After both Australian records were broken last week we ranked the nation’s 10 best to ever tackle the distance

From world champions to Olympic medallists, Australia has a decorated history in the marathon creating one of the hardest sporting lists of all time. See who made the top 10

While we may be sitting in a renaissance of distance running in this country it’s easy to forget how spectacular our history is in an event such as the marathon.

Last weekend Sinead Diver and Brett Robinson broke longstanding Australian records within five hours of each other, solidifying the pair as the best of this generation.

While records are key in creating a legacy it’s important to take into account other factors such as championship performances, world major marathon results and world rankings at the time when deciding who our best is.

With that in mind we have pulled together a list of the top 10 marathoners our country has ever produced in a move that is sure to leave sports fans divided.

Top 10 Australian marathoners all time

10. Madison De Rozario

Madison De Rozario is still young in her career of marathons and could very well repeat as the Olympic champion come the Paralympics in two years time. . (Bob Martin for OIS via AP)

De Rozario is undeniably one of our most decorated para marathoners of all time. In our previous list News Corp had her as the best of the current generation as the three-time Paralympian took home one of the toughest gold medals in event history in the T53 Wheelchair event last year in Tokyo. She followed it up by winning the NYC marathon. In 2022 De Rozario continued her dominance with Commonwealth Gold in Birmingham, and also a third-place finish at the Boston Marathon.

9. Brett Robinson

Brett Robinson became the nations new record holder after a 2:07:31 performance to take the honours away from Rob de Castella who held it for 36 years Picture: Chris Kidd

After breaking the men's national record last weekend Brett Robinson enters the list at number nine. Robinson’s run was remarkable in Fukuoka, and anytime you become the fastest man in a countries history it catapults your name into the greats. His 2:07:31 may not last long in the books as he eyes faster now that the pressure of breaking the record is gone. Brett’s pedigree at major championships isn't near the calibre of the rest of the list, however he has finished 8th at the London Marathon in the early stages of his marathon career.

8. Kerryn McCann

Kerryn Mccann’s run at the Commonwealth Games in Melbourne is one of the most iconic in distance history and was her second gold medal after defending her title in the Marathon., 19/03/06.

Kerryn McCann rarely ever ran a subpar marathon, that's a fact. McCann captivated the hearts of the nation after her determination and will saw her take home gold in the Melbourne Commonwealth Games in 2006. The other element of that famous run was the fact she was also defending her title from the Manchester Games four years earlier. The two time Commonwealth Games gold medallist not only also sits eighth fastest all time for the distance, she won bronze in the Chicago marathon, 11th in the Sydney Olympics and 15th at a world championships.

7. Benita Johnson

Benita Johnson held the national record for 16 years and remains one of only two women to ever break the 2 hour 24 minute mark in the country. (AAP Image/Alan Porritt)

If it were a list on the best distance runner in history Johnson would be at the top, however her greatest results came over different disciplines. Now, in saying this Johnson held the Australian women’s record for 16 magnificent years after being the only Australian women to run in the 2:23s. Along with the national record, Johnson did place 3rd in the Chicago Marathon as well as 21st in the Beijing Olympics in 2008. Longevity of the record plays a huge part in the ranking as to hold onto a national record for that long just goes to show how incredible the performance was.

6. Sinead Diver

Sinead Diver is now the fastest we have ever seen, and with a 10th place finish at the Olympics to go with it makes her one of the most accomplished women over the distance. Photo by Michael Klein

This one makes plenty of sense. Sinead Diver became the fastest women in Australia last weekend when she took down Benita’s record in a big way. It's not like Diver just snuck under the record, she skipped the 2 hour 23 mark and went right to 2 hours and 22 to shave over a minute off the time. Along with this, Divers resume includes a 10th at the Olympics, 7th and 8th placings in the London Marathon, 5th in New York and a 5th at the Commonwealth Games. The consistency to perform is truly remarkable and the national record is just the icing on the cake for a truly decorated career that still has room to get even better.

5. Derek Clayton

Derek Clayton held the world record for an astonishing 12 years and was the first man to ever to sub two hours and 10 minutes for the event.

