World Marathon Majors
| Sport | Marathon running |
|---|---|
| Founded | 2006 |
| No. of teams | individual sport |
| Official website | www |
The World Marathon Majors (WMM) sponsored by Abbott Laboratories is a championship-style competition for marathon runners that started in 2006. A points-based competition founded on seven major marathon races recognised as the most high-profile on the calendar, the series comprises annual races for the cities of Tokyo, Boston, London, Sydney, Berlin, Chicago and New York.
In addition, the Abbott World Marathon Majors includes the results of any major global championship marathon held in that year. These races are the biennial World Athletics Championships Marathon, and the quadrennial Olympic Games Marathon.[1]
History
Each World Marathon Majors series originally spanned two full calendar years; the second year of a series overlapped with the first year of the next. Starting in 2015, each series began with a defined city race and ended with the following race in the same city. So, series IX started in February 2015 at the 2015 Tokyo Marathon and ended there in February 2016 at the 2016 Tokyo Marathon. Series X started at the 2016 Boston Marathon and finished at the 2017 Boston Marathon. Series XI started at the 2017 London Marathon and finished at the 2018 London Marathon.
Initial major sponsor Abbott Laboratories added its name in 2015.[2] On April 26, 2017, Dalian Wanda Group Co., Ltd., one of the leading Chinese private conglomerates, announced a ten-year strategic partnership aimed at the continued growth and development of marathon events worldwide.
Beginning with Series X at the 2016 Boston Marathon, wheelchair competitions were added for men and women.
At the end of each of the first 10 WMM series the leading man and woman each won $500,000, making a total prize of one million U.S. dollars. Beginning with Series XI, the prize structure was revised so that for men and women first place became $250,000, second place $50,000 and third place $25,000. In the wheelchair division the prize money for men and women is $50,000 (first), $25,000 (second) and $10,000 (third).
In November 2024, it was announced that the Sydney Marathon would be added as the seventh race in the World Marathon Majors. The inaugural Sydney event in the series will be August 31, 2025.[3] Also in November 2024, the Cape Town Marathon passed stage 1, with stage 2 evaluation set for October 2025 and possible inclusion as a major in 2026.[4] Earlier in 2024, the Shanghai Marathon was announced as a major candidate and began the three year evaluation process.[5][6]
Scoring system
Athletes who competed in the marathons originally received points for finishing in any of the top five places (1st place: 25 points; 2nd place: 15 points; 3rd place: 10 points; 4th place: 5 points; 5th place: 1 point). Their four highest ranks over the two-year period were counted; if an athlete scored points in more than this number, the athlete's four best races were scored. To be eligible for the jackpot, an athlete had to compete in at least one qualifying race in each calendar year of the series.
In 2015, the scoring was revised (1st place: 25 points; 2nd place: 16 points; 3rd place: 9 points; 4th place: 4 points; 5th place: 1 point). The two highest ranks during the scoring period would be counted, with only the best two if more than that number.
For the first three series if there were equal top scores at the end of the competition the tiebreakers were head-to-head competition and, if necessary, a majority vote of the five WMM race directors. This happened in the 2007–08 women's competition.
Beginning in the 2009–10 season, following best head-to-head record, the following tie-breakers were implemented, in descending order: the person who achieved his or her points in the fewest races, the person who won the most qualifying races during the period, the person with the fastest average time in their scoring races, and a majority vote of the six-race directors. If the final circumstance is necessary, the race directors could award the title jointly.
Major marathons by year
The following marathons have been part of the series in each year:
Major marathons champions
Men's
Women's
Men's wheelchair
Women's wheelchair
Winners by season
The winners by season listed below.[15]
Men's series winners
Women's series winners
| Season | No. | Start event | Final event | Winner | Country | Points | Notes | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–07 | I | 2006 Boston | 2007 New York City | Gete Wami | Ethiopia | 80 pts | ||
| 2007–08 | II | 2007 Boston | 2008 New York City | Irina Mikitenko | Germany | 65 pts | Tied with Gete Wami; but deemed winner by race directors' vote | [17] |
| 2008–09 | III | 2008 Boston | 2009 New York City | Irina Mikitenko (2) | Germany | 90 pts | [17] | |
| 2009–10 | IV | 2009 Boston | 2010 New York City | Irina Mikitenko (3) | Germany | 55 pts | Awarded after a doping case against original winner[l] | [17] |
