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History of the Boston Marathon Timeline

(1897 - Present)

The Boston Marathon is the world's oldest continuously run annual marathon, first held in 1897 and organized by the Boston Athletic Association. Held every Patriots' Day in April, the race follows a 26.2-mile course from Hopkinton to Boston's Back Bay. Over more than a century, it has witnessed historic moments including the inclusion of women runners, dramatic finishes like the 1982 'Duel in the Sun,' record-setting performances, the tragic 2013 bombing, and the city's resilient response. Qualifying for Boston remains one of the greatest achievements for amateur distance runners worldwide. Less

Go to: Timeline | Event List | Key Facts | Directory

Early History

First Boston Marathon held

Apr 19, 1897

The first Boston Marathon took place on April 19, 1897, organized by the Boston Athletic Association after the success of the marathon at the first modern Olympics. Fifteen runners started the race, with John J. McDermott of New York winning in 2:55:10 over a course of about 24.5 miles.

Image source: Boston Marathon

First Boston Marathon held

Ronald MacDonald wins second Boston Marathon

Apr 19, 1898

Canadian runner Ronald J. MacDonald won the 1898 Boston Marathon, setting a new best time for the event and establishing Canada's early prominence in American distance running.

Course lengthened to Olympic standard

Jan 1, 1908

Following the 1908 London Olympics, which established the now-standard 26-mile, 385-yard marathon distance, organizers gradually adjusted the Boston course. By the early 1920s the route from Ashland to Boston was extended to Hopkinton to match the official marathon distance.

Course moved to start in Hopkinton

Apr 19, 1924

In 1924 the starting line was moved west from Ashland to Hopkinton, lengthening the course to the official 26.2-mile Olympic distance that remains today.

Notable Athletes

Clarence DeMar wins record fifth title

Apr 20, 1930

Clarence 'Mr. DeMarathon' DeMar won his fifth and final Boston Marathon in 1930, setting a record for most victories by an individual runner that still stands as a mark of dominance across three decades.

Image source: Clarence DeMar

Clarence DeMar wins record fifth title

Ellison Brown wins in course-record time

Apr 19, 1939

Narragansett runner Ellison 'Tarzan' Brown won the 1939 Boston Marathon in 2:28:51, breaking the two-and-a-half-hour barrier and setting a new course record.

Image source: Ellison Brown

Ellison Brown wins in course-record time

Gerard Cote wins fourth title

Apr 20, 1950

Canadian Gerard Cote captured his fourth Boston Marathon victory in 1950, becoming one of the most dominant runners of the postwar era with wins spanning the 1940s and early 1950s.

Image source: Gérard Côté

Gerard Cote wins fourth title

John Kelley's final competitive appearances

Apr 19, 1957

John A. Kelley, who won Boston twice and competed in it a record 61 times over five decades, became a beloved symbol of the race, immortalized in bronze near Heartbreak Hill.

Image source: Johnny Kelley

John Kelley's final competitive appearances

Amby Burfoot wins on Patriots' Day

Apr 19, 1968

Wesleyan University student Amby Burfoot won the 1968 Boston Marathon and later became a celebrated editor at Runner's World, chronicling the sport he once conquered.

Image source: Amby Burfoot

Amby Burfoot wins on Patriots' Day

Bill Rodgers wins first of four titles

Apr 21, 1975

'Boston Billy' Rodgers won the 1975 Boston Marathon in 2:09:55, beginning an era of American dominance in which he would win four Boston titles between 1975 and 1980.

Image source: Bill Rodgers (runner)

Bill Rodgers wins first of four titles

Jackie Hansen sets women's world best

Apr 21, 1975

American Jackie Hansen ran 2:42:24 at Boston in 1975, setting a women's world best time and highlighting the rapid improvement in women's marathon performances.

Bill Rodgers wins third consecutive title

Apr 18, 1977

Rodgers captured his third straight Boston crown in 1977, cementing his status as the face of the first American running boom and a hometown favorite in New England.

Joan Benoit wins first women's title

Apr 16, 1979

Maine native Joan Benoit won the 1979 Boston Marathon as a college senior, then returned in 1983 to set a world best of 2:22:43 before winning the first Olympic women's marathon gold in 1984.

Image source: Joan Benoit

Joan Benoit wins first women's title

Jean Driscoll wins first of eight titles

Apr 16, 1990

Wheelchair racer Jean Driscoll began her unmatched run of Boston victories in 1990, ultimately winning eight times, including seven consecutive titles, becoming the race's most decorated athlete.

Cosmas Ndeti begins three-peat

Apr 15, 1996

Kenya's Cosmas Ndeti completed his third consecutive Boston win in 1996 during the centennial year, part of Kenya's growing stranglehold on the men's title that continues today.

Catherine Ndereba wins first of four titles

Apr 17, 2000

Kenya's Catherine Ndereba, 'Catherine the Great,' won her first Boston title in 2000, eventually claiming four crowns and setting multiple world records in the marathon.

