World Marathon Majors

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. 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 was on August 31, 2025. 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. Earlier in 2024, the Shanghai Marathon was announced as a major candidate and began the three year evaluation process.

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 scored 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

World Marathon Majors champions list

Men's

Women's

Winners by season

Main article: List of final standings of the World Marathon Majors

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. 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.

Following the TCS London Marathon in April, 2025, the verified total of Six Star Finishers was 22,480 from 139 total nations.

Notes

References

References

1. [http://worldmarathonmajors.com/US/series/article/20/ How It Works]. World Marathon Majors. Retrieved on 2011-11-07.
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3. "Sydney Marathon joins the Majors".
4. "Sanlam Cape Town Marathon Passes Stage 1 in Abbott World Marathon Majors Candidacy | Sanlam Cape Town Marathon".
5. (2024-10-09). "Shanghai Marathon becomes candidate Abbott World Marathon Majors race".
6. "Shanghai Marathon becomes Abbott World Marathon Majors candidate race".
7. Belson, Ken. (2 November 2012). "After Days of Pressure, Marathon Is Off". [[The New York Times]].
8. "The 2020 Boston Marathon has been canceled".
9. Futterman, Matthew. (21 April 2020). "Berlin Marathon Is Canceled as Germany Extends Ban on Large Events". [[The New York Times]].
10. Horng, Eric. (13 July 2020). "Chicago Marathon 2020 cancelled due to COVID-19, refunds offered by organisers". [[WLS-TV]].
11. (19 May 2017). "2020 TCS New York City Marathon, Scheduled for November 1, Is Canceled Due to Coronavirus-Related Health and Safety Concerns".
12. (30 March 2020). "IOC, IPC, TOKYO 2020 ORGANISING COMMITTEE AND TOKYO METROPOLITAN GOVERNMENT ANNOUNCE NEW DATES FOR THE OLYMPIC AND PARALYMPIC GAMES TOKYO 2020". [[International Olympic Committee]].
13. . (17 September 2021). ["Tokyo Marathon 2021 Postponed"](https://www.marathon.tokyo/en/news/detail/news_002235.html). *Tokyo Marathon Foundation*.
14. (December 20, 2022). "Diana Kipyokei banned for six years and stripped of 2021 Boston Marathon title". [[The Guardian]].
15. "Sovrn Container".
16. "Runners invited to #ReachForTheStars".