I can’t even start to imagine how these ten runners achieved the time they did over such a long course, but they did indeed run the London marathon in these times and some of them are now well-known sporting celebrities…
Daniel Wanjiru, Kenya
10 – Daniel Wanjiru, Kenya (Year: 2017 – Time: 2:05:48)
Wiki Info: Wanjiru started his career in the non-profit team Run2gether (founded by former Austrian orienteering champion Thomas Krejci) winning several road races mainly in Austria and Italy.
Khalid Khannouchi, United States
9 – Khalid Khannouchi, United States (Year: 2002 – Time: 2:05:38)
Wiki Info: He was born in Meknes, Morocco. He is the former world record holder for the marathon and held the former road world best for the 20 km distance. He is one of only five men to break the marathon world record more than once, and one of only four to break their own marathon world record.
Tsegaye Kebede, Ethiopia
8 – Tsegaye Kebede, Ethiopia (Year: 2010 – Time: 2:05:19)
Wiki Info: Tsegaye Kebede Wordofa (Amharic: ፀጋየ ከበደ ዎርዶፋ; born 15 January 1987) is an Ethiopian long-distance runner who competes in road running events, including marathons. He quickly rose to become a prominent distance runner after his international debut at the Amsterdam Marathon in 2007.
Martin Lel, Kenya
7 – Martin Lel, Kenya (Year: 2012 – Time: 2:05:15)
Wiki Info: Martin Kiptolo Lel (born 29 October 1978) is a Kenyan long distance and marathon runner. He won the London Marathon in 2005, 2007, and 2008, the New York City Marathon in 2003 and 2007 and the Great North Run in 2007 and 2009.
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Samuel Wanjiru, Kenya
6 – Samuel Wanjiru, Kenya (Year: 2012 – Time: 2:05:10)
Wiki Info: Samuel Kamau Wanjiru (10 November 1986 – 15 May 2011) was a Kenyan athlete who specialised in long-distance running. He set the current 10000m World Junior Record (improvement by 22 seconds) in 2005 and broke the world record in the half marathon when he was 18 years old.
Emmanuel Mutai, Kenya
5 – Wilson Kipsang, Kenya (Year: 2012 – Time: 2:04:44)
Wiki Info: Kipsang is a two-time winner of the Frankfurt Marathon (2010 and 2011) and has also won the London Marathon (2012 and 2014), New York Marathon (2014), and Tokyo Marathon (2017).
Eliud Kipchoge, Kenya
4 – Eliud Kipchoge, Kenya (Year: 2015 – Time: 2:04:42)
Wiki Info: An Olympic 5000 m bronze for Kenya followed at the 2004 Athens Olympics and he took another bronze at the 2006 IAAF World Indoor Championships.
Emmanuel Mutai, Kenya
3 – Emmanuel Mutai, Kenya (Year: 2011 – Time: 2:04:40)
Wiki Info: Emmanuel Kipchirchir Mutai (born 12 October 1984) is a long distance runner from Kenya, who specialises in marathons. He is now the joint 4th fastest man ever over the 42.195 km distance.
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Wilson Kipsang, Kenya
2 – Wilson Kipsang, Kenya (Year: 2014 – Time: 2:04:29)
Wiki Info: Wilson Kipsang Kiprotich (born 15 March 1982) is a Kenyan athlete who specialises in long-distance running, competing in events ranging from 10 km to the marathon.
Eliud Kipchoge, Kenya
1 – Eliud Kipchoge, Kenya (Year: 2016 – Time: 2:03:05)
Wiki Info: Eliud Kipchoge (born 5 November 1984 in Kapsisiywa, Nandi District) is a Kenyan long distance runner, and the 2016 Olympic marathon gold medallist. He has been described as “the greatest marathoner of the modern era”.