World Marathon Majors

World Marathon Majors
Title	World Marathon Majors
Current season	2023–24
Sport	Marathon
Founded	2006
Ceo	Dawna Stone
Teams	6 (member races)
Champion	Eliud Kipchoge (men), Tigist Assefa (women)

World Marathon Majors. The World Marathon Majors is a championship-style series comprising six of the largest and most prestigious annual marathon races in the world. Initially established to crown annual world champions in professional marathon running, the series has grown into a premier circuit that attracts the sport's elite athletes and commands global media attention. Its member races are renowned for their competitive fields, historic courses, and significant economic and cultural impact on their host cities.

Overview

The series was conceived to bring greater structure and visibility to elite marathon competition, creating a unified points championship akin to those in other major sports. It operates on a seasonal basis, with athletes earning points based on their finishes in the designated major races. The circuit is governed by the individual race organizations in collaboration with key stakeholders in international athletics. This coalition has successfully elevated the profile of the marathon distance, turning each event into a major international spectacle covered extensively by global broadcasters like BBC Sport and ESPN.

Member races

The six constituent races are the Boston Marathon, the London Marathon, the Berlin Marathon, the Chicago Marathon, the New York City Marathon, and the Tokyo Marathon. Each event possesses a distinct character and history; the Boston Marathon is the world's oldest annual marathon, while the fast course of the Berlin Marathon has been the site of multiple world record performances. The London Marathon is famous for its massive fundraising, and the New York City Marathon traverses all five boroughs of New York City. The Chicago Marathon is known for its flat, fast layout, and the Tokyo Marathon joined the series in 2013, completing its global representation across North America, Europe, and Asia.

Scoring and champions

Athletes score points by placing within the top five at any of the six major races, with the winner receiving 25 points. A seasonal champion is crowned after each series, which typically spans two calendar years, with the athlete accumulating the most points receiving a substantial financial prize. Legendary champions include Eliud Kipchoge of Kenya, who has dominated the series, and Mary Keitany of Kenya on the women's side. The scoring system ensures that consistency across the grueling circuit is rewarded, and ties are broken by an athlete's head-to-head record or best single-race finish.

History and organization

The series was officially launched in 2006, with the first cycle including the original five races before the Tokyo Marathon was added. Its creation was driven by race directors including Dave Bedford of the London Marathon and Guy Morse of the Boston Marathon. The administrative body, initially led by executives like Tim Hadzima, works in partnership with World Athletics to align with the global athletics calendar. A significant evolution occurred in 2015 with the integration of the para-athletics divisions, and governance later transitioned to the Wanda Group before becoming an independent entity.

Qualification and participation

Entry for elite athletes is by invitation from the individual race organizations, which select fields based on recent performances at events like the Olympic Games or other World Athletics Label Road Races. For non-elite runners, participation is typically gained through a competitive lottery system or by meeting stringent time qualifications, as seen with the Boston Athletic Association's standards. Many also gain entry by running for charitable organizations associated with the races, such as the official charities of the London Marathon.

Impact and significance

The World Marathon Majors series has profoundly shaped the sport, setting the standard for excellence, organization, and commercial success in road racing. It has driven the professionalization of the marathon, with appearance fees and prize money attracting top talent from Ethiopia, Kenya, and beyond. The races generate immense economic activity for host cities like Boston and Berlin, and their global broadcasts inspire millions of recreational runners. The series also serves as a crucial benchmark for athletes targeting the Olympic marathon and the World Athletics Championships.

Category:Sports competitions Category:Marathon running Category:Recurring sporting events established in 2006