The Women's Marathon race at the 2005 World Championships in Athletics was held on 14 August in the streets of Helsinki with the goal line situated in the Helsinki Olympic Stadium. Paula Radcliffe set the pace of the race, leading all the way from start to finish. Constantina Tomescu was able to keep up with Radcliffe the longest, but began to fall behind after the 25 km mark and at the end found herself overtaken by the defending champion Catherine Ndereba.
Medalists edit
| Gold |  Paula RadcliffeGreat Britain (GBR) |
| Silver |  Catherine NderebaKenya (KEN) |
| Bronze |  Constantina TomescuRomania (ROM) |
Abbreviations edit
- All times shown are in hours:minutes:seconds
| DNS | did not start |
| NM | no mark |
| WR | world record |
| AR | area record |
| NR | national record |
| PB | personal best |
| SB | season best |
Intermediates edit
| Rank | Number | Athlete | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 KILOMETRES | |||
| 1 | 281 | Paula Radcliffe (GBR) |
16:47 |
| 2 | 423 |  Yumiko Hara (JPN) |
16:47 |
| 3 | 207 |  Asha Gigi (ETH) |
16:47 |
| 4 | 456 | Catherine Ndereba (KEN) |
16:50 |
| 5 | 214 | Derartu Tulu (ETH) |
16:50 |
| 10 KILOMETRES | |||
| 1 | 281 | Paula Radcliffe (GBR) |
33:23 |
| 2 | 423 | Yumiko Hara (JPN) |
33:23 |
| 3 | 207 | Asha Gigi (ETH) |
33:23 |
| 4 | 601 | Constantina Tomescu (ROM) |
33:26 |
| 5 | 456 | Catherine Ndereba (KEN) |
33:26 |
| 15 KILOMETRES | |||
| 1 | 281 | Paula Radcliffe (GBR) |
49:53 |
| 2 | 423 | Yumiko Hara (JPN) |
49:54 |
| 3 | 207 | Asha Gigi (ETH) |
49:54 |
| 4 | 601 | Constantina Tomescu (ROM) |
49:54 |
| 5 | 456 | Catherine Ndereba (KEN) |
49:56 |
| 20 KILOMETRES | |||
| 1 | 281 | Paula Radcliffe (GBR) |
1:06:16 |
| 2 | 601 | Constantina Tomescu (ROM) |
1:06:17 |
| 3 | 450 | Hellen Jemaiyo Kimutai (KEN) |
1:06:18 |
| 4 | 456 | Catherine Ndereba (KEN) |
1:06:18 |
| 5 | 125 |  Zhou Chunxiu (CHN) |
1:06:39 |
| HALF MARATHON | |||
| 1 | 281 | Paula Radcliffe (GBR) |
1:09:49 |
| 2 | 456 | Catherine Ndereba (KEN) |
1:09:52 |
| 3 | 450 | Hellen Jemaiyo Kimutai (KEN) |
1:09:52 |
| 4 | 601 | Constantina Tomescu (ROM) |
1:09:53 |
| 5 | 125 | Zhou Chunxiu (CHN) |
1:10:19 |
| 25 KILOMETRES | |||
| 1 | 281 | Paula Radcliffe (GBR) |
1:22:47 |
| 2 | 601 | Constantina Tomescu (ROM) |
1:22:48 |
| 3 | 456 | Catherine Ndereba (KEN) |
1:22:50 |
| 4 | 450 | Hellen Jemaiyo Kimutai (KEN) |
1:23:00 |
| 5 | 125 | Zhou Chunxiu (CHN) |
1:23:42 |
| 30 KILOMETRES | |||
| 1 | 281 | Paula Radcliffe (GBR) |
1:39:22 |
| 2 | 601 | Constantina Tomescu (ROM) |
1:39:33 |
| 3 | 456 | Catherine Ndereba (KEN) |
1:39:38 |
| 4 | 450 | Hellen Jemaiyo Kimutai (KEN) |
1:40:30 |
| 5 | 125 | Zhou Chunxiu (CHN) |
1:41:03 |
| 35 KILOMETRES | |||
| 1 | 281 | Paula Radcliffe (GBR) |
1:56:14 |
| 2 | 456 | Catherine Ndereba (KEN) |
1:56:42 |
| 3 | 601 | Constantina Tomescu (ROM) |
1:56:59 |
| 4 | 450 | Hellen Jemaiyo Kimutai (KEN) |
1:58:29 |
| 5 | 125 | Zhou Chunxiu (CHN) |
