The International Association of Athletics Federations published some interesting data today. In running his world record marathon performance, it appears that Haile Gebreselassie will join another elite group: runners who have run the fastest time in the world three years in a row. Although the year isn’t over yet, most of the major elite contests have been concluded. As of now, Gebreselassie becomes one of only five people in history to have a three year streak.
After posting a new World record mark of 2:04:26 at the Teal Berlin Marathon on 30 September. Berlin was also the site of Gebrselassie’s world leading time in 2006, as he raced through the German capital in 2:05:56. A year earlier, in Amsterdam, he posted 2005’s best time of 2:06:20.
The IAAF notes that in each case, at least one time in a three year stretch has been a world record for each of these runners. Although the article notes that Jim Peters, who topped the list from 1952 through 1954 set world records in all three years of his streak.
Two women have managed to record three straight marathon world leads. Norway’s legendary Grete Waitz did it all at the same locale as she posted World records at New York City from 1978 through 1980. Kenyan Tegla Loroupe also led the world from 1997 through 1999, with World record times for the final two.
Waitz and countrywoman Ingrid Kristiansen are the only marathoners to have posted four world leaders, the former with her fourth in 1986 and the latter in 1984, 1985, 1987 and 1989. Joan (Benoit) Samuelson (1979, 1982, 1983) and Paula Radcliffe (2002, 2003, 2005) have been three-time leaders.
Three other runners have achieved the world leading mark three times in non-consecutive years: Gérard Coté (1940, 1943-44), Bill Rodgers (1975, 1977, 1979) and Khalid Khannouchi (1997, 1999, 2002).
Gebrselassie was number one in the world over the Half Marathon in 2002 and 2006; 10,000 metres in 1995, 1998 and 2003; 5000 metres in 1994, 1995, 1998 and 1999; and 3000 metres in 1997 and 1998.
IAAF Data
The triple consecutive Marathon world year leaders:
Haile Gebrselassie (Ethiopia)
2005 – 2:06:20, Berlin
2006 – 2:05:56, Berlin
2007 – 2:04:26, Berlin
Sergey Popov (Soviet Union)
1957 – 2:19:50, Moscow
1958 – 2:15:17.6, Stockholm
1959 – 2:17:45.2, Kosice
Jim Peters (Great Britain)
1952 – 2:20:42.2, Windsor
1953 – 2:18:34.8, Turku
1954 – 2:17:39.4, Chiswick
Grete Waitz (Norway)
1978 – 2:32:30, New York City
1979 – 2:27:33, New York City
1980 – 2:25:42, New York City
Tegla Loroupe (Kenya)
1997 – 2:22:07, Rotterdam
1998 – 2:20:47, Rotterdam
1999 – 2:20:43, Berlin
Coach Joe English, Portland Oregon USA
