Boston Marathon Famous Moments

The First Boston Marathon
The Marathon Distance
On a Monday: The Patriots’ Day Race
Women Run to the Front
First to Sponsor the Wheelchair Division
Olympic Champions at Boston
Boston Marathon Prize Money
Most Boston Marathons
Only B.A.A. Running Club Champion
Second Largest Single Day Sporting Event
Spectators
Charity Program
Why was the Unicorn chosen as the symbol of both the Boston Athletic Association and the Boston Marathon?
Boston Marathon Course Records
Closest Men’s Boston Marathon Finishes
Boston Marathon Famous Moments Milestones
Men’s Boston Marathon Winners
Women’s Boston Marathon Winner

The First Boston Marathon

To appreciate Boston Marathon famous moments it is good to know where it all began. Among the nation’s oldest athletic clubs, the Boston Athletic Association (B.A.A.) was established in 1887, and, in 1896, more than half of the U.S. Olympic Team at the first modern games was comprised of B.A.A. club members. After experiencing the spirit and majesty of the Olympic Marathon, B.A.A. member and inaugural US Olympic Team Manager John Graham was inspired to organize and conduct a marathon in the Boston area. With the assistance of Boston businessman Herbert H. Holton, various routes were considered, before a measured distance of 24.5 miles from the Irvington Oval in Boston to Metcalf’s Mill in Ashland was eventually selected.
On April 19, 1897, John J. McDermott of New York, emerged from a 15-member starting field and captured the first B.A.A. Marathon in 2:55:10, and, in the process, forever secured his name in sports history.
In 1924, the B.A.A. moved the starting line from Ashland to Hopkinton. In 1927, the Boston Marathon course was lengthened to the full distance of 26 miles, 385 yards to conform to Olympic standards.
The Boston Marathon has since become the world’s oldest annually contested marathon.

The Marathon Distance

The 1896 Olympic marathon distance of 24.8 miles was based on the distance run, according to famous Greek legend, in which the Greek foot-soldier Pheidippides was sent from the plains of Marathon to Athens with the news of the astounding victory over a superior Persian army. Exhausted as he approached the leaders of the City of Athens, he staggered and gasped, “Rejoice! We Conquer!” and then collapsed.
The marathon distance was later changed as a result of the 1908 Olympic Games in London. That year, King Edward VII and Queen Alexandria wanted the marathon race to begin at Windsor Castle outside the city so that the Royal family could view the start. The distance between the castle and the Olympic Stadium in London proved to be 26 miles. Organizers added extra yards to the finish around a track, 385 to be exact, so the runners would finish in front of the king and queen’s royal box. Every Olympic marathon run since the 1908 Games has been a distance of 26 miles, 385 yards.
Back to Top

On a Monday: The Patriots’ Day Race

From 1897-1968, the Boston Marathon was held on Patriots’ Day, April 19, a holiday commemorating the start of the Revolutionary War and recognized only in Massachusetts and Maine. The lone exception was when the 19th fell on Sunday. In those years, the race was held the following day (Monday the 20th). However, in 1969, the holiday was officially moved to the third Monday in April. The 2004 race will mark the 36th consecutive year the race has been held on a Monday. The last non-Monday champion was current Runner’s World editor Amby Burfoot, who posted a time of 2:22:17 on Friday, April 19, 1968.

Women Run to the Front

Roberta Gibb was the first woman to run the full Boston Marathon in 1966. Gibb, who did not run with an official race number during any of the three years (1966-68) that she was the first female finisher, hid in the bushes near the start until the race began. The first woman (albeit unofficial!) has to be one of Boston Marathons famous moments.
In 1967, Katherine Switzer did not clearly identify herself as a female on the race application and was issued a bib number. B.A.A. officials tried unsuccessfully to physically remove Switzer from the race once she was identified as a woman entrant.
At the time of Switzer’s run, the Amateur Athletics Union (A.A.U.) had yet to formally accept participation of women in long distance running. When the A.A.U. permitted its sanctioned marathons (including Boston) to allow women entry in the fall of 1971, Nina Kuscsik’s 1972 B.A.A. victory the following spring made her the first official champion. Eight women started that race and all eight finished.

