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And the Last U.S. Marathon Winner Was. . .

Is Boston Next to End a U.S. Winless Streak?

By Ryan Lamppa, Running USA wire
November 9, 2009
Santa Barbara, CA

With 2004 Olympic silver medalist Meb Keflezighi (photo left by www.photorun.net) ending the USA's 27-year winless drought in the men's race at the ING New York City Marathon on Sunday, November 1, now is a good time to look at the last U.S. winner at top championship and selected American marathons. At World Marathon Majors races (Boston, London, Berlin, Chicago, New York), 2004 Olympic bronze medalist Deena Kastor (photo at right by www.photorun.net) is the most recent female American to win a marathon (2006 Flora London Marathon, 2:19:36 AR). Both these athletes train as members of Team Running USA, which became Mammoth Track Club (Mammoth Lakes, CA) in March, 2009; Mammoth Track Club is led by Terrence Mahon.

The following lists the last U.S. runner (male and female) to win a respective United States, Olympic, or World Championship marathon.

For the men, their longest streak from the winner's circle is at the Honolulu and Boston Marathons (David Gordon in 1982, and Greg Meyer in 1983); for the women, it is the New York City Marathon (Miki Gorman in 1977). Note, however, the U.S. marathon winners in 2009--including Christopher Raabe of Washington, DC.

Most Recent USA Champions at Some Top Marathons:

Olympic Games
Frank Shorter (2:12:20), 1972 Munich
Joan Benoit Samuelson (2:24:52), 1984 Los Angeles

IAAF World Championships in Athletics
Mark Plaatjes (2:13:57), 1993 Stuttgart
No Female Champion Yet (Marianne Dickerson, silver, 1983 Helsinki)

Boston
Greg Meyer (2:09:00), 1983
Lisa Weidenbach (2:34:06), 1985

New York City
Meb Keflezighi (2:09:15), 2009
Miki Gorman (2:43:10), 1977

Chicago
Khalid Khannouchi (2:05:56), 2002
Deena Kastor (2:21:25), 2005

Los Angeles
Paul Pilkington (2:12:13), 1994
Olga Appell (2:28:12), 1994

Houston
Sean Wade (2:24:43), 2003 (reduced prize money)
Paul Pilkington (2:11:13), 1990
Kelly Keane (2:32:27), 2005

Twin Cities (Minneapolis, MN)
Jason Hartmann (2:12:09), 2009
Ilsa Paulson (2:31:49), 2009

Grandma's (Duluth, MN)
Christopher Raabe (photo at left, 2:15:13), 2009
Mary Akor (2:36:52), 2009

Honolulu
David Gordon (2:15:30), 1982
Cyndie Welte (2:41:52), 1988

California International (Sacramento)
Joe LeMay (2:13:55), 1999
Kristin Schwartz (2:38:16), 2000

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