Five Decades of Sub-3:00 Marathons

Here are the runners who have run sub-3:00 for a marathon in five different decades.  Their best known performances for each decade are shown.  Runners are listed in order of the date they first achieved their fifth decade (which may differ from the date shown which refers to their best for the decade.

Keizo Yamada (30 Nov 1927, JPN)
07 Dec 1980   2:49:12     Honolulu HI USA           Honolulu
21 Apr 1975   2:34:52a    Boston MA USA             Boston
02 Dec 1962   2:27:48.2   Fukuoka JPN               Fukuoka
20 Apr 1953   2:18:51ax   Boston MA USA             Boston
04 Dec 1949   2:42:21     Shizuoka JPN              Asahi

Barry Magee (06 Feb 1934, NZL)
03 Mar 1990   2:48:34x    Waitara NZL               New Plymouth
30 May 1982   2:29:37     Auckland NZL              Pasta Auckland International
23 Oct 1976   2:29:56     Hamilton NZL              Hamilton
10 Sep 1960   2:17:18.2   Rome ITA                  Olympic Games
06 Dec 1959   2:31:51     Auckland NZL              (handicap)
Brian Chamberlain (23 Apr 1949, RSA)
05 Mar 2000   2:46:46     Pinelands RSA             South African Championships
20 Jul 1991   2:28:13     Durban RSA                Ohlsson's South African Championships
05 Jul 1980   2:16:50     Johannesburg RSA          Transvaal Championships
16 Sep 1978   2:15:25.8   Stellenbosch RSA          Stellenbosch
20 Aug 1967   2:59:49     Johannesburg RSA          Jackie Gibson
Laurence Olsen (14 Nov 1946-06 Dec 2009, USA)
17 Apr 2000   2:58:27a    Boston MA/USA             Boston
30 Oct 1994   2:38:29     Falmouth MA/USA           Cape Cod
24 May 1980   2:25:04.9   Buffalo NY/USA            US Olympic Trials
17 Apr 1978   2:19:24a    Boston MA/USA             Boston
19 Apr 1967   2:37:42a    Boston MA/USA             Boston
Barry Brooks (31 May 1940, AUS)
14 Jul 2001   2:57:25     Brisbane AUS              World Veterans Championships
05 Jun 1994   2:38:13     Melbourne AUS             Qantas Melbourne
23 Nov 1980   2:32:49     Melbourne AUS             Olympic Tyres
26 Sep 1970   2:26:21     Werribee AUS              Australian Championship
23 Aug 1969   2:34:23     Ballarat AUS              Victorian Country Championship
Don Ritchie (06 Jul 1944, SCO)
03 Sep 2000   2:57:18     Elgin SCO                 Moray
21 Apr 1991   2:30:40     Fort William SCO          Lochaber
17 Apr 1983   2:19:34     London ENG                London
08 May 1971   2:23:31     Glasgow SCO               Shettleston Harriers
24 Jun 1967   2:27:48     Grangemouth SCO           Scottish Championship
Terrence Stanley (05 Sep 1952, USA)
31 Jan 2010   2:58:09     Ada OH/USA                ONU Polar Bear Indoor
03 Oct 2004   2:42:40     Corning NY/USA            Wineglass
06 May 1990   2:28:15     Buffalo NY/USA            Nissan Buffalo
12 Apr 1981   2:17:34     Philadelphia PA/USA       Penn Relays
26 Aug 1979   2:18:57a    Montreal PQ/CAN           Montreal