First to Sponsor the Wheelchair Division

The Boston Marathon became the first major marathon to include a wheelchair division competition when it officially recognized Bob Hall in 1975. With a time of two hours, 58 minutes, he collected on a promise by then Race Director Will Cloney that if he finished in less than three hours, he would receive an official B.A.A. Finisher’s Certificate. American wheelchair competitors Jean Driscoll and Jim Knaub helped to further establish and popularize the division. Being the first wheelchair division has to be one of Boston Marathons famous moments. Back to Top

Olympic Champions at Boston

Three-time defending women’s champion Fatuma Roba became the fourth person to win the Olympic Games Marathon and the B.A.A. Boston Marathon when she posted a 2:26:23 to win the 1997 Boston Marathon. Roba, who won the 1996 Olympic Marathon, joined fellow-women’s champions Joan Benoit, who won Boston in 1979 and 1983, before adding the 1984 Olympic Games title; and Rosa Mota (POR), who won a trio of Boston crowns (1987, 1988, and 1990), while adding the 1988 Olympic title. Gelindo Bordin (ITA) is the only male to win the Olympic (1988) and Boston (1990) titles.

Boston Marathon Prize Money

The Boston Marathon began awarding prize money in 1986 and through the 2005 race more than $10 million has been awarded in prize and bonus money.
The total prize money distributed among the winners of the 110th Boston Marathon will be $575,000 which is awarded in equal amounts to men and women as follows:

Top 15 men and women ($100,000 for first place to $1,500 for 15th place, for a total of $222,500 each for men and women).
Top 5 men and women in the 40-and-over division ($10,000 for first place to $1,000 for 5th place, for a total of $20,000 each for men and women).
Top 5 men and women in the wheelchair division ($15,000 for first place to $1,000 for 5th place, for a total of $20,000 each for men and women).

Most Boston Marathons

One of the most colorful characters in the history of the B.A.A. Boston Marathon, John A. Kelley, was a fixture of the race for nearly seven decades. A starter on race day 61 times, Kelley completed 58 Boston Marathons.
Kelley was not only a two-time winner of Boston (1935 and 1945), but he also finished second a record seven times and recorded 18 finishes in the top 10.
Kelley first competed in the race in 1928, but it was not until 1933, in his third attempt, that he completed the course, placing 37th in 3:03:56. He completed his last marathon at Boston in 1992 at the age of 84.
In 1993, the statue “Young at Heart” was dedicated in honor of Kelley. Located at the base of Heartbreak Hill in Newton, a landmark which had its name coined in reference to one of Kelley’s seven runner-up performances, the statue depicts a young Kelley winning in 1935 at age 27 and clasping hands with an older Kelley finishing in 1991 at age 83. The sculpture stands in tribute to his longevity and spirit.
Kelley served as the Boston Marathon’s grand marshal from 19952004 (missing only 1999 due to illness), preceding the race in a pace car. On October 6, 2004, John A. Kelley passed away, leaving behind him an endless trail of contributions to the sport of running that will continue to inspire generations of athletes for years to come. John Kelley’s dedication to the event has to be one of the Boston Marathons famous moments.

Only B.A.A. Running Club Champion

The only B.A.A. Club member to win the Boston Marathon was John J. Kelley, who established a then-course record 2:20:05 to capture the 1957 race. Kelley finished second on five other occasions. A runner from the B.A.A. has finished in the runner-up spot on ten different occasions, including Patti Lyons [Dillon] in 1979, 1980 and 1981.

Second Largest Single Day Sporting Event

In terms of on-site media coverage, the Boston Marathon ranks behind only the Super Bowl as the largest single day sporting event in the world. More than 1,100 media members, representing more than 250 outlets, are expected to request and receive media credentials in 2006. Back to Top

Spectators

Approximately 500,000 spectators line the 26.2-mile course annually, making the Boston Marathon New England’s most widely viewed sporting event, according to estimates by police and public safety officials from the eight cities and towns along the route.

Charity Program

The Boston Marathon Charity Program enables selected charitable organizations to raise millions of dollars for worthwhile causes. In 2006, approximately 1,200 participants, representing 15 charities are expected to raise more than $7 million.

Why was the Unicorn chosen as the symbol of both the Boston Athletic Association and the Boston Marathon?

