Over at the NTimes.com is a feast for folks like me who like to look at sports statistics. It’s a History of World Records – Interactive Graphic. For many sports, it appears that the improvements have made a gradual progression over many decades. But not all. One that stuck for me was the women’s marathon.
In May of 1967, just over 40 years ago, Maureen Wilton of Canada set the record time for the women’s marathon with a time of 3:15:22. In just a few months, Anni Pede-Erdkamp of West Germany beat that with a time of 3:07:27. Ten years later, Grete Waitz of Norway is bringing it down to 2:32:30. That’s seems incredible. But that’s has been the way it has been for the women’s marathon. In April of 2003, Paul Radcliffe ran a time of 2:15:25.
Who knows what women will do in this sport? From the looks of things, two words: greatly improve.
Go here for your all the stats.
(flickr photo from Conor Lawless’ photostream)
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