1st World Champs 2:20:57

2007

1st New York 2:23:09

2008

23rd Olympics, Beijing 2:32:38

despite the disappointment in the OG I still dont' see anyone with a better overall record that Paula.

Good list

Bazza, I respectfully don't agree. You can't compare these road-whore marathons in cool conditions, with major championship marathons often in harsh conditions.

I don't think Catherine gets the respect she TRULY deserves.

Athens, Osaka, Beijing VS London & NY...c'mon.

silly old fossil wrote:

Bazza, I respectfully don't agree. You can't compare these road-whore marathons in cool conditions, with major championship marathons often in harsh conditions.

I don't think Catherine gets the respect she TRULY deserves.

Athens, Osaka, Beijing VS London & NY...c'mon.

Pursuing that line of line of reasoning, the topic’s over and done with.

The Japanese clearly have had the best female marathon runners in the world, boasting two Olympic champions with Takahashi and Noguchi.

And the best female marathon runner in the world right now must be Tomescu.

How can you place 23rd in the Olympics and be considered the greatest ever? Rubbish.

No to 2012 wrote:

Pursuing that line of line of reasoning, the topic’s over and done with.

The Japanese clearly have had the best female marathon runners in the world, boasting two Olympic champions with Takahashi and Noguchi.

And the best female marathon runner in the world right now must be Tomescu.

To be honest I think Takahashi and Noguchi should be higher in the rankings.

Noguchi has only run five marathons, but she has won four of them and the two times she has ran in major competitions she has finished second or higher.

As for Takahashi, she won the Olympic Gold in Olympic record time and held the world record. However, running a 2hr 21min marathon in Bangkok in 85% relative humidity is pretty special.

I am not saying either of them are he greatest of all time, but they should be ranked higher...I mean Noguchi is not even on the list.

As for Ndereba...I think she is a great runner, but she does not really run like one. I just wish she would attack more rather than react.

For mine Paula is the greatest, though Joan is a close second.

POTUS)* wrote:

How can you place 23rd in the Olympics and be considered the greatest ever? Rubbish.

er... perhaps because when determining greatness you should consider all of PR's races and not just one???

Deena Castor is definately number 1.

and shes a REaL american.

Who would you put your money on in a head to head between PR and CN in the last 5 years (or even next year at the World Champs)? For me a fit Paula R. would start favourite for any marathon, including World Champs/Olympics, and is far and away the greatest female marathoners of the current era. Comparing her to past greats is tricky but I think she still has the edge.

Margaret Okayo deserves more consideration

I would have ranked Radcliffe ahead of Ndereba, until this year. Ndereba has defeated Radcliffe at the last two Olympics by tremendous margins.

1. Catherine Ndereba (Kenya)

~ 2003 WC Gold

~ 2004 Oly Silver

~ 2005 WC Silver

~ 2007 WC Gold

~ 2008 Oly Silver

~ Boston (4x), Chicago (2x), Osaka

2. Rosa Mota (Portugal)

~ 1983 WC 4th

~ 1984 Oly Bronze

~ 1987 WC Gold

~ 1988 Oly Gold

~ Euro (Gold x 3), Chicago (2x), Boston (3x), London, Rotterdam, Tokyo, Osaka (won 14 of 21 Marathons)

3. Lidia Simon (Romania)

~ 1997 WC Bronze

~ 1999 WC Bronze

~ 2000 Oly Silver

~ 2001 WC Gold

~ 2007 WC 5th

4. Naoko Takhashi

~ 2000 Oly Gold

~ Berlin (2x), Nagoya (2x), Asia (Gold), Tokyo, WR/OR

5. Joan Benoit-Samuelson

~ 1984 Oly Gold

~ Boston (2x), Chicago, WR/OR

6. Grete Waitz (Norway)

~ 1983 WC Gold

~ 1984 Oly Silver

~ New York (9x), London, WR

7. Mizuki Noguchi

~ 2003 WC Silver

~ 2004 Oly Gold

8. Paula Radcliffe (GBR)

~ 2005 WC Gold

~ London (3x), New York (2x), Chicago, WR

9. Constantina Tomescu-Dita (ROM)

~ 2005 WC Bronze

~ 2008 Oly Gold

10. Yuko Arimori (JPN)

~ 1992 Oly Silver

~ 1996 Oly Bronze

11. Katrin Dorre (GER)

~ 1988 Oly Bronze

~ 1991 WC Bronze

~ 1993 WC 6th

12. Manuela Machado (ROM)

~ 1993 WC Silver

~ 1995 WC Gold

~ 1997 WC Silver

~ 1999 WC 7th

13. Tegla Loroupe (KEN)

~ Rotterdam (3x), New York (2x), Berlin, London, Rome, WR