Chosen by the founding members of the Boston Athletic Association in 1887 — ten years prior to the inaugural Boston Marathon — the Unicorn is believed to have been chosen as the organization’s symbol due to its place in mythology. In Chinese and other mythologies, the Unicorn represents an ideal: something to pursue, but which can never be caught. In pursuit of the Unicorn, however, athletic competitors can approach excellence (but never fully achieve it). It is this pursuit to push oneself to his or her own limit and to the best of one’s ability which is at the core of athletics. And for this reason, as the marathon matured, that the B.A.A. also decided that the Unicorn would be the appropriate symbol for the marathon. Back to Top

Boston Marathon Course Records

Men’s Open: Cosmas Ndeti (Kenya), 2:07:15, 1994
Women’s Open: Margaret Okayo (Kenya), 2:20:43, 2002
Men’s Masters: John Campbell (New Zealand), 2:11:04, 1990
Women’s Masters: Firaya Sultanova-Zhdanova (Russia), 2:27:58
Men’s Wheelchair: Ernst Van Dyk (South Africa), 1:18:27, 2004
Women’s Wheelchair: Jean Driscoll (United States), 1:34:22, 1994

Closest Men’s Boston Marathon Finishes

< 1 second 2000 Elijah Lagat (2:09:47) over Gezahegne Abera (2:09:47)
1 second 1988 Ibrahim Hussein (2:08:43) over Juma Ikangaa (2:08:44)
2 seconds 1978 Bill Rodgers (2:10:13) over Jeff Wells (2:10:15)
2 seconds 1982 Alberto Salazar (2:08:52) over Dick Beardsley (2:08:54)
3 seconds 1998 Moses Tanui (2:07:34) over Joseph Chebet (2:07:37)
3 seconds 2002 Rogers Rop (2:09:02) over Christopher Cheboiboch (2:09:05)
4 seconds 1994 Cosmas Ndeti (2:07:15) over Andres Espinosa (2:07:19)
5 seconds 1971 Alvaro Mejia (2:18:45) over Patrick McMahon (2:18:50)
6 seconds 1906 Tim Ford (2:45:45) over Dave Kneeland (2:45:51)
10 seconds 1993 Cosmas Ndeti (2:09:33) over Kim Jae (Ryong (2:09:43)
11 seconds 1916 Arthur Roth (2:27:16) over Willie Kyronen (2:27:27)
11 seconds 1996 Moses Tanui (2:09:15) over Ezekiel Bitok (2:09:26)
12 seconds 1997 Lameck Aguta (2:10:34) over Joseph Kamua (2:10:46)
13 seconds 1944 Gerard Cote (2:31:50) over John A. Kelley (2:32:03)
14 seconds 1914 Jim Duffy (2:25:01) over Edouard Fabre (2:25:15)

Boston Marathon Famous Moments Milestones

Tuesday, March 15, 1887

The Boston Athletic Association was established, and construction began soon after on the B.A.A. Clubhouse at the corner of Exeter and Blagden Streets.

Summer 1896

The marathon race at the first modern Olympic Games in Athens in 1896 served as the inspiration for the B.A.A. Boston Marathon, which was held the following spring.

Monday, April 19, 1897

The B.A.A. Marathon was originally called the American Marathon and was the final event of the B.A.A. Games. The first running of the B.A.A. Road Race commenced at the site of Metcalf’s Mill in Ashland and finished at the Irvington Street Oval near Copley Square. John J. McDermott, of New York, emerged from a 15-member starting field to capture the inaugural Boston Marathon.

Tuesday, April 19, 1898

In its second running, the B.A.A. Marathon welcomed its first foreign champion when 22-year-old Boston College student Ronald J. MacDonald, of Antigonish, Nova Scotia, won the race in 2:42:00. MacDonald’s accomplishment foreshadowed the international appeal the race would later attract. Today, 19 countries can claim a Boston Marathon champion. The United States leads the list with 41 triumphs.

Wednesday, April 19, 1911

The legendary Clarence H. DeMar of Melrose, Massachusetts won his first of seven Boston Marathon titles. However, on the advice of medical experts, DeMar initially “retired” from the sport following his first title. He later won six titles between 1922 and 1930, including three consecutive from 1922 through 1924. DeMar was 41 years old when he won his final title in 1930.

Friday, April 19, 1918

Due to American involvement in World War I, the traditional Patriots’ Day race underwent a change of format. A 10-man military relay race was contested on the course, and the team from Camp Devens in Ayer, Massachusetts, bested the field in 2:24:53.