Hideki Kita (28 Sep 1952, JPN)
28 Feb 2010   2:43:24     Tokyo JPN                 Tokyo International
17 Feb 2008   2:48:27     Tokyo JPN                 Tokyo International
02 Dec 1990   2:15:36     Fukuoka JPN               Fukuoka International
04 Dec 1983   2:10:30     Fukuoka JPN               Fukuoka 
03 Dec 1978   2:11:05.0   Fukuoka JPN               Fukuoka 
Vladimir Kotov (21 Feb 1958, BLR)
13 Feb 2011   2:30:24     George RSA                Lotto South African Championships
25 Jan 2004   2:22:02     Khon Kaen THA             Khon Kaen International
09 Oct 1994   2:11:43     Eindhoven NED             Eindhoven
24 May 1980   2:10:58     Moscow RUS                Olympic Trials
29 Jul 1979   2:13:26     Moscow RUS                Open Spartakiada
Gary Allen (29 Jan 1957, USA)
06 Mar 2010   2:51:03     Albany GA/USA             Snickers Energy
05 Mar 2006   2:47:26     Sarasota FL/USA           Sarasota
20 May 1990   2:40:47     Sugarloaf ME/USA          Sugarloaf
25 Aug 1984   2:39:10     Sugarloaf ME/USA          Sugarloaf
15 Jul 1978   2:52:41     Bangor ME/USA             Paul Bunyan
Tim Stewart (07 Mar 1961, USA)
06 Mar 2010   2:57:54     Washington DC/USA         Suntrust National
14 Nov 2009   2:57:27     Chickamauga GA/USA        Chickamauga Battlefield
03 Nov 1991   2:44:10     Washington DC/USA         Marine Corps
05 Jan 1980   2:53:30     Savannah GA/USA           Savannah
03 Dec 1977   2:54:55     Charlotte NC/USA          Charlotte Observer
Chris Finill (31 Dec 1958, ENG)
22 Apr 2012   2:50:32     London ENG                London
16 Apr 2000   2:40:33     London ENG                Flora London
22 Apr 1990   2:32:59     London ENG                ADT London
21 Apr 1985   2:28:27     London ENG                London
05 May 1979   2:40:17     Saginaw Bay MI/USA        Saginaw Bay
Reno Stirrat (19 Apr 1954, USA)
19 Apr 2010   2:42:27a    Boston MA/USA             Boston
16 Apr 2007   2:44:46a    Boston MA/USA             Boston
11 Dec 1993   2:27:00     Huntsville AL/USA         Rocket City
12 Dec 1987   2:20:49     Huntsville AL/USA         Rocket City
15 Dec 1979   2:19:17     Huntsville AL/USA         Rocket City

Doug Kurtis (12 Mar 1952, USA)
19 Apr 2010   2:54:01a    Boston MA/USA             Boston
24 Jun 2001   2:38:12     Green Bay WI/USA          Cellcom Green Bay
18 Apr 1994   2:15:48a    Boston MA/USA             Boston
07 Feb 1982   2:13:34a    New Orleans LA/USA        Mardi Gras
01 Sep 1979   2:22:14     Port Huron MI/USA         Scotty Hanton Blue Water
Kerry Green (05 Apr 1954, USA)
19 Apr 2010   2:58:18a    Boston MA/USA             Boston
13 Oct 2002   2:52:25     Chicago IL/USA            Chicago
20 Apr 1992   2:44:10a    Boston MA/USA             Boston
18 Apr 1983   2:26:57a    Boston MA/USA             Boston
17 Apr 1978   2:26:59a    Boston MA/USA             Boston
Dennis Kurtis (01 Nov 1953, USA)
19 Apr 2010   2:59:29a    Boston MA/USA             Boston
13 Feb 2005   2:47:26a    Austin TX/USA             Austin
08 Dec 1991   2:28:59a    Sacramento CA/USA         California International
11 Jun 1983   2:20:50a    Duluth MN/USA             Grandmas
21 Oct 1978   2:38:04a    Detroit MI/USA            Free Press

