# 2002 in marathon running

This page lists the World Best Year Performances in the year 2002 in the Marathon for both men and women. One of the main title events during this season were the 2002 European Athletics Championships in Munich, Germany. The world record was broken in both the men's and the women's competition.

## Men
### Records

Standing records prior to the 2002 season in track and field :
| World Record | Khalid Khannouchi (MAR) | 2:05:42 | October 24, 1999 | Chicago, United States |
| Broken records during the 2002 season in track and field |||||
| World Record | Khalid Khannouchi (USA) | 2:05:38 | April 14, 2002 | London, United Kingdom |

### 2002 World Year Ranking

| Rank | Time | Athlete | Birthdate | Pos | Venue | Date | Note |
| 1 | 2:05:38 | Khalid Khannouchi (USA) | 22 12 1971 | 1 | London | 14 04 2002 | WR |
| 2 | 2:05:48 | Paul Tergat (KEN) | 17 06 1969 | 2 | London | 14 04 2002 | |
| 3 | 2:06:16 | Daniel Njenga (KEN) | 07 05 1976 | 2 | Chicago | 13 10 2002 | |
| 4 | 2:06:16 | Toshinari Takaoka (JPN) | 24 09 1970 | 3 | Chicago | 13 10 2002 | |
| 5 | 2:06:35 | Haile Gebrselassie (ETH) | 18 04 1973 | 3 | London | 14 04 2002 | |
| 6 | 2:06:46 | Abdelkader El Mouaziz (MAR) | 01 01 1969 | 5 | Chicago | 13 10 2002 | |
| 7 | 2:06:47 | Raymond Kipkoech (KEN) | 1975 | 1 | Berlin | 29 09 2002 | |
| 8 | 2:06:49 | Simon Biwott (KEN) | 03 03 1970 | 2 | Berlin | 29 09 2002 | |
| 9 | 2:06:52 | Vincent Kipsos (KEN) | 22 06 1976 | 3 | Berlin | 29 09 2002 | |
| 10 | 2:07:06 | Ian Syster (RSA) | 20 01 1976 | 5 | London | 14 04 2002 | |
| 11 | 2:07:26 | Benjamin Kimutai (KEN) | 05 09 1971 | 1 | Amsterdam | 20 10 2002 | |
| 12 | 2:07:29 | Stefano Baldini (ITA) | 25 05 1971 | 6 | London | 14 04 2002 | |
| 13 | 2:07:50 | Boniface Usisivu (KEN) | 05 09 1974 | 4 | Berlin | 29 09 2002 | |
| 14 | 2:07:55 | Simon Bor (KEN) | 13 02 1969 | 2 | Amsterdam | 20 10 2002 | |
| 15 | 2:07:59 | Steven Matebo (KEN) | 30 03 1974 | 3 | Amsterdam | 20 10 2002 | |
| 16 | 2:08:07 | Rodgers Rop (KEN) | 16 02 1976 | 1 | New York | 03 11 2002 | |
| 17 | 2:08:08 | Antoni Peña (ESP) | 26 08 1970 | 4 | Amsterdam | 20 10 2002 | |
| 18 | 2:08:10 | Sammy Korir (KEN) | 12 12 1971 | 5 | Amsterdam | 20 10 2002 | |
| 19 | 2:08:16 | Hailu Negussie (ETH) | 16 04 1978 | 1 | Hofu | 15 12 2002 | |
| 20 | 2:08:17 | Christopher Cheboiboch (KEN) | 03 03 1977 | 2 | New York | 03 11 2002 | |
| 21 | 2:08:18 | Benoît Zwierzchiewski (FRA) | 19 08 1976 | 1 | Paris | 07 04 2002 | |
| 22 | 2:08:25 | Jimmy Muindi (KEN) | 14 08 1973 | 5 | Berlin | 29 09 2002 |
| 23 | 2:08:35 | Ryuji Takei (JPN) | 18 05 1971 | 1 | Otsu | 03 03 2002 | |
| 24 | 2:08:39 | Laban Kipkemboi (KEN) | 30 12 1977 | 3 | New York | 03 11 2002 | |
| 25 | 2:08:43 | Erick Wainaina (KEN) | 19 12 1973 | 1 | Tokyo | 10 02 2002 | |
| 26 | 2:08:44 | Boaz Kimaiyo (KEN) | 10 12 1976 | 6 | Amsterdam | 20 10 2002 | |
| 27 | 2:08:49 | David Makori (KEN) | 06 11 1973 | 1 | Venezia | 27 10 2002 | |