1:58:35 |
| 40 KILOMETRES | |||
| 1 | 281 | Paula Radcliffe (GBR) |
2:13:22 |
| 2 | 456 | Catherine Ndereba (KEN) |
2:14:09 |
| 3 | 601 | Constantina Tomescu (ROM) |
2:15:16 |
| 4 | 214 | Derartu Tulu (ETH) |
2:16:06 |
| 5 | 125 | Zhou Chunxiu (CHN) |
2:16:33 |
Final ranking edit
| Rank | Athlete | Time | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
 |
Paula Radcliffe (GBR) |
2:20:57 | CR |
 |
Catherine Ndereba (KEN) |
2:22:01 | SB |
 |
Constantina Diță (ROM) |
2:23:19 | |
| 4 | Derartu Tulu (ETH) |
2:23:30 | PB |
| 5 | Zhou Chunxiu (CHN) |
2:24:12 | |
| 6 | Yumiko Hara (JPN) |
2:24:20 | |
| 7 | Rita Jeptoo (KEN) |
2:24:22 | PB |
| 8 | Harumi Hiroyama (JPN) |
2:25:46 | |
| 9 | Hellen Jemaiyo Kimutai (KEN) |
2:26:14 | SB |
| 10 | Megumi Oshima (JPN) |
2:26:29 | |
| 11 |  Madaí Pérez (MEX) |
2:26:50 | PB |
| 12 |  Halina Karnatsevich (BLR) |
2:27:14 | PB |
| 13 |  Dorota Gruca (POL) |
2:27:46 | PB |
| 14 |  Jong Yong-Ok (PRK) |
2:29:43 | PB |
| 15 | Mari Ozaki (JPN) |
2:30:28 | |
| 16 | Asha Gigi (ETH) |
2:30:38 | |
| 17 | Ryoko Eda (JPN) |
2:31:16 | |
| 18 | Mara Yamauchi (GBR) |
2:31:26 | PB |
| 19 |  Rosaria Console (ITA) |
2:32:47 | |
| 20 |  Alina Ivanova (RUS) |
2:32:53 | |
| 21 | Aurica Buia (ROM) |
2:33:20 | PB |
| 22 | Shitaye Gemechu (ETH) |
2:34:01 | |
| 23 | Oh Song-Suk (PRK) |
2:34:07 | |
| 24 | Ryang Gum-Hwa (PRK) |
2:34:35 | |
| 25 | Hayley Haining (GBR) |
2:34:41 | PB |
| 26 |  Turena Johnson-Lane (USA) |
2:34:43 | PB |
| 27 |  Anna Pichrtová (CZE) |
2:34:45 | |
| 28 |  Kirsten Melkevik Otterbu (NOR) |
2:35:08 | |
| 29 | Beatrice Omwanza (KEN) |
2:35:48 | |
| 30 | Jill Boaz (USA) |
2:36:29 | SB |
| 31 |  Isabel Eizmendi (ESP) |
2:36:41 | |
| 32 |  Ana Dias (POR) |
2:36:50 | |
| 33 |  Shireen Crumpton (NZL) |
2:37:03 | PB |
| 34 | Irina Permitina (RUS) |
2:38:16 | |
| 35 | Emily Levan (USA) |
2:38:32 | PB |
| 36 | Jennifer Crain (USA) |
2:39:02 | SB |
| 37 | Dire Tune (ETH) |
2:39:13 | |
| 38 |  Nadezhda Wijenberg (NED) |
2:39:36 | SB |
| 39 | Liza Hunter-Galvan (NZL) |
2:39:47 | |
| 40 | Tegla Loroupe (KEN) |
2:39:58 | |
| 41 |  Nadia Ejjafini (BHR) |
2:41:51 | SB |
| 42 |  Maija Oravamäki (FIN) |
2:43:31 | SB |
| 43 |  Clarisse Rasoarizay (MAD) |
2:43:58 | SB |
| 44 |  Oh Jung-hee (KOR) |
2:47:42 | |
| 45 | Rebecca Moore (NZL) |
2:50:36 | |
| 46 |  Epiphanie Nyirabarame (RWA) |
2:52:11 | |
| 47 |  Hafida Narmouch (MAR) |
2:52:41 | |
| 48 | Mulu Seboka (ETH) |
2:53:08 | |
| 49 |  Nili Abramski (ISR) |
2:54:08 | |
| 50 | Mary Akor (USA) |
2:57:18 | |
| 51 |  Mamokete Lechela (LES) |
3:03:26 | SB |
| DID NOT FINISH (DNF) | |||
| — | Debbie Mason (GBR) |
DNF | |
| — | Kenza Wahbi (MAR) |
DNF | |
| — |  Fabiola William John (TAN) |
DNF | |
| — | Kay Ulrich (NZL) |
DNF | |
| — | Nuţa Olaru (ROM) |
DNF | |
| — | Zhor El Kamch (MAR) |
DNF | |
| DID NOT START (DNS) | |||
| — |  Sandra Ruales (Ecuador) |
DNS | |
| — |  Agueda Amaral (TLS) |
DNS | |