The marathon has been a part of the modern Olympics since their founding in 1896, although women were only allowed to participate from 1984.
The distance did not become fixed until 1921, when the 42.195km used at the 1908 Olympics was adopted as the official standard. Before this the distance varied from 40km to 42.75km.
| Wellington | NZ National | World | |
|---|---|---|---|
| M35 | 2:18:30 Nick Horspool (2018) | 2:18:30 Nick Horspool (2018) | 2:03:59 Haile Gebrselassie ETH (2008) |
| M40 | 2:23:47 K Jury | 2:11:18 Jack Foster (1974) | 2:06:25 Ayad Lamdassem El Mouhchin ESP (2022) |
| M45 | 2:27:33 Roger Robinson (1984) | 2:27:33 Roger Robinson (1984) | 2:14:23 Bernard Lagat USA (2020) |
| M50 | 2:28:02 Roger Robinson (1989) | 2:28:02 Roger Robinson (1989) | 2:19:29 Titus Mamabolo RSA (1991) |
| M55 | 2:44:29 Paul Hewitson (2022) | 2:42:00 Derek Turnbull (1985) | 2:25:56 Piet van Alphen NED (1986) |
| M60 | 3:04:44 Ellis Goodyear | 2:42:31 Derek Turnbull (1987) | 2:36:30 Yoshihisa Hosaka JPN (2009) |
| M65 | 3:18:37 Brian Hayes (2012) | 2:41:57 Derek Turnbull (1992) | 2:41:57 Derek Turnbull NZL (1992) |
| M70 | 3:28:32 Ellis Goodyear | 3:15:58 Derek Turnbull (1997) | 2:54:19 Joseph Schoonbroodt BEL (2022) |
| M75 | no record | 3:40:24 Win Nelmes (1989) | 3:04:54 Ed Whitlock CAN (2007) |
| M80 | no record | 4.43.51 Sid Pavett (2014) | 3:15:54 Ed Whitlock CAN (2011) |
| M85 | no record | no record | 3:56:38 Ed Whitlock CAN (2016) |
| M90 | no record | no record | 6:46:34 Ernest Van Leeuwen USA (2005) |
| Wellington | NZ National | World | |
|---|---|---|---|
| W35 | 2:50:39 Ingrid Cree (2022) | 2:34.31 M O’Connor (1991) | 2:19:19 Irina Mikitenko GER (2008) |
| W40 | 2:34:39 Bernie Portenski (1992) | 2:34:39 Bernie Portenski (1992) | 2:22:27 Marlya Konovalova RUS (2015) |
| W45 | 2:43:38 Bernie Portenski | 2:41:15 Sally Gibbs (2012) | 2:29:00 Tatyana Pozdnyakova UKR (2002) |
| W50 | 3:07:43 Catherine Braddock (2024) | 2:42:59 Sally Gibbs (2013) | 2:31:05 Tatyana Pozdnyakova UKR (2005) |
| W55 | 3:56:19 Betty Harp (2019) | 2:53:20 Sally Gibbs(2018) | 2:48:06 Krisha Stanton AUS (2022) |
| W60 | 3:01:30 Bernie Portenski (2010) | 3:01:30 Bernie Portenski (2010) | 2:52.13 Mariko Yeugeta JPN (2021) |
| W65 | 3:47:05 Michele Allison (2021) | 3:47:05 Michele Allison (2021) | 3:07:51 Kimi Ushiroda JPN (2019) |
| W70 | no record | 4:22:41 Judith Bradshaw (2022) | 3:35:29 Helga Miketta GER (2013) |
| W75 | no record | 5:41.12 Clasina Van der Veeken (2007) | 3:53:42 Yoko Nakano JPN (2012) |
| W80 | no record | no record | 4:11:45 Yoko Nakano JPN (2017) |
| W85 | no record | no record | 5:14:26 Betty Jean McHugh CAN (2012) |
| W90 | no record | no record | 8:53:08 Mavis Lindgren USA (1997) |