Steve Smythe (18 Mar 1958, GBR)
25 Apr 2010   2:46:06     London ENG                London   
16 Feb 2003   2:42:10a    Austin TX/USA             Austin
15 Nov 1992   2:42:10     Maidstone ENG             Maidstone
29 Mar 1981   2:29:42     London ENG                London
10 Jun 1978   2:34:06     Windsor ENG               Polytechnic
Antonio Arreola (24 Aug 1959, USA)
15 May 2010   2:59:43a    Ogden UT/USA              Ogden  
09 Dec 2001   2:46:17a    Tucson AZ/USA             Jim Click Automotive Group Tucson
02 Oct 1999   2:48:00a    Saint George UT/USA       Saint George
22 Mar 1981   2:54:53     San Luis Obispo CA/USA    Red Cross
05 Dec 1976   2:58:03     Culver City CA/USA        Western Hemisphere
Doug Jacobson (08 Apr 1956, USA)
11 Jul 2010   2:57:51a    Missoula MT/USA           Missoula  
30 Oct 2005   2:51:19     Richland WA/USA           Tri-Cities
01 Mar 1998   2:51:54a    Napa CA/USA               Napa Valley
11 Dec 1983   2:33:37     Honolulu HI/USA           Honolulu
24 Jun 1978   2:41:52     Las Vegas NV/USA          Las Vegas Celebrity Sun

Joan Benoit-Samuelson (16 May 1957, USA)
10 Oct 2010   2:47:50     Chicago IL/USA            Bank of America Chicago
26 Feb 2000   2:39:59     Columbia SC/USA           US Olympic Trials
15 Apr 1991   2:26:54a    Boston MA/USA             Boston
20 Oct 1985   2:21:21     Chicago IL/USA            America's Chicago
16 Apr 1979   2:35:16a    Boston MA/USA             Boston

Lee Pollock (07 Sep 1952, USA)
10 Oct 2010   2:57:24a    Albany NY/USA             Mohawk- Hudson River
18 Nov 2007   2:57:12     Philadelphia PA/USA       Philadelphia
01 Nov 1992   2:49:15a    New York NY/USA           New York City
04 May 1980   2:26:23     Denver CO/USA             United Bank Mile High
19 Aug 1978   2:32:38     Liverpool NY/USA          Empire State Games

Greg Skopec (18 Nov 1961, USA)
10 Oct 2010   2:54:14     Chicago IL/USA            Bank of America Chicago
19 Oct 2008   2:52:58     Des Moines IA/USA         Des Moines
15 Apr 1996   2:45:32a    Boston MA/USA             Boston
25 May 1981   2:28:45     Cedar Rapids IA/USA       Memorial Day
05 Nov 1978   2:50:52     Iowa City IA/USA          Iowa City MS

Bob Schwelm (03 Jan 1959, USA)
27 Nov 2010   2:33:19     Philadelphia PA/USA       Philadelphia
08 Oct 2000   2:25:40     Saint Paul MN/USA         Twin Cities
11 Oct 1998   2:20:59x    Scranton PA/USA           Steamtown
18 Apr 1983   2:22:32a    Boston MA/USA             Boston
04 Mar 1979   2:57:12     Trexlertown PA/USA        Prevention
Don Demetriades (19 Dec 1960, USA)
02 Apr 2011   2:47:11     Novi MI/USA               Martian
01 Dec 2002   2:45:05     Seattle WA/USA            Seattle
13 Nov 1994   2:25:54     Columbus OH/USA           Columbus
21 Apr 1986   2:34:38a    Boston MA/USA             Boston
10 Jan 1976   2:56:34     San Diego CA/USA          Mission Bay
James Garcia (30 Jun 1958, USA)
18 Apr 2011   2:54:08a    Boston MA/USA             Boston
18 Oct 2001   2:35:43     Falmouth MA/USA           Cape Cod
18 Apr 1994   2:25:47a    Boston MA/USA             Boston
04 Nov 1984   2:29:11     Washington DC/USA         Marine Corps
05 Nov 1978   2:49:44     Washington DC/USA         Marine Corps

