Fukuoka Marathon

Fukuoka Marathon
The Fukuoka Marathon monument at Hakata Station with footprints of past winners
DateEarly December
LocationFukuoka, Japan Japan
Event typeRoad
DistanceMarathon
Established1947 (77 years ago) (1947)
Course records2:05:18 (2009)
Ethiopia Tsegaye Kebede
Official siteFukuoka Marathon
Participants80 finishers (2021)[1]
67 (2020)
370 (2019)
291 (2018)

The Fukuoka International Marathon (福岡国際マラソン, Fukuoka Kokusai Marason) is an IAAF Gold Label international men's marathon race held in Fukuoka, Japan. It was previously known as the Fukuoka International Open Marathon Championship between 1947 and 2021, when it was announced the race would be discontinued on its 75th edition.[2] However, due to popular support, a successor race, inheriting the tradition and course of the original marathon, was established the next year.[3]

The course record is held by Tsegaye Kebede of Ethiopia, running 2:05:18 in 2009 to best his own record from the previous year.[4] Toshihiko Seko (1978–80, '83) and Frank Shorter (1971–74) tie for most victories at the race with four each.[5]

  1. ^ Cite error: The named reference 2021.results was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ Johnson, Len (6 December 2021). "Farewell to Fukuoka".
  3. ^ "Successor to Fukuoka International Marathon set for December". The Japan Times. 15 March 2022. Retrieved 6 November 2022.
  4. ^ Nakamura, Ken (2009-12-06). 2:05:18 course record and personal best for Kebede in Fukuoka. IAAF. Retrieved on 2009-12-06.
  5. ^ "Githae wins final edition of Fukuoka Marathon | REPORT | World Athletics". www.worldathletics.org. Retrieved 6 November 2022.