| 2010–11 | V | 2010 Boston | 2011 New York City | Edna Kiplagat | Kenya | 60 pts | Awarded after a doping case against original winner[l] | [26] |
| 2011–12 | VI | 2011 Boston | 2012 Chicago | Mary Keitany | Kenya | 65 pts | [19] | |
| 2012–13 | VII | 2012 Boston | 2013 New York City | Priscah Jeptoo | Kenya | 75 pts | [20] | |
| 2013–14 | VIII | 2013 Tokyo | 2014 New York City | Edna Kiplagat (2) | Kenya | 65 pts | Awarded after a doping case against original winner[m] | [15] |
| 2015–16 | IX | 2015 Tokyo | 2016 Tokyo | Mary Keitany (2) | Kenya | 41 pts | Tied with Mare Dibaba & Helah Kiprop; winner by race directors' vote | [15] |
| 2016–17 | X | 2016 Boston | 2017 Boston | Edna Kiplagat (3) | Kenya | 41 pts | Awarded after a doping case against original winner[n] | [15] |
| 2017–18 | XI | 2017 London | 2018 London | Mary Keitany (3) | Kenya | 41 pts | Winner due to better head-to-head record versus Tirunesh Dibaba | [22] |
| 2018–19 | XII | 2018 Berlin | 2019 Berlin | Brigid Kosgei | Kenya | 50 pts | [23] | |
| 2019–21 | XIII | 2019 Chicago | 2021 New York City | Peres Jepchirchir Joyciline Jepkosgei |
Kenya Kenya |
50 pts | Joint champions with two wins each | [24] |
| 2022 | XIV | 2021 Tokyo[h] | 2022 New York City | Gotytom Gebreslase | Ethiopia | |||
| 2023 | XV | 2022 Tokyo | 2023 New York City | Sifan Hassan | Netherlands | 50 pts | Tied with Hellen Obiri; winner by race directors' vote |
Men's wheelchair series winners
| Season | No. | Start event | Final event | Winner | Country | Points | Notes | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016–17 | X | 2016 Boston | 2017 Boston | Marcel Hug | Switzerland | |||
| 2017–18 | XI | 2017 London | 2018 London | Marcel Hug (2) | Switzerland | |||
| 2018–19 | XII | 2018 Berlin | 2019 Berlin | Daniel Romanchuk | United States | |||
| 2019–21 | XIII | 2019 Chicago | 2021 New York City | Marcel Hug (3) | Switzerland | |||
| 2022 | XIV | 2021 Tokyo[h] | 2022 New York City | Marcel Hug (4) | Switzerland |
Women's wheelchair series winners
| Season | No. | Start event | Final event | Winner | Country | Points | Notes | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016–17 | X | 2016 Boston | 2017 Boston | Tatyana McFadden | United States | |||
| 2017–18 | XI | 2017 London | 2018 London | Manuela Schär | Switzerland | |||
| 2018–19 | XII | 2018 Berlin | 2019 Berlin | Manuela Schär (2) | Switzerland | |||
| 2019–21 | XIII | 2019 Chicago | 2021 New York City | Manuela Schär (3) | Switzerland | |||
| 2022 | XIV | 2021 Tokyo[h] | 2022 New York City | Susannah Scaroni | United States |
Majors milestones
- Most victories – 13, Eliud Kipchoge (men); 7, Mary Keitany (women)
- Most scoring races – 13, Tsegaye Kebede, Wilson Kipsang (men); 14, Edna Kiplagat, Mary Keitany (women)
- Most lifetime scoring points – 265, Eliud Kipchoge (men); 234, Mary Keitany (women)
- Youngest winner – 20 years 281 days, Ghirmay Ghebreslassie (men); 20 years, 253 days, Xue Bai (women)
- Youngest point scorer – 18 years 302 days, Tsegaye Mekonnen (men); 19 years 233 days, Ayaka Fujimoto (women)
- Oldest winner – 38 years 350 days, Meb Keflezighi (men); 41 years 330 days, Edna Kiplagat (women)
- Oldest point scorer – 41 years 313 days, Kenenisa Bekele (men); 41 years 330 days, Edna Kiplagat (women)
- Nation, most winners – 52, Kenya (men); 35, Kenya (women)
Six star finishers
Six star finishers are marathoners who have completed six of the World Marathon Majors (without including Sydney). In 2016 following the Tokyo Marathon a Six Star Finisher Medal was introduced.[29] In July 2018 a "Reach for the Stars" campaign was launched wherein a runner could claim a star for each WMM race completed. The system allows runners to create a profile, search for their ‘stars’ and add them to their page.[30]
Following the TCS London Marathon in April, 2025, the verified total of Six Star Finishers was 22,480 from 139 total nations.
See also
- World Athletics Label Road Races
- List of World Athletics Label marathon races
- List of final standings of the World Marathon Majors
Notes
- ^ The 2012 New York Marathon was originally scheduled for 4 November, but cancelled due to Hurricane Sandy.[7]
- ^ The 2020 Boston Marathon was originally scheduled for 20 April, then postponed to 14 September and later cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[8]
- ^ Postponed from 26 April due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
- ^ The 2020 Berlin Marathon was originally scheduled for 27 September, but cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Germany to prevent large gatherings.[9]
- ^ The 2020 Chicago Marathon was originally scheduled for 11 October, but was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[10]
- ^ The 2020 New York City Marathon was originally scheduled for 1 November, but was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[11]
- ^ a b c d Postponed from 2 and 9 August due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[12]
- ^ a b c d e f g h i Ran in 2022 due to COVID-19 pandemic
- ^ a b Postponed by one year due to COVID-19 pandemic and the resulting postponement of the 2020 Summer Olympics.