Mark Lohman (18 Apr 1958, USA)
17 Oct 2010   2:56:18     Columbus OH/USA           Nationwide Better Health Columbus
04 May 2003   2:50:13     Cincinnati OH/USA         Flying Pig
20 Apr 1992   2:41:28a    Boston MA/USA             Boston
18 Apr 1983   2:23:43a    Boston MA/USA             Boston
20 Jun 1976   2:44:       Toledo OH/USA             Glass City
Joe Muldowney (1953, USA)
21 Nov 2010   2:59:01     Philadelphia PA/USA       Philadelphia
17 Apr 2006   2:55:33ax   Boston MA/USA             Boston
20 Apr 1992   2:33:52a    Boston MA/USA             Boston
18 Apr 1983   2:22:54a    Boston MA/USA             Boston
17 Apr 1978   2:29:21a    Boston MA/USA             Boston
Rich Walker (09 Apr 1956, USA)
06 Mar 2011   2:56:21     Little Rock AR/USA        Little Rock
15 Feb 2009   2:55:20     Austin TX/USA             Austin
26 Jan 1992   2:47:48     Houston TX/USA            Houston-Tenneco
01 Mar 1980   2:35:08     Galveston TX/USA          Galveston
23 Feb 1974   2:36:24     Seaside OR/USA            Trail's End

Dave Elger (29 Aug 1953, USA)
20 Mar 2011   2:59:28     Seoul KOR                 Dong-A
14 Jul 2001   2:45:40     Brisbane AUS              World Veterans Championships
18 Apr 1994   2:34:48a    Boston MA/USA             Boston
14 Oct 1984   2:29:09     Milwaukee WI/USA          Lakefront
25 Sep 1977   2:25:25     Chicago IL/USA            Mayor Daley

Nick Sirs (04 Jan 1957, ENG)
17 Apr 2011   2:57:40     London ENG                Virgin London
14 Apr 2002   2:37:22     London ENG                Flora London
18 Apr 1999   2:35:22     London ENG                London
13 Mar 1983   2:19:51     Barcelona ESP             Catalunya
27 Oct 1978   2:24:09     Harlow ENG                Harlow Unigate

Budd Coates (06 Apr 1957, USA)
18 Apr 2011   2:47:38a    Boston MA/USA             Boston
17 Apr 2000   2:25:10a    Boston MA/USA             Boston
06 Oct 1991   2:14:55     Saint Paul MN/USA         Twin Cities
18 Apr 1983   2:13:03a    Boston MA/USA             Boston
13 Jan 1979   2:52:45     Miami FL/USA              Orange Bowl

Kevin Hesketh (05 Apr 1954, WAL)
22 May 2011   2:59:58     Edinburgh SCO             Edinburgh
16 Apr 2000   2:44:51     London ENG                London
18 Apr 1999   2:46:45     London ENG                London
13 May 1984   2:27:38     London ENG                London
22 Sep 1979   2:41:33     Milton Keynes ENG         Milton Keynes

Dennis Wallach (19 Jul 1957, USA)
18 Jun 2011   2:54:13a    Duluth MN/USA             Grandma's
02 Dec 2007   2:44:08a    Sacramento CA/USA         California International
24 Nov 1991   2:36:39     Saint Louis MO/USA        Saint Louis
16 Jun 1984   2:26:14a    Duluth MN/USA             Grandma's
14 Oct 1979   2:37:36     Monticello IL/USA         Freedom

Peter LaGoy (21 Jul 1959,USA)
09 Oct 2011   2:57:29a    Scranton PA/USA           Steamtown
03 May 2009   2:58:49     Providence RI/USA         Cox Sports Providence
28 Apr 1991   2:44:39     Carmel CA/USA             Big Sur
02 Nov 1980   2:47:  x    Washington DC/USA         Marine Corps
04 Nov 1979   2:50:24     Washington DC/USA         Marine Corps