| 28 | 2:08:53 | Pavel Loskutov (EST) | 02 12 1969 | 2 | Paris | 07 04 2002 | |
| 29 | 2:08:53 | Mohamed Ouaadi (FRA) | 01 01 1969 | 4 | New York | 03 11 2002 | |
| 30 | 2:08:59 | Alberto Juzdado (ESP) | 20 08 1966 | 2 | Tokyo | 10 02 2002 | |
| 31 | 2:08:59 | Robert Kipkoech Cheruiyot (KEN) | 26 09 1978 | 1 | Milan | 01 12 2002 | |
| 32 | 2:08:59 | Michael Rotich (KEN) | 26 10 1978 | 2 | Milan | 01 12 2002 | |
| 33 | 2:08:59 | Daniele Caimmi (ITA) | 17 12 1972 | 3 | Milan | 01 12 2002 | |
| 34 | 2:09:07 | Migidio Bourifa (ITA) | 31 01 1969 | 3 | Paris | 07 04 2002 | |
| 35 | 2:09:08 | Fred Kiprop (KEN) | 03 06 1974 | 3 | Otsu | 03 03 2002 | |
| 36 | 2:09:10 | Toshinari Suwa (JPN) | 29 01 1977 | 4 | Otsu | 03 03 2002 | |
| 37 | 2:09:10 | António Pinto (POR) | 22 03 1966 | 7 | London | 14 04 2002 | |
| 38 | 2:09:13 | Gezahegne Abera (ETH) | 23 04 1978 | 1 | Fukuoka | 01 12 2002 | |
| 39 | 2:09:15 | Tsuyoshi Ogata (JPN) | 11 05 1973 | 2 | Fukuoka | 01 12 2002 | |
| 40 | 2:09:17 | Mark Steinle (GBR) | 22 11 1974 | 8 | London | 14 04 2002 | |
| 41 | 2:09:18 | Takeshi Hamano (JPN) | 30 07 1974 | 5 | Otsu | 03 03 2002 | |
| 42 | 2:09:22 | Peter Chebet Kiprono (KEN) | 24 06 1974 | 4 | Milan | 01 12 2002 | |
| 43 | 2:09:34 | Timothy Cherigat (KEN) | 29 12 1976 | 1 | San Sebastián | 24 11 2002 | |
| 44 | 2:09:38 | Satoshi Osaki (JPN) | 04 06 1976 | 2 | Hofu | 15 11 2002 | |
| 45 | 2:09:39 | Robert Cheruiyot (KEN) | 20 12 1974 | 4 | Paris | 07 04 2002 | |
| 46 | 2:09:41 | Alan Culpepper (USA) | 15 09 1972 | 6 | Chicago | 13 10 2002 | |
| 47 | 2:09:43 | Kenneth Cheruiyot (KEN) | 02 08 1974 | 2 | Rotterdam | 21 04 2002 | |
| 48 | 2:09:45 | Mbarak Hussein (KEN) | 04 04 1965 | 4 | Boston | 15 04 2002 | |
| 49 | 2:09:48 | Ji Young-Joon (KOR) | 15 12 1981 | 3 | Seoul | 03 11 2002 | |
| 50 | 2:09:50 | Tesfaye Jifar (ETH) | 23 04 1976 | 9 | London | 14 04 2002 | |
| 51 | 2:09:51 | Tereje Wodajo (ETH) | 27 01 1982 | 4 | Seoul | 03 11 2002 | |
| 52 | 2:09:51 | Josephat Kiprono (KEN) | 12 12 1973 | 5 | Seoul | 03 11 2002 | |
| 53 | 2:09:54 | Rachid Ziar (ALG) | 15 11 1973 | 5 | Paris | 07 04 2002 | |
| 54 | 2:09:55 | José Manuel Martínez (ESP) | 22 10 1971 | 3 | Rotterdam | 21 04 2002 | |
| 55 | 2:09:56 | Tesfaye Tola (ETH) | 19 10 1974 | 6 | Seoul | 03 11 2002 | |
| 56 | 2:09:58 | David Busienei (KEN) | 22 12 1974 | 2 | San Sebastián | 24 11 2002 | |
| 57 | 2:09:59 | Daniel Kirwa (KEN) | 21 11 1976 | 1 | Carpi | 06 10 2002 | |
| 58 | 2:10:02 | John Kagwe (KEN) | 09 01 1969 | 7 | Chicago | 13 10 2002 | |
| 59 | 2:10:02 | Martin Lel (KEN) | 29 10 1978 | 2 | Venezia | 27 10 2002 | |
| 60 | 2:10:05 | Josia Thugwane (RSA) | 15 04 1971 | 7 | Seoul | 03 11 2002 | |
| 61 | 2:10:06 | Hendrick Ramaala (RSA) | 02 02 1972 | 6 | Paris | 07 04 2002 | |
| 62 | 2:10:06 | Abdellah Béhar (FRA) | 05 07 1963 | 7 | Paris | 07 04 2002 | |
| 63 | 2:10:06 | Moges Taye (ETH) | 12 11 1973 | 3 | Venezia | 27 10 2002 | |