Saturday, April 19, 1924

The course was lengthened to 26 miles, 385 yards to conform to the Olympic standard, and the starting line was moved west from Ashland to Hopkinton.

Thursday, April 19, 1928

John A. “The Elder” Kelley made his Boston Marathon debut. Kelley, who won the race in 1935 and again in 1945, has the record for most Boston Marathons started (61) and finished (58). His final race came in 1992 at the age of 84. Meanwhile, Clarence DeMar captured his second straight title (his sixth overall). To date, only nine champions have returned to successfully defend their title. DeMar is the only one to have posted consecutive triumphs on more than one occasion (1922-24 and 1927-28).

Monday, April 20, 1936

The last of Newton’s hills was given the nickname “Heartbreak Hill” by Boston Globe reporter Jerry Nason. When John A. Kelley caught eventual champion Ellison “Tarzan” Brown on the Newton hills, Kelley made a friendly gesture of tapping Brown on the shoulder. Brown responded by regaining the lead on the final hill, and as Nason reported, “breaking Kelley’s heart.”

Saturday, April 19, 1941

Leslie Pawson of Pawtucket, Rhode Island joined Clarence DeMar as the only champion to win the men’s open race three times or more. Pawson first won the race in 1933 and added a second title in 1938. The pair has since been joined by Gerard Cote, Bill Rodgers, Eino Oksanen, Ibrahim Hussein, and Cosmas Ndeti.

Saturday, April 19, 1947

For the only time in the history of the men’s open race, a world-best was established at the Boston Marathon when Korean Yun Bok Suh turned in a 2:25:39 performance.

Saturday, April 20, 1957

John J. Kelley became the first and currently lone B.A.A. club member to win the Boston Marathon. In addition, from 1946 to 1967, Kelley was the only American to win the race.

Tuesday, April 19, 1966

Although not an official entrant, Roberta “Bobbi” Gibb became the first woman to run the Boston Marathon. Joining the starting field shortly after the gun had been fired, Gibb finished the race in 3:21:40 to place 126th overall. Gibb again claimed the “unofficial” title in 1967 and 1968.

Wednesday, April 19, 1967

By signing her entry form “K. V. Switzer,” Kathrine Switzer became the first woman to receive a number in the Boston Marathon. By her own estimate, Switzer finished in 4:20:00.

Monday, April 20, 1970

Qualifying standards were introduced. The official B.A.A. entry form stated, “A runner must submit the certification…that he has trained sufficiently to finish the course in less than four hours”

Monday, April 17, 1972

Women were allowed to officially run the Boston Marathon, and Nina Kuscsik emerged from an eight-member starting field to win the race in 3:10:26.

Monday, April 21, 1975

A trio of stories emerged from this race, as Bill Rodgers collected his first of four titles, Bob Hall became the first officially recognized participant to complete the course in a wheelchair, and Liane Winter of West Germany established a women’s world-best of 2:42:24. Hall was granted permission to enter the race provided that he covered the distance in under three hours. Hall finished in 2:58:00, signalling the start of the wheelchair division in the race.

Monday, April 19, 1982

Alberto Salazar and Dick Beardsley became the first two runners to break 2:09:00 in the same race after dueling one another for first place over the final nine miles. Salazar emerged victorious from the thrilling final sprint to the finish, with Beardsley just two seconds behind in 2:08:54.

Monday, April 18, 1983

Joan Benoit won her second Boston Marathon in a world-best time of 2:22:43. Benoit, who won the Olympic Marathon the following summer, became the first person to win the Boston and Olympic Marathons. Greg Meyer, a resident of Massachusetts at the time, won the men’s race and is the most recent American man to win the Boston Marathon.

Monday, April 15, 1985

Lisa Larsen-Weidenbach, who placed fourth at the 1984, 1988, and 1992 U.S. Olympic trials, ran uncontested to win the women’s race in 2:34:06 and remains the last female American champion at Boston.

Monday, April 21, 1986

Through the generous support of principal sponsor John Hancock Financial Services, prize money was awarded for the first time, and Rob de Castella of Australia earned $60,000 and a Mercedes-Benz for finishing first in a course-record time of 2:07:51. On the women’s side, Ingrid Kristiansen of Norway captured her first of two Boston Marathon titles in 2:24:55 (she won her second title in 1989).

