Could Shanghai Marathon Become A World Marathon Major?

The Shanghai Marathon has been announced as a candidate to become an Abbott World Marathon Major. 

Shanghai Marathon replaces the Chengdu Marathon as the candidate marathon in China, and the race now begins the process of promotion to a Major. 

HOW DOES A RACE BECOME A MAJOR MARATHON? 

Three candidate marathons were announced in 2022: The Sydney Marathon in Australia, Cape Town Marathon in South Africa, and the Chengdu Marathon in China. Now Shanghai replaces Chengdu as the Chinese candidate race. 

Candidate marathons have to pass two consecutive assessments to become a Major, and those strict assessments take place over at least a three year period. The criteria which each race needs to meet involves looking at the race’s participation (and an increase in the number of finishers), the quality of the elite fields, race organisation and runner experience, sustainability and legacy.

So far, only the Sydney Marathon has passed its first Abbott WMM candidate assessment. The 2024 running of the Sydney Marathon will determine whether it will become a Marathon Major in 2025 – as of October 2024, the announcement has yet to be made. 

The earliest that Shanghai could become a Marathon Major is 2027.

ABOUT THE SHANGHAI MARATHON

Held in the third-most populated city in the world, the Shanghai Marathon was first run in 1996, and given platinum status by World Athletics in 2020. Over 38,000 runners took part in the 2023 race, which saw Kenya’s Philimon Kiptoo Kipchumba run a new men’s course record of 2:05:35, which is the fastest marathon time to have been run in China – it was a thrilling finish which saw the top three men cross the line within seven seconds of each other.

The next edition of the Shanghai Marathon takes place on Sunday 1 December, where it will have its initial assessment. 

WHAT ARE THE ABBOTT WORLD MARATHON MAJORS?

In 2006, the marathons of Boston, London, Berlin, Chicago and New York City united to “collectively present the top echelon in the sport of marathon running,” calling themselves the World Marathon Majors. Tokyo was added as the sixth Major in 2013, then in 2016 a special Six Star Medal was introduced for runners who complete all six Marathon Majors. 

Here’s how to get into the World Marathon Majors, with most races also having qualifying times for faster runners.