| 64 | 2:10:09 | Ambesse Tolosa (ETH) | 28 08 1977 | 7 | Amsterdam | 20 10 2002 | |
| 65 | 2:10:09 | Kim Yi-Yong (KOR) | 20 09 1973 | 8 | Seoul | 03 11 2002 | |
| 66 | 2:10:10 | Matthew Sigei (KEN) | 1983 | 8 | Amsterdam | 20 10 2002 | |
| 67 | 2:10:12 | Willy Cheruiyot Kipkirui (KEN) | 24 08 1974 | 1 | Eindhoven | 13 10 2002 | |
| 68 | 2:10:14 | Tesfaye Eticha (ETH) | 16 09 1974 | 8 | Paris | 07 04 2002 | |
| 69 | 2:10:17 | Toshihiro Iwasa (JPN) | 18 05 1976 | 6 | Otsu | 03 03 2002 | |
| 70 | 2:10:17 | Christopher Kandie (KEN) | 1969 | 1 | Hamburg | 21 04 2002 | |
| 71 | 2:10:22 | Philip Tarus (KEN) | 11 09 1974 | 4 | Venezia | 27 10 2002 | |
| 72 | 2:10:25 | Moses Tanui (KEN) | 20 08 1965 | 1 | Vienna | 26 05 2002 | |
| 73 | 2:10:27 | Stephen Ndungu (KEN) | 01 06 1967 | 1 | Los Angeles | 03 03 2002 | |
| 74 | 2:10:27 | Alberico Di Cecco (ITA) | 19 04 1974 | 1 | Torino | 21 04 2002 | |
| 75 | 2:10:30 | Lee Bong-Ju (KOR) | 11 10 1970 | 5 | Boston | 15 04 2002 | |
| 76 | 2:10:31 | Kazuhiro Matsuda (JPN) | 24 06 1974 | 6 | Berlin | 29 09 2002 | |
| 77 | 2:10:39 | José Ernani Palalia (MEX) | 03 12 1972 | 7 | Berlin | 29 09 2002 | |
| 78 | 2:10:39 | Henry Serem (KEN) | | 4 | San Sebastián | 24 11 2002 | |
| 79 | 2:10:39 | Ruggero Pertile (ITA) | 08 08 1974 | 5 | Milan | 01 12 2002 | |
| 80 | 2:10:40 | Larbi Zeroual (FRA) | 10 01 1971 | 9 | Paris | 07 04 2002 | |
| 81 | 2:10:40 | Elias Chebet (KEN) | 1974 | 6 | Boston | 15 04 2002 | |
| 82 | 2:10:41 | Elijah Mutai (KEN) | 24 09 1978 | 9 | Berlin | 29 09 2002 | |
| 83 | 2:10:42 | Mark Saina (KEN) | 10 11 1970 | 3 | Hamburg | 21 04 2002 | |
| 84 | 2:10:48 | Joseph Kahugu (KEN) | 07 06 1971 | 4 | Rotterdam | 21 04 2002 | |
| 85 | 2:10:48 | Frederick Chumba (KEN) | 24 07 1974 | 2 | Carpi | 06 10 2002 | |
| 86 | 2:10:49 | Grzegorz Gajdus (POL) | 16 01 1967 | 2 | Eindhoven | 13 10 2002 | |
| 87 | 2:10:50 | Douglas Rono (KEN) | 29 12 1974 | 3 | Eindhoven | 13 10 2002 | |
| 88 | 2:10:51 | Ernest Kipyego (KEN) | 06 10 1978 | 1 | Köln | 06 10 2002 | |
| 89 | 2:10:52 | Danilo Goffi (ITA) | 03 12 1972 | 2 | Torino | 21 04 2002 | |
| 90 | 2:10:53 | Barnabas Kipngetich (KEN) | 19 04 1977 | 3 | Vienna | 26 05 2002 | |
| 91 | 2:10:54 | Mark Carroll (IRL) | 15 01 1972 | 6 | New York | 03 11 2002 | |
| 92 | 2:10:55 | Mark Yatich (KEN) | 04 12 1976 | 10 | Berlin | 29 09 2002 | |
| 93 | 2:10:57 | Elly Rono (KEN) | 10 08 1970 | 1 | Duluth | 22 06 2002 | |
| 94 | 2:10:59 | Luc Krotwaar (NED) | 25 01 1968 | 5 | Rotterdam | 21 04 2002 | |
| 95 | 2:11:00 | Sergio Chiesa (ITA) | 07 09 1972 | 3 | Torino | 21 04 2002 | |
| 96 | 2:11:03 | Masayoshi Koide (JPN) | 06 11 1972 | 7 | Otsu | 03 03 2002 | |
| 97 | 2:11:04 | Francis Kipketer (KEN) | 17 04 1976 | 9 | Seoul | 03 11 2002 | |
| 98 | 2:11:07 | Aleksandr Kuzin (UKR) | 21 10 1974 | 3 | Carpi | 06 10 2002 | |
| 99 | 2:11:08 | Ezael Thlobo (RSA) | 04 05 1964 | 11 | Berlin | 29 09 2002 | |
| 100 | 2:11:08 | David Kosgei (KEN) | 1976 | 5 | Venice | 27 10 2002 | |

