The men’s marathon is the first event of the 2015 World Track and Field Championships, beginning at 7:35 a.m. (Beijing time) on Aug. 22. The men’s 10,000-meter race will be held later the same day, while the 5000-meter final is scheduled for Aug. 29. On the women’s side, the 10,000-meter final is Aug. 24, while the marathon and 10,000-meter races will both be run on the last day of the Championships, Aug.


30.

2015 World Championship schedule

Men’s 5000 Meters

2013 World Champion: Mo Farah, Great Britain

World Championship Record: Eliud Kipchoge, Kenya, 12:52.79 (2003)

2015 World Leader: Yomif Kejelcha, Ethiopia, 12:58.39 (Rome, June 4)

Other athletes in 2015 Top Ten: Paul Tanui, Kenya, 12:58.69; Hagos Gebrhiwet, Ethiopia, 12:58.69; Imane Merga, Ethiopia, 12:59.04; Thomas Longosiwa, Kenya, 12:59.78; Muktar Edris, Ethiopia, 13:00.30; Ali Kaya, Turkey, 13:00.31; Dejen Gebremeskel, Ethiopia, 13:00.49; Illias Fifa, Morocco, 13:05.61.

Notes: The world’s top eight times were posted in Rome on June 4. Six different runners have each won a single Diamond League race in the 3000/5000-meter category. Farah’s season best is 13:11.77, but he remains the solid favorite for Beijing; he ran the world-leading 3000-meter time, of 7:34.66, in London July 24. Isiah Koech, the 2013 bronze medalist, has season’s bests of 13:07.33 in the 5000 and 7:37.16 in the 3000.

Women’s 5000 Meters

2013 World Champion: Meseret Defar, Ethiopia

World Championship Record: Tirunesh Dibaba, Ethiopia, 14:38.59 (2005)

2015 World Leader: Almaz Ayana, Ethiopia, 14:14.32 (Paris, July 4)

Other athletes in 2015 Top Ten: Genzebe Dibaba, Ethiopia, 14:15.41; Faith Kipyegon, Kenya, 14:31.95; Mercy Cherono, Kenya, 14:34.10; Viola Kibiwot, Kenya, 14:34.22; Senbere Teferi, Ethiopia, 14:36.44.

Notes: Dibaba has three of the season’s top five times while Ayana has the other two. Dibaba has won three of the six Diamond League events.

Men’s 10,000 Meters

2013 World Champion: Mo Farah, Great Britain

World Championship Record: Kenenisa Bekele, Ethiopia, 26:46.31 (2009)

2015 World Leader: Mo Farah, Great Britain, 26:50.97 (Eugene, May 29)

Other athletes in 2015 Top Ten: Paul Tanui, Kenya, 26:51.86; Geoffrey Kipsang Kamworor, Kenya, 26:52.65; Cameron Levins, Canada, 27:07.51; Bedan Muchiri, Kenya, 27:15.33; Muktar Edris, Ethiopia, 27:17.18; Imane Merga, Ethiopia, 27:17.63; Geoffrey Kipkorir Kirui, Kenya, 27:17.91.

Notes: The season’s four best times were run in Eugene on May 29. Tanui, the 2013 bronze medalist, has two of the season’s top five times.

Women’s 10,000 Meters

2013 World Champion: Tirunesh Dibaba, Ethiopia

World Championship Record: Berhane Adere, Ethiopia, 30:04.18 (2003)

2015 World Leader: Gelete Burka, Ethiopia, 30:49.68 (Hengelo, June 17)

Other athletes in 2015 Top Ten: Alemitu Heroye, Ethiopia, 30:50.83; Belaynesh Oljira, Ethiopia, 30:53.69; Mamitu Daska, Ethiopia, 30:55.56; Wude Ayalew, Ethiopia, 30:58.03; Netsanet Gudeta, Ethiopia, 31:06.53; Genet Yalew, Ethiopia, 31:08.82; Shalane Flanagan, United States, 31:09.02; Sara Moreira, Portugal, 31:12.93.

Notes: The world’s top six times of 2015 were posted in Hengelo on June 17 – all by Ethiopians. Tirunesh Dibaba is not running in 2015 following the birth of her son in March.

Men’s Marathon

2013 World Champion: Stephen Kiprotich, Kenya

World Championship Record: Abel Kirui, Kenya, 2:06:54 (2009)

2015 World Leader: Eliud Kipchoge, Kenya, 2:04:42 (London, April 26)

Other athletes in 2015 Top Ten: Wilson Kipsang Kiprotich, Kenya, 2:04:47; Berhanu Lemi, Ethiopia, 2:05:28; Mark Korir, Kenya, 2:05:49; Dennis Kipruto Kimetto, Kenya, 2:05:50; Lelisa Desisa, Ethiopia, 2:05:52; Endeshaw Negesse, Ethiopia, 2:06:00; Deribe Robi, Ethiopia, 2:06:06; Wilson Loyanae Erupe, Kenya, 2:06:11; Moses Cheruiyot Mosop, Kenya, 2:06:19.

Notes: Winners of 2015’s major marathons include Kipchoge in London, Lemi in Dubai, Korir in Paris, Negesse in Tokyo, Erupe in Seoul, Mosop in Xiamen, Abera Kuma (Ethiopia) in Rotterdam and Lucas Kimeli Rotich (Kenya) in Hamburg.

Women’s Marathon

2013 World Champion: Edna Kiplagat, Kenya

World Championship Record: Paula Radcliffe, Great Britain, 2:20:57 (2005)

2015 World Leader: Mare Dibaba, Ethiopia, 2:19:52 (Xiamen, January 3)

Other athletes in 2015 Top Ten: Aselefech Mergia, Ethiopia, 2:20:02; Gladys Cherono, Kenya, 2:20:03; Lucy Wangui Kabuu, Kenya, 2:20:21; Shure Demise, Ethiopia, 2:20:59; Aberu Kebede, Ethiopia, 2:21:17; Mulu Seboka, Ethiopia, 2:21:56; Eunice Jepkirui Kirwa, Bahrain, 2:22:08; Tetiana Shmyrko, Ukraine, 2:22:09; Mariya Konovalova, Russia, 2:22:27.

Notes: Winners of 2015’s major marathons include Mare Dibaba in Xiamen, Mergia in Dubai (which produced six of the year’s top seven times), Kirwa in Nagoya, Shmyrko in Osaka, Birhane Dibaba (Ethiopia) in Tokyo and Meseret Mengistu (Ethiopia) in Paris.

Read More:

• 2015 World Championship Middle Distance Preview
• Introduction to Long Distance Events
• Olympic Distance Running Rules