World Marathon Majors

World Marathon Majors. The World Marathon Majors is a series of six prestigious marathons that take place around the world, including the Boston Marathon, London Marathon, Berlin Marathon, Chicago Marathon, Tokyo Marathon, and New York City Marathon. These events are considered among the most competitive and popular marathons in the world, attracting top athletes such as Haile Gebrselassie, Paula Radcliffe, and Kenenisa Bekele. The series is sponsored by Abbott Laboratories and is governed by the World Marathon Majors board, which includes representatives from each of the six member marathons.

Introduction

The World Marathon Majors series was established in 2006 to provide a competitive platform for elite athletes to compete against each other in a series of marathons. The series is designed to promote the sport of distance running and to provide a framework for athletes to compete for a championship title. The series has been supported by USA Track & Field, the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF), and other governing bodies such as the British Athletics and the Japanese Association of Athletics Federations. The series has also been endorsed by top coaches such as Renato Canova and Patrick Sang, who have trained athletes such as Wilson Kipsang and Mary Keitany.

History

The concept of the World Marathon Majors series was first proposed by Tim Hadzima, the former executive director of the Boston Marathon, and Guy Morse, the former executive director of the Boston Athletic Association. The series was launched in 2006 with the support of the IAAF and the six member marathons. The first series was won by Felix Limo and Deena Kastor, who were crowned the inaugural champions of the World Marathon Majors. Since then, the series has grown in popularity, with athletes such as Eliud Kipchoge, Kenenisa Bekele, and Haile Gebrselassie competing in the series. The series has also been supported by sponsors such as Abbott Laboratories, TCS, and Nike, which have helped to promote the series and provide prize money for the athletes.

Member Marathons

The six member marathons of the World Marathon Majors series are the Boston Marathon, London Marathon, Berlin Marathon, Chicago Marathon, Tokyo Marathon, and New York City Marathon. These marathons are considered among the most prestigious and competitive in the world, with courses that are known for their fast times and challenging conditions. The Boston Marathon, for example, is known for its hilly course and inclement weather, while the Berlin Marathon is known for its fast course and world records. The London Marathon is one of the largest marathons in the world, with over 40,000 finishers each year, while the Chicago Marathon is known for its flat course and fast times. The Tokyo Marathon is one of the most popular marathons in Asia, with over 30,000 finishers each year, while the New York City Marathon is one of the largest and most competitive marathons in the world.

Scoring System

The World Marathon Majors series uses a scoring system to determine the champion of the series. Athletes earn points based on their finishing position in each of the six member marathons, with the winner of each marathon earning 25 points. The athlete with the most points at the end of the series is crowned the champion. The scoring system is designed to reward athletes who compete in multiple marathons and perform consistently throughout the series. The series also awards bonus points for world records and course records, which are set by athletes such as Eliud Kipchoge and Brigid Kosgei.

Winners

The winners of the World Marathon Majors series have included some of the most talented and accomplished athletes in the world. Eliud Kipchoge, for example, has won the series three times, while Kenenisa Bekele has won the series twice. Haile Gebrselassie and Paula Radcliffe have also won the series, as have Wilson Kipsang and Mary Keitany. The series has also been won by athletes such as Gladys Cherono and Priscah Jeptoo, who have competed in multiple marathons and performed consistently throughout the series. The winners of the series are awarded a prize of $500,000, which is sponsored by Abbott Laboratories.

Records

The World Marathon Majors series has seen numerous world records and course records set over the years. Eliud Kipchoge, for example, set the world record in the marathon at the Berlin Marathon in 2018, with a time of 2:01:39. Brigid Kosgei set the women's world record at the Chicago Marathon in 2019, with a time of 2:14:04. The series has also seen numerous course records set, including the men's course record at the Boston Marathon, which was set by Geoffrey Mutai in 2011, and the women's course record at the London Marathon, which was set by Paula Radcliffe in 2003. The series has been recognized by the IAAF and the USATF, which have certified the world records and course records set during the series.