## Women
### Records

Standing records prior to the 2002 season in track and field :
| World Record | Catherine Ndereba (KEN) | 2:18:47 | October 7, 2001 | Chicago, United States |
| Broken records during the 2001 season in track and field |||||
| World Record | Paula Radcliffe (GBR) | 2:17:18 | October 13, 2002 | Chicago, United States |

### 2002 World Year Ranking

| Rank | Time | Athlete | Birthdate | Venue | Rank | Date | Note |
| 1 | 2:17:18 | Paula Radcliffe (GBR) | 17 12 1973 | 1 | Chicago | 13 10 2002 | WR |
| 2 | 2:19:26 | Catherine Ndereba (KEN) | 21 07 1972 | 2 | Chicago | 13 10 2002 | |
| 3 | 2:20:23 | Wei Yanan (CHN) | 06 12 1980 | 1 | Beijing | 20 10 2002 | |
| 4 | 2:20:43 | Margaret Okayo (KEN) | 30 05 1976 | 1 | Boston | 15 04 2002 | |
| 5 | 2:21:21 | Sun Yingjie (CHN) | 03 10 1977 | 2 | Beijing | 20 10 2002 | |
| 6 | 2:21:22 | Yoko Shibui (JPN) | 14 03 1979 | 3 | Chicago | 13 10 2002 | |
| 7 | 2:21:31 | Svetlana Zakharova (RUS) | 15 09 1970 | 4 | Chicago | 13 10 2002 | |
| 8 | 2:21:49 | Naoko Takahashi (JPN) | 06 05 1972 | 1 | Berlin | 29 09 2002 | |
| 9 | 2:22:19 | Gete Wami (ETH) | 11 12 1974 | 1 | Amsterdam | 20 10 2002 | |
| 10 | 2:22:33 | Lyudmila Petrova (RUS) | 07 10 1968 | 3 | London | 14 04 2002 | |
| 11 | 2:22:46 | Reiko Tosa (JPN) | 11 06 1976 | 4 | London | 14 04 2002 | |
| 12 | 2:23:05 | Marleen Renders (BEL) | 24 12 1968 | 1 | Paris | 07 04 2002 | |
| 13 | 2:23:17 | Zhang Shujing (CHN) | 13 09 1979 | 3 | Beijing | 20 10 2002 | |
| 14 | 2:23:19 | Susan Chepkemei (KEN) | 25 06 1975 | 5 | London | 14 04 2002 | |
| 15 | 2:23:43 | Takami Ominami (JPN) | 15 11 1975 | 1 | Rotterdam | 21 04 2002 | |
| 16 | 2:23:52 | Constantina Tomescu (ROM) | 23 01 1970 | 2 | Amsterdam | 20 10 2002 | |
| 17 | 2:23:55 | Lornah Kiplagat (KEN) | 20 03 1974 | 1 | Osaka | 27 01 2002 | |
| 18 | 2:23:57 | Zhu Xiaolin (CHN) | 20 04 1984 | 4 | Beijing | 20 10 2002 | |
| 19 | 2:24:11 | Adriana Fernández (MEX) | 04 04 1971 | 2 | Berlin | 29 09 2002 | |
| 20 | 2:24:33 | Rie Matsuoka (JPN) | 09 03 1977 | 2 | Paris | 07 04 2002 | |
| 21 | 2:24:34 | Harumi Hiroyama (JPN) | 02 09 1968 | 2 | Osaka | 27 01 2002 | |
| 22 | 2:24:39 | Hu Yuanyuan (CHN) | | 5 | Beijing | 20 10 2002 | |
| 23 | 2:24:59 | Banuelia Mrashani (TAN) | 14 11 1977 | 1 | Tokyo | 17 11 2002 | |
| 24 | 2:25:11 | Masako Chiba (JPN) | 18 07 1976 | 2 | Rotterdam | 21 04 2002 | |
| 25 | 2:25:15 | Sun Weiwei (CHN) | 06 04 1985 | 6 | Beijing | 20 10 2002 | |