List of all American sub-2:10 marathon performances

So we've had 36 sub 2:10 performances in our history?

Kenya has had more sub 2:06 performances than that.

And people still don't think there is a talent gap??

4 minutes is a lot. There is your gap.

Personally, I would take Khannouchi off of the list because he changed nationalities in the middle of his running career and it's pretty arbitrary for him just to show up on the list because he became an American. There at least needs to be an asterisk there.

Averaging the times out, to me it puts Hall, Meb, and Salazar as the top 3 American marathoners, with Hall a consistent 2:08 runner and Meb and Salazar as consistent 2:09 runners. And nobody in range of the top East Africans.

Someone should forward that list to Phil Hersch and ask him to base his Ryan Hall and Meb K comparison on it. I wonder what he would come up with being a sports 'journalist' and all.

If you are going to star the marathons that were wind aided, you should double-star the marathons that were under adverse conditions. Salazar and Beardsley's "Duel in the Sun" marathon, for example which was run through one of the hottest Boston Marathon days in history.

Really interesting list. Thanks for putting it together & posting.

Who will be the next new American name on the sub-2:10 list?

Ricky Rico wrote:

it's pretty arbitrary for him just to show up on the list because he became an American. There at least needs to be an asterisk there.

How is it arbitrary for an American citizen to be listed on an All Time American peformance list? Let's just delete all non-American born runners.

The top 10 is entirely Ryan Hall and Khalid Khannouchi.

1. Ryan Hall - 2:04:58 Boston 2011 (wind year)

4. Ryan Hall - 2:06:17 London 2008

7. Ryan Hall - 2:08:04 Chicago 2011

8. Ryan Hall - 2:08:24 London 2007

9. Ryan Hall - 2:08:41 Boston 2010

11. Bob Kempainen - 2:08:47 Boston 1994 (wind year)

13. Dick Beardsley - 2:08:53 Boston 1982

15. Greg Meyer - 2:09:00 Boston 1983 (wind year)

16. Ryan Hall - 2:09:02 Olympic Trials 2007

22. Bill Rodgers - 2:09:27 Boston 1979 (wind year I think)

24. Ron Tabb - 2:09:31 Boston 1983 (wind year)

25. David Morris - 2:09:32 Chicago 1999

26. Jerry Lawson - 2:09:35 Chicago 1997

27. Dick Beardsley - 2:09:37 Grandma's 1981

28. Ken Martin - 2:09:38 New York 1989

29. Ryan Hall - 2:09:40 Boston 2009

31. Alan Culpepper - 2:09:41 Chicago 2002

33. Bill Rodgers - 2:09:55 Boston 1975 (wind year)

36. Benji Durden - 2:09:57 Boston 1983 (wind year)

Could probably add Salazar's 2:08:13 from NYC in 1981, which is usually listed as 2:08:40 due to the short course at NYC.

mcgato wrote:

Could probably add Salazar's 2:08:13 from NYC in 1981, which is usually listed as 2:08:40 due to the short course at NYC.

Huh? Usually listed as 2:08:40? WTF? The course was short, it can't be listed at all.

My point is that if Makau suddenly became an American citizen and filled up the top 5 spots in the next few years, it wouldn't tell you anything about American running - it would just tell you about American immigration laws. It's the same deal with Khannouchi - he was a great runner but Morocco really deserves the credit for his career much more than the US.

In the case of Meb and Salazar, they've spent their entire careers in the American running system - their talent was identified and developed in the US.

Furthermore, what your list states is:

We've had 12 american born runners break 2:10 ever.

Last year alone Kenya and Ethiopia combined had, I believe, 99 or 100.

Ricky Rico wrote:

My point is that if Makau suddenly became an American citizen and filled up the top 5 spots in the next few years, it wouldn't tell you anything about American running - it would just tell you about American immigration laws. It's the same deal with Khannouchi - he was a great runner but Morocco really deserves the credit for his career much more than the US.

In the case of Meb and Salazar, they've spent their entire careers in the American running system - their talent was identified and developed in the US.

Khannouchi holds the American record. He competed in the USA Olympic Marathon Trials. While I agree that the "American running system" (whatever that is), doesn't deserve any credit for his career, my list was simply American runners who have run sub-2:10's. Khannouchi's sub-2:10 marathons that occurred while he was a US citizen appear on the list.