Mark Murray (13 Nov 1962,USA)
04 Dec 2011   2:49:14a    Sacramento CA/USA         California International
03 Dec 2006   2:46:54a    Sacramento CA/USA         California International
06 Dec 1998   2:42:45a    Sacramento CA/USA         California International
06 Dec 1981   2:33:09x    Oakland CA/USA            Oakland
30 Sep 1979   2:56:24     Sacramento CA/USA         Sacramento 

Steven Schuman (18 Jul 1962,USA)
05 Mar 2012   2:59:18a    Napa CA/USA               Napa Valley
17 Feb 2002   2:43:10a    Austin TX/USA             Motorola Austin
04 Mar 1990   2:41:49     Los Angeles CA/USA        City of Los Angeles
09 Mar 1986   2:45:50     Los Angeles CA/USA        Los Angeles
14 Jan 1979   2:54:50     San Diego CA/USA          Mission Bay
Stuart Calderwood (17 Mar 1958,USA)
21 Mar 2013   2:49:38     London ENG                Virgin London
10 Oct 2004   2:41:33     Chicago IL/USA            LaSalle Bank Chicago
19 Jun 1993   2:31:06     Duluth MN/USA             Grandma's
16 Apr 1984   2:33:17a    Boston MA/USA             Boston
14 Jan 1978   2:45:27     San Diego CA/USA          Mission Bay
Terry Permar (09 Jun 1954,USA)
17 Nov 2013   2:58:45     Philadelphia PA/USA       Gore-Tex Philadelphia 
08 Oct 2006   2:42:35x    Scranton PA/USA           Steamtown
14 Dec 1991   2:25:40     Huntsville AL/USA         Rocket City
07 Nov 1983   2:25:24     Washington DC/USA         Marine Corps
26 Nov 1978   2:32:55     Philadelphia PA/USA       Schlitz Light Philadelphia 
Steve Schmidt (28 Sep 1960,USA)
12 Oct 2014   2:59:54     Chicago IL/USA            Bank of America Chicago 
30 Oct 2005   2:53:38     Washington DC/USA         Marine Corps
17 Jan 1999   2:49:23     Carlsbad CA/USA           San Diego
01 Dec 1984   2:37:03     Pensacola FL/USA          Blue Angel
25 Feb 1979   2:46:22     Saint Louis MO/USA        Third Olympiad Memorial
James Miller (06 Sep 1958,USA)
06 Mar 2016   2:54:42     Stuart FL/USA             Treasure Coast
28 May 2000   2:35:12     Burlington VT/USA         Key Bank Vermont City
18 Oct 1997   2:25:49     Hartford CT/USA           Aetna US Healthcare Greater Hartford
18 Apr 1983   2:18:18a    Boston MA/USA             Boston
24 Jun 1978   2:19:26.4a  Duluth MN/USA             Grandma's
Ron Lund (24 Feb 1957,USA)
07 May 2016   2:59:15x    Las Vegas NV/USA          REVEL Mount Charleston
06 Oct 2007   2:45:36x    Saint George UT/USA       Saint George
12 Oct 1991   2:35:23x    Saint George UT/USA       Saint George
03 Oct 1987   2:34:09x    Saint George UT/USA       Saint George
06 May 1979   2:43:46     Weott CS/USA              Avenue of the Giants
Notes: "a" indicates a point-to-point course, "x" indicates a no gun time available or a course that is inelgible for rankings because of excessive downhill or a short course.

Last Updated on 18 Nov 2017

Contributors: Amby Burfoot, Barry Magee, Gary Allen, Steve Smythe, Stan Rosenfeld, Antonio Arreola, Colin Youngson, Lee Pollock, Greg Skopec, Mark Lohman, Jim Garcia, Shigenobu Ota, Nick Sirs, Budd Coates, Bob Schwelm, Marian Hesketh, Don Demetriades, Peter LaGoy, Steven Schuman, Mark Murray, Terry Permar, Steve Schmidt, Andy Milroy, Riel Hauman