Missoula Marathon’s Fastest Times Ever: The Records to Beat in 2026

The Missoula Marathon takes place this weekend. There will be a ton of people in town this weekend running The Last Best Race. This weekend's race is seeing all-time numbers in terms of runners.

One runner who won't be there is six-time defending Missoula Marathon champion Mark Messmer, according to The Missoulian. That will open the door up for a new winner and potentially a new record holder.

I looked into the fastest times ever recorded at the Missoula Marathon. There is a lot of Mark Messmer on the list, but he doesn't hold the all-time record. Here are the top 10 fastest marathon times for men.

1) Matthew Adams - 2:20:27 (2024) (Montana Soil Record)

2) Mark Messmer - 2:21:13 (2025)

3) Mark Messmer - 2:21:33 (2024)

4) Mark Messmer - 2:21:36 (2022)

5) Mark Messmer - 2:22:26 (2023)

6) Mark Messmer (one last time) - 2:24:00 (2019)

7) Luis Orta - 2:24:58 (2014)

8) Jason Delaney - 2:26:10 (2013)

9) Elliot Welder - 2:26:25 (2011)

10) Benjamin Decker - 2:27:10 (2022)

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Those are the men, but let's not forget about the lightning-fast ladies. Here are the top 10 women's times at the Missoula Marathon, including a few times from Missoula Marathon Director Trisha Drobek.

1) Mariah Bredal - 2:43:30 (2024) (Montana Soil Record)

2) Bonnie Keating - 2:46:36 (2022) 

3) Trisha Drobeck - 2:46:54 (2015)

4) Kate Landau-Olmstead - 2:47:17 (2023)

5) Bailee Parker-Godfrey - 2:48:03 (2025)

6) Kate Landau-Olmstead - 2:48:16 (2024)

7) Trisha Drobeck - 2:48:35 (2016)

8) Kari Hamilton - 2:48:42 (2025)

9) Trisha Drobeck - 2:49:32 (2012)

10) Mariah Bredal - 2:50:03 (2023)

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Here are the best half-marathon times for the guys.

1) Habtamu Cheney - 1:05:13 (2024)

2) Kenneth Kosgei - 1:05:30 (2019)

3) Matt Richtman - 1:05:46 (2024)

4) Steve Ng'etich - 1:05:50 (2023)

5) Mick Iacofano - 1:06:00 (2019)

6) Nicholas Hilton - 1:06:04 (2016)

7) Brian Masterson - 1:06:08 (2023)

8) Zach Perrin - 1:06:17  (2022)

9) Zach Perrin - 1:06:21 (2023)

10) Carlos Trujillo - 1:06:22 (2014)

And the best half-marathon times for the women.

1) Makena Morley - 1:14:29 (2019)

2) Makena Morley - 1:15:52 (2018)

3) Heather Lieberg - 1:15:55 (2015)

4) Heather Lieberg - 1:15:56 (2014)

5) Hannah Branch - 1:16:01 (2024)

6) Allison Morgan - 1:16:05 (2015)

7) Allie Schaich - 1:16:08 (2023)

8) Makena Morley - 1:16:23 (2016)

9) Allison Morgan - 1:16:39 (2016)

10) Makena Morley - 1:17:23 (2017)