- ^ Postponed race from 2021.[13]
- ^ Diana Kipyogei (KEN) was the original winner, but she was disqualified for a doping violation.[14]
- ^ a b Liliya Shobukhova (Russia) was the original winner in Series IV and V but she was disqualified from competition for a doping violation in April 2014 and all her results from 9 October 2009 have been annulled.[25]
- ^ Rita Jeptoo (Kenya) won four races in the 2013–14 series but gave positive A and B samples in an out-of-competition test in September 2014.[27]
- ^ Jemima Sumgong (Kenya), who won two races in 2016 but gave a positive sample in an out-of-competition test in February 2017.[28]
References
- ^ How It Works. World Marathon Majors. Retrieved on 2011-11-07.
- ^ "ABBOTT CELEBRATES THE POWER OF HEALTH AND ACHIEVEMENT AS FIRST-EVER TITLE SPONSOR OF WORLD MARATHON MAJORS". World Marathon Majors. Retrieved 10 November 2015.
- ^ "Sydney Marathon joins the Majors". www.worldmarathonmajors.com. Retrieved 2024-11-05.
- ^ "Sanlam Cape Town Marathon Passes Stage 1 in Abbott World Marathon Majors Candidacy | Sanlam Cape Town Marathon". capetownmarathon.com. Retrieved 2024-12-05.
- ^ "Shanghai Marathon becomes candidate Abbott World Marathon Majors race". Runner's World. 2024-10-09. Retrieved 2024-12-05.
- ^ "Shanghai Marathon becomes Abbott World Marathon Majors candidate race". www.worldmarathonmajors.com. Retrieved 2024-12-05.
- ^ Belson, Ken (2 November 2012). "After Days of Pressure, Marathon Is Off". The New York Times. Retrieved 15 April 2014.
- ^ Waller, John. "The 2020 Boston Marathon has been canceled". The Boston Globe. Retrieved 28 May 2020.
- ^ Futterman, Matthew (21 April 2020). "Berlin Marathon Is Canceled as Germany Extends Ban on Large Events". The New York Times. Retrieved 24 April 2020.
- ^ Horng, Eric (13 July 2020). "Chicago Marathon 2020 cancelled due to COVID-19, refunds offered by organisers". WLS-TV. Archived from the original on 14 July 2020. Retrieved 14 July 2020.
- ^ "2020 TCS New York City Marathon, Scheduled for November 1, Is Canceled Due to Coronavirus-Related Health and Safety Concerns". 19 May 2017.
- ^ "IOC, IPC, TOKYO 2020 ORGANISING COMMITTEE AND TOKYO METROPOLITAN GOVERNMENT ANNOUNCE NEW DATES FOR THE OLYMPIC AND PARALYMPIC GAMES TOKYO 2020". International Olympic Committee. 30 March 2020. Retrieved 22 April 2020.
- ^ "Tokyo Marathon 2021 Postponed". Tokyo Marathon Foundation. 17 September 2021. Retrieved 11 October 2021.
Due to postponement of the 2021 event, the 2022 event will not take place.
- ^ "Diana Kipyokei banned for six years and stripped of 2021 Boston Marathon title". The Guardian. December 20, 2022. Retrieved December 20, 2022.
- ^ a b c d e f "Previous Champions".
- ^ Ekstrom, Sharon. "UP CLOSE & PERSONAL --". Marathon Guide. Retrieved 16 April 2014.
- ^ a b c d Musumba, Chris. "Wanjiru on course to win World Marathon Majors". The East African. Retrieved 16 April 2014.
- ^ a b Larkin, Duncan (2010-11-09). "Wanjiru and Shobukhova Win World Marathon Majors". Competitor. Retrieved 16 April 2014.
- ^ a b c Komen, Jonathan (15 April 2014). "Hunt on for WMM cash: Kenya dominate quest for Marathon Majors jackpot". The Standard. Retrieved 25 January 2017.
- ^ a b Lotsbom, Chris (2013-11-03). "Man Among Boys Geoffrey Mutai Wins 2013 ING NYC Marathon, Kebede Wins $500,000 World Marathon Majors Title". Letsrun.com. Retrieved 16 April 2014.
- ^ "Wilson Kipsang Wins 2013-2014 World Marathon Majors Series Title". World Marathon Majors.
- ^ a b "Leaderboards".
- ^ a b Monti, David. "Eliud Kipchoge, Brigid Kosgei Win Abbott World Marathon Majors Series XII". Let's Run.
- ^ a b "ABBOTTWMM SERIES XIII CHAMPIONS CROWNED". World Marathon Majors.
- ^ "Liliya Shobukhova to be stripped of World Marathon Majors titles". 2015-08-06.
- ^ "World Marathon Majors statement". Archived from the original on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2015-08-06.
- ^ "ABBOTT WORLD MARATHON MAJORS AWARDS EDNA KIPLAGAT SERIES VIII WOMEN'S TITLE". World Marathon Majors.
- ^ Imray, Gerald (7 April 2017). "Olympic marathon champion Jemima Sumgong fails doping test". AP News.
- ^ "Sovrn Container". Archived from the original on 2018-01-19. Retrieved 2018-02-01.
- ^ "Runners invited to #ReachForTheStars".