Image source: Catherine Ndereba

Catherine Ndereba wins first of four titles

Robert Cheruiyot wins fourth title

Apr 21, 2008

Kenyan Robert Cheruiyot secured his fourth Boston victory in 2008, joining the elite group of four-time champions and dominating the race throughout the mid-2000s.

Image source: Robert Kipkoech Cheruiyot

Robert Cheruiyot wins fourth title

Race Milestones

First Japanese winner Keizo Yamada

Apr 19, 1953

Japan's Keizo Yamada won the 1953 Boston Marathon, signaling the beginning of Japan's strong tradition in international marathoning and expanding the race's global reach.

Image source: Keizo Yamada

First Japanese winner Keizo Yamada

Abebe Bikila runs exhibition marathon

Apr 19, 1963

Ethiopian double Olympic marathon champion Abebe Bikila competed at Boston in 1963, drawing huge crowds and elevating the race's international profile, though he finished a surprising fifth.

Image source: Abebe Bikila

Abebe Bikila runs exhibition marathon

Roberta Gibb crashes unofficially as first woman

Apr 19, 1966

In 1966 Roberta 'Bobbi' Gibb jumped into the field mid-race to become the first woman to run the Boston Marathon, finishing in about 3:21 despite women being barred from official entry.

Image source: Bobbi Gibb

Roberta Gibb crashes unofficially as first woman

Kathrine Switzer registers officially

Apr 19, 1967

Kathrine Switzer entered the 1967 race under the name K.V. Switzer and famously was physically accosted by race official Jock Semple, who tried to remove her. Her defiant finish became an iconic moment in the fight for women's running rights.

Image source: Kathrine Switzer

Kathrine Switzer registers officially

Women officially allowed entry

Apr 17, 1972

In 1972 the Amateur Athletic Union permitted women to compete officially in the Boston Marathon, and Nina Kuscsik won the inaugural women's division title.

Kathrine Switzer helps launch women's running era

Apr 16, 1973

Following official inclusion, women's fields grew rapidly through the 1970s, helped by pioneers like Switzer and Kuscsik, transforming Boston into a showcase of women's distance running.

Wheelchair division debuts

Apr 21, 1975

The 1975 race introduced an official wheelchair division, making Boston a pioneer in disability athletics; Bob Hall finished in 2:58, legitimizing wheelchair racing at major events.

Alberto Salazar wins in dramatic debut duel

Apr 19, 1982

The 1982 'Duel in the Sun' saw Alberto Salazar edge Dick Beardsley by two seconds in one of the greatest races in Boston history, both men pushing each other to extraordinary efforts down Boylston Street.

Image source: Dick Beardsley

Alberto Salazar wins in dramatic debut duel

Centennial Boston Marathon celebrates 100th edition

Apr 15, 1996

The 100th running in 1996 attracted nearly 39,000 entrants, then the largest marathon field ever assembled, with festivities celebrating a century of the world's oldest annual marathon.

Meb Keflezighi becomes first American men's champion since 1983

Apr 21, 2014

One year after the bombing, Meb Keflezighi won the 2014 Boston Marathon in an emotional triumph, becoming the first American male winner since Greg Meyer in 1983 in what was dubbed 'Boston Strong' year.

Image source: Meb Keflezighi

Meb Keflezighi becomes first American men's champion since 1983

Modern Era

Prize money introduced

Apr 21, 1986

With the advent of open professionalism following the 1984 Olympic boycott issues, the Boston Marathon began awarding prize money in 1986, attracting elite international fields and raising competitive stakes.

Qualifying standards tighten for entry

Apr 1, 2003

As demand exploded, the Boston Athletic Association tightened qualifying times and registration processes over the 2000s, culminating in later reforms after fields sold out within hours.

Bombing at the finish line

Apr 15, 2013

On April 15, 2013, two pressure-cooker bombs exploded near the finish line on Boylston Street, killing three people and injuring hundreds. The tragedy prompted a citywide lockdown and manhunt and profoundly shaped subsequent editions of the race.

Image source: Boston Marathon bombing

Bombing at the finish line

Key Facts

  1. The Boston Marathon was first held on April 19, 1897, making it the world's oldest annually contested marathon, inspired by the success of the first modern Olympic marathon in 1896.
  2. John J. McDermott won the inaugural race, covering a 24.5-mile course from Ashland to Boston before the route was standardized to 26.2 miles from Hopkinton.
  3. Women were not officially allowed to compete until 1972; Kathrine Switzer's famous 1967 run as 'K.V. Switzer' helped pave the way for women's official entry, and Nina Kuscsik won the first official women's division in 1972.
  4. On April 15, 2013, two bombs exploded near the finish line, killing three people and injuring hundreds; the following year, Meb Keflezighi became the first American man to win since 1983, in a symbolic victory for Boston.
  5. The race is held annually on Patriots' Day (the third Monday of April) and requires most participants to meet rigorous qualifying time standards based on age and gender, earning its nickname as the pinnacle of amateur marathon running.

Source

This History of the Boston Marathon timeline was generated with the help of AI, using information found on the internet.

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