Cleave Books World Records for Marathon (Women) Year Date Place Athlete Nationality Time 1926    October 3rd Chiswick, UK Violet Piercy GB 3h 40m 22s 1964 May 23rd Ryde, UK Dale Grieg GB 3h 27m 45s 1967 May 6th Toronto Maureen Wilton Canada 3h 15m 22s 1967 September 16th    Waldniel Anni Pede-Erdkamp    Germany 3h 7m 26s 1970 February 28th Seaside, USA Caroline Walker USA 3h 2m 53s 1971 May 9th Philadelphia Beth Bonner USA 3h 1m 42s 1971 August 31st Werribee, Australia    Adrienne Beames Australia 2h 46m 30s 1974 October 27th Neuf Brisach Chantal Langlace France 2h 46m 24s 1974 December 1st CulverCity, USA Jackie Hansen USA 2h 43m 55s 1975 April 21st Boston Liane Winter Germany 2h 42m 24s 1975 May 3rd Dulmen Christa Vahlensieck Germany 2h 40m 16s 1975 October 12th Eugene, USA Jackie Hansen USA 2h 38m 19s 1977 May 1st Oyarzun Chantal Langlace France 2h 35m 16s 1977 September 10th Berlin Christa Vahlensieck Germany 2h 34m 48s 1978 October 22nd New York Grete Waitz Norway 2h 32m 30s 1979 October 21st New York Grete Waitz Norway 2h 27m 33s 1980 October 26th New York Grete Waitz Norway 2h 25m 42s 1983 April 17th London Grete Waitz Norway 2h 25m 29s 1983 April 18th Boston Joan Benoit USA 2h 22m 43s 1985 April 21st London Ingrid Kristiansen Norway 2h 21m 6s 1998 April 4th Rotterdam Tegla Loroupe Kenya 2h 20m 47s 1999 September 26th Berlin Tegla Loroupe Kenya 2h 20m 43s 2001 October 10th Chicago Catherine Ndereba Kenya 2h 18m 47s 2003 April 13th London Paula Radcliffe GB 2h 15m 25s NOTE. See under Men's Marathon about cautions necessary when comparing times in this event. Go to the top World Records Index