So now it gets difficult. If you don’t know about Derek Clayton let me introduce you to only one of two Australian able-bodied men to hold the world record. In 1967 Clayton became the first man in history to break the 2:10 mark with a win in the Fukuoka Marathon. Two years later, the gritty Australian bettered the mark with a 2:08:33 that stood as the world record for an amazing 12 years before it was beaten. Going along with being a World Record holder Clayton was 7th and 13th at the Mexico City and Munich Olympics, but sadly had two DNF’s to his name at the Commonwealth level. You could make a strong argument that Clayton is the nation's best and I wouldn't protest it, but come with me as I explain my top 4.

4. Steve Moneghetti

Steve Moneghetti is one of the most decorated Marathoners in the nations history, coming home here to claim 10th in the Sydney Olympics

There's not many that have a record better than the king of Ballarat Steve Moneghetti. At an elite level Moneghetti placed third at the 1997 world championships, Gold medallist at the 1994 Commonwealth Games, silver in the Auckland games a third in the Edinburgh games. To go with Moneghetti 4 world major medals he is the third fastest Australian of all time with a 2:08:16 and is the winner of two world major marathons in Tokyo and Berlin. I'm not done yet. Moneghetti was a metronome when it came to the Olympics too where he finished 10th in Sydney and 7th in Atlanta. While Clayton held the world record for such a long time Moneghetti showed his ability to show up nearly every time it mattered over a long period, making him the fourth greatest in history in my eyes.

3. Rob de Castella

Rob de Castella was a fan favourite not just in Australian distance running but on a global scale, seen here coming down the straight of a cheering crowd to take the win in the Brisbane Comm games

And I present to you our other male world record holder. Rob de Castella is just the pinnacle of consistency when it comes to the marathon. Up until Brett Robinsons run on the weekend ‘Deeks’ held the Australian record for an incredible 36 years after a truly remarkable career that saw him claim two Commonwealth gold’s and a world championship gold at the 1993 games. Not only does he have three world renowned gold medals, along his career at a major event he only finished outside the top 10 twice in running resume that consisted of 18 major events. His time of 2:07:51 looked almost untouchable with so many greats trying and failing to get near the blistering pace. De Ca Stella’s career was one of if not the greatest in terms of consistency over a long stretch, and is deserving of being recognised as the third greatest of all time.

2. Lisa Ondieki

Lisa Ondieki takes the crown as the queen of Australian Marathon running with her Olympic silver still being the only of its kind in Australian history

Lisa Ondieki is the Queen of women‘s marathon running in this nation. Ondieki’s resume is one of the most decorated in not just Australian history, but possibly on a global scale. Ondieki was part of the second Womens marathon at the Olympic Games, where she came through to record Australia's only able-bodied medal in the Marathon with a silver in the 1988 Seoul Olympics. From there, Ondieki took to majors across the globe and went on to Win New York, place second in Chicago and third again in New York. On top of that, Ondieki won two Commonwealth gold medals in 1986 and 1990 and still sits as the 3rd fastest ever over the distance in Australian history. Ondieki was a trail blazer in women‘s Marathon running for this country and to be still the only able bodied athlete with an Olympic medal in the country is an incredible achievement, making her an obvious choice for me as the number 2 spot on the all time list.

1. Kurt Fearnley

Kurt Fearnleys record was truly remarkable and the longevity in which he competed may never be seen again.

When it all comes down to it, Kurt Fearnley is the king of the marathon in Australian history. Fearnley’s list of accomplishments in the mens T-54 is nothing short of breath taking as his career stretched over 20 years of competition to finish with the following achievements.

2x Paralympic Marathon champion (2004 and 2008)
1x Paralympic Marathon silver medallist (2016)
1x Paralympic Marathon bronze medallist (2012)
2x World Championship Marathon gold medallist (2006 and 2011)
1x Commonwealth Games Gold medallist (2018)
4x New York City Marathon champion
3x Chicago Marathon champion
1x London Marathon champion
Just to name a few.
Fearnley’s ability to dominate the sport over such a long period of time is a true testament to the level of athlete and competitor he was at an elite level and justifies my opinion that he is the greatest our nation has ever seen.

Going through all of these athletes made me realise just how truly great we are as a nation in this event. To have Olympic, Paralympic, world, commonwealth and World Major champions is astonishing, and to have athletes not on this list be gold medallists such as Michael Shelley and Jess Stenson proves the depth of the nation.

Cast your vote below to have your say on our nation's greatest of all time.

Originally published as After both Australian records were broken last week we ranked the nation’s 10 best to ever tackle the distance