Monday, April 20, 1987

Rosa Mota of Portugal collected her first of three Boston Marathon titles. Mota is the only Boston champion to have won the marathon at the Olympics and World Championships.

Monday, April 18, 1988

Kenya’s Ibrahim Hussein finished one second ahead of Tanzania’s Juma Ikangaa, and became the first African to win Boston or any other major marathon. Hussein, who also won in 1991 and 1992, established a trend in which African runners won 14 of 16 races.

Monday, April 16, 1990

Jean Driscoll of Champaign, Illinois won her first of seven consecutive push rim wheelchair division races. Men’s champion Gelindo Bordin of Italy became the third person to win the Boston and Olympic Marathons, and masters division champion John Campbell of New Zealand established a then world-best of 2:11:04 to finish fourth overall.

Monday, April 18, 1994

World-best performances were established in the men’s and women’s wheelchair divisions, while course records fell in the men’s and women’s open divisions. For the fifth consecutive year, Jean Driscoll posted a world-best to win the women’s wheelchair division, while Heinz Frei of Switzerland set the men’s world-best to mark the 12th time the record had been established at Boston. Cosmas Ndeti of Kenya lowered the course record to 2:07:15, while Uta Pippig set the women’s standard at 2:21:45.

Monday, April 15, 1996

The historic 100th running of the Boston Marathon attracted 38,708 official entrants (36,748 starters; 35,868 finishers), which stands as the largest field of finishers in history. Uta Pippig overcame a 30-second deficit and severe dehydration, among other difficulties, to become the first woman of the official era to win the race in three consecutive years.

Monday, April 21, 1997

Fatuma Roba of Ethiopia became the fourth person to win the Boston and Olympic Marathons, and the first African woman to win the Boston Marathon. Two years later, she would become the second woman of the official era to win the race in three consecutive years.

Monday, April 20, 1998

The performances of Moses Tanui (2:07:34), Joseph Chebet (2:07:37), and Gert Thys (2:07:52) marked the first time in the history of the sport that three runners finished in under 2:08:00.

Monday, April 17, 2000

After seven consecutive victories (1990-1996) followed by three years as runner-up (1997-1999), Jean Driscoll won an unprecedented eighth title in the wheelchair division, moving her past legendary Hall of Famer Clarence DeMar for most all-time victories at Boston. Catherine Ndereba became the first Kenyan woman to win the Boston Marathon; Elijah Lagat, also of Kenya, was first to the finish in the men’s race, marking the tenth consecutive year a runner from his country won the title. Both the men’s and women’s races were the closest in history.

Monday, April 16, 2001

After an unprecedented ten consecutive victories by Kenyans in the men’s race, Lee Bong-Ju of Korea halted the streak with his 2:09:43 win. The last Korean winner at Boston prior to Lee was Kee Yong Ham, who was the men’s race champion in 1950.

Monday, April 15, 2002

Two records were set in the women’s race when Margaret Okayo of Kenya dethroned two-time defending champion Catherine Ndereba in 2:20:43 and Russian Firaya Sultanova-Zhdanova broke the 14-year old masters record with her 2:27:58 victory.

Monday, April 21, 2003

For the first time, Russian women finished in first and second place at the Boston Marathon and placed four among the top seven. Svetlana Zakharova led the way in 2:25:20, beating runner-up Lyubov Denisova (2:26:51) by one minute, 31 seconds. After the race, Zakharova cited Boston champion Olga Markova as inspiration for a generation of Russian women with her two victories a decade earlier in 1992 and 1993. Also, the qualifying times were adjusted for the first time since 1990, and the maximum field size was set at 20,000 official entrants.