I guess it's interesting to note that if you limit your list to American born runners, the list goes from 36 to 20. But I've never heard of categorizing other events by American born or such a thing as "American born record" in any other event, so I don't know why we need to do that for the marathon.

Sir Lance-alot wrote:

Kenya has had more sub 2:06 performances than that.

Hey Lance, after last Sunday I count only 35 for KEN (14 in 2011).

ETH has 13 (Geb 5, Tsegay 3)

remainder of the sub 2:06's

MOR- 3 (KK 1x)

USA- 3 (KK 2x)

I do agree there is a talent gap. As well as a genetic gap, a social-economic gap, a political gap and desire gap between the US and East Africa.

Let's cut out aided courses (downhill and/or point-to-point) and see how it looks:

4. Ryan Hall - 2:06:17 London 2008

7. Ryan Hall - 2:08:04 Chicago 2011

8. Ryan Hall - 2:08:24 London 2007

16. Ryan Hall - 2:09:02 Olympic Trials 2007

25. David Morris - 2:09:32 Chicago 1999

26. Jerry Lawson - 2:09:35 Chicago 1997

28. Ken Martin - 2:09:38 New York 1989

31. Alan Culpepper - 2:09:41 Chicago 2002

Only five U.S.-born men have ever broken 2:10 on an unaided course.

noticer of things wrote:

Let's cut out aided courses (downhill and/or point-to-point) and see how it looks:..

How exactly can a downhill course NOT be point-to-point?

Just say "point-to-point" and you've got it covered.

Nope. It's entirely possible to have a course in which the start and finish are within the separation limit and yet exceed the maximum drop limit. I.e., the start and finish are close to each other but the finish is downhill from the start.

noticer of things wrote:

Nope. It's entirely possible to have a course in which the start and finish are within the separation limit and yet exceed the maximum drop limit. I.e., the start and finish are close to each other but the finish is downhill from the start.

still point to point you bafoon.

Nope. Point-to-point courses are by definition those which exceed the maximum allowable start and finish separation. This maximum is a percentage of the total distance. Courses with start and finish separation within the permissible amount are not point-to-point. Look it up.

fglrty wrote:

still point to point you bafoon.

noticer of things is right, you are wrong. Deal with it.

BTW, if you are going to question someone's intelligence, it is better if you don't put your own shortcomings on display; the word is "buffoon", from the Italian "buffare".

London will be OG record wrote:

Sir Lance-alot wrote:

Kenya has had more sub 2:06 performances than that.

Hey Lance, after last Sunday I count only 35 for KEN (14 in 2011).

ETH has 13 (Geb 5, Tsegay 3)

remainder of the sub 2:06's

MOR- 3 (KK 1x)

USA- 3 (KK 2x)

I do agree there is a talent gap. As well as a genetic gap, a social-economic gap, a political gap and desire gap between the US and East Africa.

----------------------------

You are wrong. 36 here and that's before NYC.

