Almost time to update my 5 year stats.
Despite supershoes since 2016, there was no noticeable improvements of the top 5 Kenyans from 2015 - 2019.
Despite (or because of) the pandemic and despite the shorter time period, they improved by a full minute on average after 2020. Yesterday was also the first time that a second Kenyan (after Kipchoge in 2018) ran faster than Kimetto back in 2014.
Kenyan top marathon performers, 2010 – 2014
2:02:57 – Kimetto Berlin 2014
2:03:13 – Mutai Berlin 2014
2:03:23 – Kipsang Berlin 2013 – banned 2020
2:03:38 – Makau Berlin 2011
2:04:11 – Kipchoge Chicago 2014
Average: 2:03:28 (1x 2:02, 3x 2:03, 1x 2:04)
Kenyan top marathon performers, 2015 – 2019
2:01:39 – Kipchoge Berlin 2018
2:03:13 – Kipsang Berlin 2016 – banned 2020
2:03:51 – Biwott London 2016
2:04:06 – Cherono Amsterdam 2018 – banned 2022
2:04:11 – Kipserem Rotterdam 2019 – banned 2022
Average 2:03:24 (1x 2:01, 2x 2:03, 2x 2:04)
Kenyan top marathon performers, 2020 – 2022
2:01:09 – Kipchoge Berlin 2022
2:01:53 – Kiptum Valencia 2022
2:02:57 – Ekiru Milano 2021
2:03:00 – Cherono Valencia 2020 – banned 2022
2:03:13 – Kipruto Tokyo 2020
Average 2:02:24 (2x 2:01, 1x 2:02, 2x 2:03)