Monday, April 19, 2004

To better showcase the women’s elite field, the B.A.A. implemented a separate start for the top female runners. In a dramatic change to race format, 35 national and international calibre women began at 11:31 a.m. (29 minutes before the rest of the field and the traditional Noon start). Also, Ernst Van Dyk, of South Africa, made history in the push rim wheelchair division when he won for the fourth consecutive year in a world record time of 1:18:27. His victory was further historically significant in that he became the first person ever to crack the 1:20:00 barrier. Back to Top

Men’s Boston Marathon Winners

1897 John J. McDermott New York 2:55:10
1898 Ronald J. MacDonald Canada 2:42:00
1899 Lawrence Brignolia Massachusetts 2:54:38
1900 John Caffery Canada 2:39:44
1901 John Caffery Canada 2:29:23
1902 Sammy Mellor New York 2:43:12
1903 John Lorden Massachusetts 2:41:29
1904 Michael Spring New York 2:38:04
1905 Frederick Lorz New York 2:38:25
1906 Tim Ford Massachusetts 2:45:45
1907 Thomas Longboat Canada 2:24:24
1908 Thomas Morrissey New York 2:25:43
1909 Henri Renaud New Hampshire 2:53:36
1910 Fred Cameron Canada 2:28:52
1911 Clarence DeMar Massachusetts 2:21:39
1912 Michael Ryan New York 2:21:18
1913 Fritz Carlson Minnesota 2:25:14
1914 James Duffy Canada 2:25:14
1915 Edouard Fabre Canada 2:31:41
1916 Arthur Roth Massachusetts 2:27:16
1917 Bill Kennedy New York 2:28:37
1918 Military Relay Camp Devens 2:29:53
1919 Carl Linder Massachusetts 2:29:13
1920 Peter Trivoulides New York 2:29:31
1921 Frank Zuna New York 2:18:57
1922 Clarence DeMar Massachusetts 2:18:10
1923 Clarence DeMar Massachusetts 2:23:47
1924 Clarence DeMar Massachusetts 2:29:40
1925 Charles Mellor Illinois 2:33:00
1926 John C. Miles Canada 2:25:40
1927 Clarence DeMar Massachusetts 2:40:22
1928 Clarence DeMar Massachusetts 2:37:07
1929 John C. Miles Canada 2:33:08
1930 Clarence DeMar Massachusetts 2:34:48
1931 James P. Henigan Massachusetts 2:46:45
1932 Paul DeBruyn Germany 2:33:36
1933 Leslie S. Pawson Rhode Island 2:31:01
1934 Dave Komonen Canada 2:32:53
1935 John A. Kelley Massachusetts 2:32:07
1936 Ellison M. Brown Rhode Island 2:33:40
1937 Walter Young Canada 2:33:20
1938 Leslie S. Pawson Rhode Island 2:35:34
1939 Ellison M. Brown Rhode Island 2:28:51
1940 Gerard Cote Canada 2:28:28
1941 Leslie S. Pawson Rhode Island 2:30:38
1942 Joe Smith Massachusetts 2:26:51
1943 Gerard Cote Canada 2:28:25
1944 Gerard Cote Canada 2:31:50
1945 John A. Kelley Massachusetts 2:30:40
1946 Stylianos Kyriakides Greece 2:29:27
1947 Yun Bok Suh Korea 2:25:39
1948 Gerard Cote Canada 2:31:02
1949 Karl Leandersson Sweden 2:31:50
1950 Kee Yong Ham Korea 2:32:39
1951 Shigeki Tanaka Japan 2:27:45
1952 Doroteo Flores Guatemala 2:31:53
1953 Keizo Yamada Japan 2:18:51
1954 Veikko Karvonen Finland 2:20:39
1955 Hideo Hamamura Japan 2:18:22
1956 Antti Viskari Finland 2:14:14
1957 John J. Kelley Connecticut 2:20:05
1958 Franjo Mihalic Yugoslavia 2:25:54
1959 Eino Oksanen Finland 2:22:42
1960 Paavo Kotila Finland 2:20:54
1961 Eino Oksanen Finland 2:23:39
1962 Eino Oksanen Finland 2:23:48
1963 Aurele Vandendriessche Belgium 2:18:58
1964 Aurele Vandendriessche Belgium 2:19:59
1965 Morio Shigematsu Japan 2:16:33
1966 Kenji Kemihara Japan 2:17:11
1967 David McKenzie New Zealand 2:15:45
1968 Amby Burfoot Connecticut 2:22:17
1969 Yoshiaki Unetani Japan 2:13:49
1970 Ron Hill Great Britain 2:10:30
1971 Alvaro Mejia Colombia 2:18:45
1972 Olavi Suomalainen Finland 2:15:39
1973 Jon Anderson Oregon 2:16:03
1974 Neil Cusack Ireland 2:13:39
1975 Bill Rodgers Massachusetts 2:09:55
1976 Jack Fultz Virginia 2:20:19
1977 Jerome Drayton Canada 2:14:46
1978 Bill Rodgers Massachusetts 2:10:13
1979 Bill Rodgers Massachusetts 2:09:27
1980 Bill Rodgers Massachusetts 2:12:11
1981 Toshihiko Seko Japan 2:09:26
1982 Alberto Salazar Massachusetts 2:08:52
1983 Greg Meyer Massachusetts 2:09:00
1984 Geoff Smith Great Britain 2:10:34
1985 Geoff Smith Great Britain 2:14:05
1986 Robert de Castella Australia 2:07:51
1987 Toshihiko Seko Japan 2:11:50
1988 Ibrahim Hussein Kenya 2:08:43
1989 Abebe Mekonnen Ethiopia 2:09:06
1990 Gelindo Bordin Italy 2:08:19
1991 Ibrahim Hussein Kenya 2:11:06
1992 Ibrahim Hussein Kenya 2:08:14
1993 Cosmas Ndeti Kenya 2:09:33
1994 Cosmas Ndeti Kenya 2:07:15
1995 Cosmas Ndeti Kenya 2:09:22
1996 Moses Tanui Kenya 2:09:15
1997 Lameck Aguta Kenya 2:10:34
1998 Moses Tanui Kenya 2:07:34
1999 Joseph Chebet Kenya 2:09:52
2000 Elijah Lagat Kenya 2:09:47
2001 Lee Bong-Ju Korea 2:09:43
2002 Rodgers Rop Kenya 2:09:02
2003 Robert Kipkoech Cheruiyot Kenya 2:10:11
2004 Timothy Cherigat Kenya 2:10:37
2005 Hailu Negussie Ethiopia 2:11:45
2011 Geoffrey Mutai Kenya 2:03:02