1 2:03:02a Geoffrey Mutai KEN 07.10.81 1 Boston 18.04.2011

2 2:03:06a Moses Mosop KEN 17.07.85 2 Boston 18.04.2011

3 2:03:38 Patrick Makau KEN 02.03.85 1 Berlin 25.09.2011

4 2:03:42 William Kipsang KEN 26.06.77 1 Frankfurt 30.10.2011

5 2:03:59 Haile Gebrselassie ETH 18.04.73 1 Berlin 28.09.2008

6 2:04:26 Haile Gebrselassie ETH 18.04.73 1 Berlin 30.09.2007

7 2:04:27 Duncan Kipkemboi Kibet KEN 25.04.78 1 Rotterdam 05.04.2009

7 2:04:27 James Kipsang Kwambai KEN 28.02.83 2 Rotterdam 05.04.2009

9 2:04:40 Emmanuel Mutai KEN 12.10.84 1 London 17.04.2011

10 2:04:48 Patrick Makau KEN 02.03.85 1 Rotterdam 11.04.2010

11 2:04:53 Haile Gebrselassie ETH 18.04.73 1 Dubai 18.01.2008

11 2:04:53a Gebre-egziabher Gebremariam ETH 10.09.84 3 Boston 18.04.2011

13 2:04:55 Paul Tergat KEN 17.06.69 1 Berlin 28.09.2003

13 2:04:55 Geoffrey Mutai KEN 07.10.81 2 Rotterdam 11.04.2010

15 2:04:56 Sammy Korir KEN 12.12.71 2 Berlin 28.09.2003

16 2:04:57 Wilson Kipsang Kiprotich KEN 15.03.82 1 Frankfurt 31.10.2010

17 2:04:58a Ryan Hall USA 14.10.82 4 Boston 18.04.2011

18 2:05:04 Abel Kirui KEN 04.06.82 3 Rotterdam 05.04.2009

19 2:05:08 Patrick Makau KEN 02.03.85 1 Berlin 26.09.2010

20 2:05:10 Samuel Wanjiru KEN 10.11.86 1 London 26.04.2009

20 2:05:10 Geoffrey Mutai KEN 07.10.81 2 Berlin 26.09.2010

22 2:05:13 Vincent Kipruto KEN 13.09.87 3 Rotterdam 11.04.2010

23 2:05:15 Martin Lel KEN 29.10.78 1 London 13.04.2008

24 2:05:16 Levi Matebo KEN 03.11.89 2 Frankfurt 30.10.2011

25 2:05:18 Tsegay Kebede ETH 15.01.87 1 Fukuoka 06.12.2009

26 2:05:19 Tsegay Kebede ETH 15.01.87 1 London 25.04.2010

27 2:05:20 Tsegay Kebede ETH 15.01.87 2 London 26.04.2009

28 2:05:23 Lelisa Gemechu Feyisa ETH 01.02.90 4 Rotterdam 11.04.2010

29 2:05:24 Samuel Wanjiru KEN 10.11.86 2 London 13.04.2008

30 2:05:25 Bado Worku ETH 22.07.88 3 Berlin 26.09.2010

30 2:05:25 Albert Matebor KEN 20.12.80 3 Frankfurt 30.10.2011

32 2:05:27 Jaouad Gharib MAR 22.05.72 3 London 26.04.2009

32 2:05:27 Wilson Chebet KEN 07.12.85 1 Rotterdam 10.04.2011

34 2:05:29 Haile Gebrselassie ETH 18.04.73 1 Dubai 16.01.2009

35 2:05:30 Abderrahim Goumri MAR 21.05.76 3 London 13.04.2008

36 2:05:33 Vincent Kipruto KEN 13.09.87 2 Rotterdam 10.04.2011

37 2:05:36 James Kipsang Kwambai KEN 28.02.83 2 Berlin 28.09.2008

38 2:05:37 Moses Mosop KEN 17.07.85 1 Chicago 09.10.2011

39 2:05:38 Khalid Khannouchi USA 22.12.71 1 London 14.04.2002

40 2:05:39 Eliud Kiptanui KEN 06.06.89 1 Praha 09.05.2010

41 2:05:41 Samuel Wanjiru KEN 10.11.86 1 Chicago 11.10.2009

42 2:05:42 Khalid Khannouchi MAR 22.12.71 1 Chicago 24.10.1999

43 2:05:44 Getu Feleke ETH 28.11.86 1 Amsterdam 17.10.2010

44 2:05:45 Martin Lel KEN 29.10.78 2 London 17.04.2011

44 2:05:45 Patrick Makau KEN 02.03.85 3 London 17.04.2011

46 2:05:47 Vincent Kipruto KEN 13.09.87 1 Paris 05.04.2009

47 2:05:48 Paul Tergat KEN 17.06.69 2 London 14.04.2002

47 2:05:48 Jafred Chirchir KEN 83 1 Eindhoven 09.10.2011

49 2:05:49 William Kipsang KEN 26.06.77 1 Rotterdam 13.04.2008

50 2:05:50 Evans Rutto KEN 08.04.78 1 Chicago 12.10.2003

51 2:05:52a Robert Kiprono Cheruiyot KEN 10.08.88 1 Boston 19.04.2010

52 2:05:53 Wilson Chebet KEN 07.12.85 1 Amsterdam 16.10.2011

53 2:05:56 Khalid Khannouchi USA 22.12.71 1 Chicago 13.10.2002

53 2:05:56 Haile Gebrselassie ETH 18.04.73 1 Berlin 24.09.2006

55 2:06:04 Abderrahim Goumri MAR 21.05.76 2 Chicago 11.10.2009