Marathon Power Rankings

Assefa has had one of the most dramatic years in marathoning history. She set the women's only world record in London, then went after the tainted overall world record in valiant fashion in Berlin. She just missed, tearing her Achilles in the process. When she recovers, she'll still be the woman to beat in 2027.

Tesfaye wins marathon rookie of the year, coming out of seemingly nowhere to run the second fastest time in history (and the fastest untainted marathon on the women's side). She'll next race in Valencia and could jump up to the top position with another big performance.

Lokedi handily won another Boston title in April, and then went to Chicago and ran very fast. She didn't win, but she remains one of the most feared kickers in the world.

Feysa finished the year with a standout win in Chicago, beating tough competition. Coupled with a decent performance back in March in Tokyo, she's emerged as a major player on the marathon scene.

Tokyo was a return to form for the former world record holder. Chicago was her race to lose, and she faded in the second half. Still, she put up two 2:14s, which is impressive in and of itself.

No W's for Obiri this year, but she did run fast in London, which added to her resume as one of the best at the distance. Her third place finish in NYC was an odd slip for the typically surgical finisher.

A second win in NYC for the unassuming Kenyan, who powered her way through Central Park. Surely she'll be on the start line in either Boston or London in the spring, and will be a major threat.

Boston was supposed to be McClain's statement performance of 2026, but she upped her game in NYC, executing a brilliant final mile to steal second from Obiri. The hype is near max levels for the American going into the spring.

The third place in London was solid but probably not what Jepkosgei was envisioning at the start line. She'll have a chance to run faster and repeat as champ in Valencia, a very fast course. And she'll have serious talent around her to push the pace.

The only runner on the list who hasn't actually raced at all this year. Regardless, when healthy, Hassan is arguably the top marathoner in the world. She'll contend for big wins in 2027.

Sawe ran the single most important marathon in history back in April, breaking the two-hour barrier for the first time in an official race. An injury scuttled a much-hyped second attempt in Berlin, but Sawe is still the man to beat at the distance.

He's only run one marathon, but it was spectacular. Kejelcha now goes into Valencia in early December as a real threat to become the first person to run sub-two twice.

Kipruto authored a signature win in Chicago, putting up one of the fastest marathons in history, on a day that was a touch warm no less. He dispatched tough competition from Jacob Kiplimo in the process. Paired with a solid fourth place in London, it's been a banner year for the veteran.

Korir smashed the Boston course record in April, and if it wasn't for Sawe's sub-two six days later, we'd probably still be talking about it as perhaps the singular men's performance of the year. He faces a great deal of pressure coming up in Valencia. Can he become the third sub-two marathoner?

Almgren came into NYC with an extraordinary amount of hype and sudden mass interest, and then totally delivered. The time wasn't scorching fast, but his finish was. He's easily the most hyped marathoner going into the new year. It'd be a shame if London can't land him in its field.

Kiplimo will go down in history as a haunting footnote of sorts: third place and the first non sub-two finisher at a historic London Marathon. He was supposed to win Chicago, and faded badly. He's still young, and has run the third fastest time in history, so one magical race could vault him to the top of this list in the future.

Crippa won Paris in the spring, but still had quite a few doubters. He followed that up with an aggressive and gutsy run in NYC, where he challenged for the win, and hung on for a quality second place finish.

Takele has had a stellar year: a repeat victory in Tokyo, followed by a very fast performance for second place in Chicago. Can he run 2:01? We'll find out, perhaps in March?

Don't call it a comeback: Adola flew under the radar with a nice win in April in Rotterdam, and then scorched a big late career PR in Berlin. Can he continue his winning ways in 2027 as he enters his age 37 year?

Kipruto is still one of the best marathoners in the world, but by his standards he's had a bit of an off year. He's used to winning World Marathon Majors, but came up short in both Boston and NYC. Don't be surprised if he goes title hunting in Cape Town or Sydney in 2027.

McClain put together the most complete year of any American woman: 2:20:49 in Boston, the fastest an American woman has ever run on that course, then a brilliant final mile in New York to take second, the first American on that podium since Shalane Flanagan in 2018. She's the one to beat heading into the spring.

The fastest debut ever by an American woman, 2:20:47 in Chicago, capped a year in which Hurley also took Deena Kastor's American 8K record and helped Team USA to silver in Copenhagen. If marathon number one looked like this, what does number two look like?

O'Keeffe hasn't raced a marathon in 2026, but when she's healthy she's lethal, as her 2024 Trials win and her 2:22:49 in New York last November showed. She can run with the best in the world, and a healthy spring would make her a threat on any start line.

Frisbie's 2:22:00 in Boston was a massive breakthrough, even if New York didn't go to plan. The spring result says she belongs in this group, and she'll be looking to prove it again in 2027.

Ellwood ran 2:22:53 in Boston, then had the guts to lead the early miles in New York and still hang on for sixth. Racing that aggressively tends to pay off eventually.

The 2024 Olympian ran three marathons this year: 2:24:04 in Boston, a win at Grandma's, and 2:24:00 in Chicago. Nobody on this list was more consistent.

Kelati's debut in New York, seventh in 2:26:51, was a decent first step for one of the best American half marathoners going. She'll no doubt figure into the mix as a top American throughout 2027.

Sisson is on maternity leave right now, but her 2:22:39 in Boston still ranks among the best American marathons of the year. She's the American record holder at 2:18:29, and the rest of this list will know about it when she's back.

Hayday ran 2:24:45 in Boston and backed it up with 2:24:57 in Chicago. Two near-identical 2:24s in one year is the kind of consistency that usually comes before a breakthrough.

Vestri was one of the busiest and most consistent Americans on the roads this year: 2:24:49 in Boston, 1:07:43 in Houston and a 32:16 10K in the Twin Cities. New York didn’t go her way, but her spring says she belongs in this group.

Talbi was disappointed with his NYC finish, but he put up three big performances in this breakout year, including the fastest time in American history (which isn't eligible for the record due to Boston's net downhill course profile).

Hicks is the quintessential Nike athlete: he's young, charismatic and runs really fast. He'll be looking to level up yet again in 2027.

Clayton Young executed perfectly in Chicago, coming out on top as the first American in a race within the race that was perhaps more gripping than the overall win.

Mauri was the buzziest storyline going into Chicago. He's the madman on the treadmill in training, and is an electric racer. He'll be the most anticipated American racing next spring.

The American record holder didn't race in the spring due to injury, and had a disappointing NYC after being plagued by illness the week of the race. But when he's on, he's probably the best marathoner on this list.

Ford has suddenly inserted himself into the conversation as a serious contender at World Marathon Majors. Boston was a huge step in his career, and he felt like he belonged in the lead group in NYC.

Along with his OAC teammate Ford, Klecker had a big breakthrough in Boston, and followed it up with a workman-like performance in NYC.

Galen Rupp in the top 10 in 2026?! We live in strange times. He ran an American masters record in Chicago, in one of the best performances of his marathoning career. And that's saying a lot.

Shuley flew a bit under the radar, running marathons in Japan and Australia this year, and putting up strong numbers in both instances.

Fantastic debut from the Hoka pro. Will he go flat and fast or be Boston bound in 2027?