A Breakdown of Who Has the Olympic Marathon Standard So Far in 2019

By Adam Kopet of DyeStat

The IAAF released new and tougher standards for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. The women's marathon standard now stands at 2:29:30. The qualifying period began at the start of 2019. Prior to the start of the spring marathon season, DyeStat looks at who has already earned the Olympic standard.

Thus far this year, 72 women have bettered or equaled the 2:29:30 standard. Of those athletes, 35 are from Ethiopia, 16 are from Japan and 11 are from Kenya. Each country will ultimately be limited to three athletes in the Olympic marathon.

Ruth Chepng'etich of Kenya leads the way with her 2:17:08 win at the Dubai Marathon in January. The IAAF has a full list of athletes who have achieved the 2:29:30 standard.

Thus far, one athlete from the Americas has met the Olympic standard. Rachel Cliff of Canada ran 2:26:56 at the Nagoya Women's Marathon, breaking the Canadian record.

There is a secondary method of achieving the standard that is time independent. Athletes who finish top 10 at a World Marathon Majors race or top five at a IAAF Gold Label marathon race are granted the standard. Using this qualifying method, 11 women have achieved the Olympic standard.

So far, no Americans have achieved the standard, but 11 Americans have bettered the standard in the past two years. Five of those women are currently scheduled to compete in the Boston or London Marathons.

Kelsey Bruce is the fastest American so far in 2019. She ran 2:31:53 in January's Houston Marathon.

The Boston Marathon next month will be the first chance for many of the top American marathoners to achieve the Olympic standard. Jordan Hasay, Desiree Linden, Sara Hall, Lindsay Flanagan, Becky Wade, Sarah Crouch and Sarah Sellers will all be shooting for a top-10 finish to achieve the Olympic standard. The London Marathon will feature Molly Huddle and Emily Sisson.

There are several notable athletes who are likely to achieve the standard next month. Of the top-10 ranked women marathoners, according to the IAAF World Rankings, eight of them have yet to achieve the Olympics standard. Six of those athletes are scheduled to race the London Marathon, including Vivian Cheruiyot, Brigid Kosgei, Gladys Cherono and Tirunesh Dibaba. Mary Keitany, the second-fastest woman ever and currently ranked 22nd, is also scheduled to compete.

Americans have until Jan. 19, 2020 to achieve the standard prior to the Olympic Trials marathon Feb. 29, 2020. Athletes from countries without a selection race have until May 31, 2020 to achieve the standard. USATF will select the top three athletes from the Olympic Trials Marathon who have achieved the standard. Should fewer than three athletes have it, additional runners could be selected by the IAAF based on the IAAF World Rankings.