Ranking of World's Fastest Marathon Runners (Female)

No. 1 - Paula Radcliffe
No. 2 - Catherine N'dereba
No. 3 - Mizuki Noguchi
4. - Irina Mikitenko
No. 5 - Mary Keitany


As of Boston Marathon 2011 April 18

1) Paula Radcliffe (GBR) - 2:15:25 London 13 April 2003 (World Record)
2) Catherine N'dereba (KEN) - 2:18:47 Chicago 7 October 2001
3) Mizuki Noguchi (JPN) - 2:19:12 Berlin 25 September 2005
4) Irina Mikitenko (GER) - 2:19:19 Berlin 28 September 2008
5) Mary Keitany (KEN) - 2:19:19 London 17 April 2011
6) Dena Kastor (USA) - 2:19:36 London 23 April 2006
7) Sun Ying Jie (孙英杰) (CHN) - 2:19:39 Beijing 19 October 2003
8) Yoko Shibui (JPN) - 2:19:41 Berlin 26 September 2004
9) Naoko Takahashi (JPN) - 2:19:46 Berlin 30 September 2001
10) Zhou Chun Xiu (周春秀) (CHN) - 2:19:51 Seoul 12 March 2006



[Whereas the Top 10 results (finishing times) as of 2011 Boston Marathon are:

1) 2:15:25 - Paula Radcliffe (GBR) London 2003
2) 2:17:18 - Paula Radcliffe (GBR) Chicago 2002
3) 2:17:42 - Paula Radcliffe (GBR) London 2005
4) 2:18:47 - Catherine N'dereba (KEN) Chicago 2001
5) 2:18:56 - Paula Radcliffe (GBR) London 2002
6) 2:19:12 - Mizuki Noguchi (JPN) Berlin 2005
7) 2:19:19 - Irina Mikitenko (GER) Berlin 2008
7) 2:19:19 - Mary Keitany (KEN) London 2011
9) 2:19:26 - Catherine N'dereba (KEN) Chicago
10) 2:19:36 - Deena Kastor (USA) London 2006]