Black Female Marathon History

2024 Articles

Ari Hendrix Wants to Keep Breaking Barriers for Black Women
By Allison Torres Burtka – Runner’s World – January 24, 2024
https://www.runnersworld.com/runners-stories/a46455531/ariane-hendrix-olympic-marathon-trials/

The Women’s 2024 U.S. Olympic Trials Marathon Will Be the Most Diverse in History
By Emilia Benton – Outside/Women’s Running – January 28, 2024
https://www.womensrunning.com/culture/people/womens-u-s-olympic-trials-marathon-will-be-the-most-diverse-in-history/

2023 Articles

For Ariane Hendrix, The Olympic Trials Marathon Is Just the Beginning
By Emilia Benton – Outside – November 9, 2023

Erika Kemp Wants to See More Runners Who Look Like Her
By Matthew Futterman – New York Times – May 6, 2023

Black American female runners are blazing a new trail in the marathon
By Kelyn Soong – Washington Post – April 28, 2023

Only 28 US-born Black women have broken three hours in the marathon. Why?
By Allison Torres Burtka – The Guardian – March 2, 2023

All-Time Best African American Female Marathoners

First Winner of a Marathon: February 1975
Marilyn Bevans - Washington Birthday Marathon, Beltsville, Maryland - 3:04:32

First Sub 3 Hour Marathon: April 1975
Marilyn Bevans – Boston Marathon - 2:55:52 - 4th place

Most Sub 3 Hour Marathons American Born:
Shawanna White (16), Marilyn Bevans (13), Michele (Bush) Cuke (11), Ella Willis (11), Michele (Soderberg) Hill (10)

Most Sub 2:45 Marathons American Born:
Michele (Bush) Cuke (8), Ella Willis (6)

Most Years All-Time Leader:
Michelle (Bush) Cuke (23), Sami Akbar (17), Marilyn Bevans (8)

American Born - Female African American All-Time Marathon Rankings

1. Erika Kemp 2:33:57 - Boston Marathon - 28th place - 2023
2. Samia Akbar 2:34:14 - New York Marathon - 12th place – 2006
3. Ariane Hendrix- Roach 2:35:39 - California International Marathon - 30th place - 2022
4. Peyton Thomas 2:35:45 - California International Marathon - 6th place - 2023
5. Michele (Bush) Cuke 2:37:41 – California International Marathon - 2nd place – 1991
6. Ella Willis 2:38:22 – Detroit Free Press Marathon - 1st place – 1989
7. Shaluinn Fullove 2:41:57 - California International Marathon - 11th place - 2015
8. Caroline Austin 2:44:45 - Olympic Trial Marathon (Atlanta) - 118th place - 2020
9. Shawanna White 2:45:19 - One City Marathon - 3rd place - 2018
10. Leilani Rios 2:46:51 - Houston Marathon - 28th place - 2016
11. Ingrid Walters 2:48:03 - Los Angeles Marathon - 1st place -2019
12. Madison Yerke 2:48:14 - Chicago Marathon - 56th place - 2022
13. Kayla Grahn 2:48:26 - Los Angeles Marathon - 4th place - 2021
14. Jenae Strader 2:49:11 – Philadelphia Marathon - 4th place – 1999
15. Rolanda Bell 2:49:36 - Chicago Marathon - 46th place - 2018
16. Alisa Hill- Harvey 2:49:28 – Richmond Marathon - 2nd place – 1999
17. Marilyn Bevans 2:49:56 – Boston Marathon - 2nd place – 1979
18. Michele Soderberg-Hill 2:50:19 – Sri Chinmoy Marathon CA - 1st place - 1983
19. Angela Swain 2:51:11 - Chicago Marathon - 51st place - 2017
20. Erica Stanley-Dottin 2:52:05 - Berlin Marathon - 84th place - 2022
21. Sharada Maddox 2:53:07 - London Marathon - 36th place - 2021
22. Nnenna Lynch 2:55:15 - New York Marathon - 31st place - 2002
23. Dena Evans 2:56:04 - Boston Marathon - 80th place - 2013
24. Jordan Oakes 2:56:45 - Seattle Marathon - 1st place - 2021
25. Giovanna Fischer 2:56:58 - Boston Marathon - 156th place - 2022
26. Sika Henry 2:57:13 - Tidewater Striders Marathon - 3rd place - 2020
27. Janel Blancett 2:57:18 - Twin Cities Marathon - 25th place - 2019
28. Aurelia Skipwith 2:58:15 - Chicago Marathon - 110th place - 2014
29. Dira Hansen 2:59:13 - Shamrock Marathon - 5th place - 2022
30. Danni McNeilly 2:59:33 - Chicago Marathon - 299th place - 2023
31. Krystine Beneke 2:59:47 - Boston Marathon - 129th place- 2014

American Born - Female African American All-Time Best Marathon Performance Progression

Erika Kemp (2023)
Sami Akbar 2:34:14 (2006 to 2023)
Michele (Bush) Cuke 2:37:41 (1991 - 2006)
Ella Willis 2:38:22 (1989 to 1991)
Michele (Bush) Cuke 2:39:07 (1981 -1989)
Marilyn Bevans 2:49:56 (1979 to 1981)
Marilyn Bevans 2:51:12 (1977 to 1979)
Marilyn Bevans 2:55:52 (1975 to 1977)
Marilyn Bevans 3:04:32 (1975)
Marilyn Bevans 3:17:42 (1974 to 1975)
Marilyn Bevans 3:31:45 (1973 to 1974)

Female African American Olympic Marathon Trial Participation

1984: Michele (Soderberg) Hill - Did Not Finish
1988: None
1992: Ella Willis - 24th place
1996: None
2000: Jenae Strader - 41st place; Alisa (Hill) Harvey - Did Not Finish
2004: Mary Akor- 17th place
2008: Samia Akbar - 18th place; Mary Akor - 19th place; Shaluinn Fullove – 88th place
2012: Janet Bawcom - 5th place
2016: Janet Bawcom- 5th place; Obsie Birru - 114th place; Shaluinn Fullove – Did Not Finish
2020: Aliphine Tuliamuk – 1st place; Sally Kipyego – 3rd place; Peyton Thomas – 78th place; Pasca Myers – 207th place

Source: Association of Road Racing Statistician
Note: This research is ongoing in search of additional athletes.