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

By Adam Kopet of DyeStat

The IAAF has introduced tougher Olympic qualifying standards for the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo. The marathon standards have been made much more strict given a reduction in the goal field size for the marathon at next year's Olympics.

DyeStat has been tracking who has earned the new women's standard of 2:29:30 and who has qualified through place at Abbott World Marathon Majors races and at IAAF Gold Label races. When last reported in March, 72 women had achieved the time standard on an eligible course and another 11 had achieved the standard via place at highly ranked international marathons.

As it stands now, 138 women have achieved the standard of 2:29:30. Of those, Ethiopia leads the way with 55 and Kenya is second with 37. Japan is a distant third with 17 women who have qualified by time.

Earning the standard does not guarantee an athlete an Olympic berth. It simply means athletes have achieved a standard that the IAAF finds suitable for potential inclusion in the Olympic Games.

Individually, Kenya's Ruth Chepngetich leads the way on the year's descending order list. Her 2:17:08 winning time at the Dubai Marathon is the third fastest time ever run. She is one of three women who have run under 2:20 this year.

In addition to the 138 time qualifiers, 22 women have achieved the standard by placing top-10 an Abbott's World Marathon Majors race or top-five at an IAAF Gold Label race. The top-10 at the Boston Marathon all achieved the Olympic standard in this way, as the Boston course is not eligible for time qualification or records due to the distance between the start and finish as well as the average elevation drop along the course.

At the start of April, no Americans had achieved the Olympic marathon standard. Now, there are seven women who have it. Aliphine Tuliamuk and Roberta Groner achieved the time standard at the Rotterdam Marathon. Jordan Hasay, Desiree Linden and Lindsey Flanagan earned the standard from finishing in the top-10 in Boston. Emily Sisson and Molly Huddle achieved the time standard at the London Marathon.

Shalane Flanagan remains the top American in the IAAF World Rankings in the marathon. As of May 1, she is ranked 42nd in the world, based on her 2017 New York City Marathon victory and her third place finish at the 2018 New York City Marathon.

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 may be selected by the IAAF based on the IAAF World Rankings.