Women’s Boston Marathon Winner

1966 Roberta Gibb (unofficial) Massachusetts 3:21:40
1967 Roberta Gibb (unofficial) California 3:27:17
1968 Roberta Gibb (unofficial) California 3:30:00
1969 Sara Mae Berman (unofficial) Massachusetts 3:22:46
1970 Sara Mae Berman (unofficial) Massachusetts 3:05:07
1971 Sara Mae Berman (unofficial) Massachusetts 3:08:30
1972 Nina Kuscsik New York 3:10:26
1973 Jacqueline Hansen California 3:05:59
1974 Michiko Gorman California 2:47:11
1975 Liane Winter West Germany 2:42:24
1976 Kim Merritt Wisconsin 2:47:10
1977 Michiko Gorman California 2:48:33
1978 Gayle S. Barron Georgia 2:44:52
1979 Joan Benoit Maine 2:35:15
1980 Jacqueline Gareau Canada 2:34:28
1981 Allison Roe New Zealand 2:26:46
1982 Charlotte Teske West Germany 2:29:33
1983 Joan Benoit Massachusetts 2:22:43
1984 Lorraine Moller New Zealand 2:29.28
1985 Lisa Larsen Weidenbach Michigan 2:34.06
1986 Ingrid Kristiansen Norway 2:24:55
1987 Rosa Mota Portugal 2:25:21
1988 Rosa Mota Portugal 2:24:30
1989 Ingrid Kristiansen Norway 2:24:33
1990 Rosa Mota Portugal 2:25:24
1991 Wanda Panfil Poland 2:24:18
1992 Olga Markova Russia 2:23:43
1993 Olga Markova Russia 2:25:27
1994 Uta Pippig Germany 2:21:45
1995 Uta Pippig Germany 2:25:11
1996 Uta Pippig Germany 2:27:12
1997 Fatuma Roba Ethiopia 2:26:23
1998 Fatuma Roba Ethiopia 2:23:21
1999 Fatuma Roba Ethiopia 2:23:25
2000 Catherine Ndereba Kenya 2:26:11
2001 Catherine Ndereba Kenya 2:23:53
2002 Margaret Okayo Kenya 2:20:43
2003 Svetlana Zakharova Russia 2:25:20
2004 Catherine Ndereba Kenya 2:24:27
2005 Catherine Ndereba Kenya 2:25:13
2011 Caroline Kilel Kenya 2:22:36