List of winners of the Boston Marathon explained

The Boston Marathon, one of the six World Marathon Majors, is a 26.2adj=onNaNadj=on race which has been held in the Greater Boston area in Massachusetts since 1897, making it the oldest annual marathon in the world.The event is held on Patriots' Day, which was April 19 (or April 20 if April 19 was a Sunday) until the implementation of the Uniform Monday Holiday Act in 1971. Since 1971, except in 2020 (race not held) or 2021 (Columbus Day holiday), the Boston Marathon is held on the third Monday in April. Various factors meant that until 1957 the course varied in length, due to which the marathon recognizes several course records that are slower than previous records due to being run on longer courses.[1] [2] The first Boston Marathon included only 15 runners, all of whom were men, and was won by John McDermott.[1] The race was cancelled twice, in 1918 because of World War I, where a ekiden-style relay was conducted of military teams, and in 2020, when Massachusetts authorities refused to allow the event to be conducted due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[3] The winners have represented 27 different countries: Americans have won the marathon the most, doing so on 108 occasions; Kenyans have won 34 times; and Canadians 21 times. Ernst van Dyk is the most successful individual athlete, having won the men's wheelchair division ten times. The current course records are held by Geoffrey Mutai, Buzunesh Deba, Marcel Hug and Manuela Schär.

Clarence DeMar won the men's open race seven times, more than any other runner, achieving his first victory in 1911 and his last in 1930.[4] Women were only officially allowed to run the race beginning in 1972, though female runners had unofficially participated beginning in 1966 despite breaching the rules of the Amateur Athletic Union.[1] The first six victories in the women's open division, between 1966 and 1971, were officially recognized in 1996. Bobbi Gibb was the first woman to finish the race in 1966,[5] while Nina Kuscsik was the first official winner in 1972.[1] Catherine Ndereba's four victories between 2000 and 2005 are the most in the women's open division.[4] The Boston Marathon became the first major marathon to include a wheelchair division, in 1975, which was won by Robert Hall,[1] though the first person to complete the race in a wheelchair had been Eugene Roberts in 1970.[6] The first female wheelchair finisher, Sharon Rahn, came in 1977. Ernst van Dyk's ten wins in the men's wheelchair division are the most of any athlete at Boston, while Jean Driscoll leads the women's wheelchair division with seven wins, and holds the overall record for the most consecutive victories, also seven.[4] A handcyclist division was recognized for the first time in 2017, though handcyclists had been taking part prior to that.[7] Tom Davis has won the first three men's handcyclist races since it was officially recognized in 2017, and still holds the course record as of 2024. Alicia Dana has won the women's handcycle race three times, as of 2024, and set a course record each time.

The course was designed to replicate the original marathon in Greece; a hilly point-to-point race, and as such has not been the venue for many world records. Suh Yun-bok set the only World Athletics-ratified men's open division world record in 1947, in a time of 2:25:39.[8] [9] Two apparent world record times set between 1951 and 1956 by Keizo Yamada and Antti Viskari were later struck when the course was found to be over short.[10] [11] In 1975, Liane Winter took advantage of a following wind to set a world record in the women's open race of 2:42:24,[12] and eight years later, Joan Benoit beat a world record that had only been set the day before at the London Marathon, finishing in 2:22:43.[8] Since 1990, the Boston Marathon has been ineligible for world records, as the start and finish are too far away from each other, and the race is a net downhill.[13] In 2011, Geoffrey Mutai won the race in 2:03:02, which was the world's fastest time for the marathon, beating the official world record by 57 seconds.[14]

Winners

Men's open division

Year ! scope="col"
Winner CountryTime DistanceNotes
18972:55:10 Starting line in Ashland, Massachusetts
18982:42:00
18992:54:38
19002:39:44
19012:29:23 Second victory
19022:43:12
19032:41:29
19042:38:04
19052:38:25
19062:45:45
19072:24:24
19082:25:43
19092:53:36
19102:28:52
19112:21:39
19122:21:18
19132:25:14
19142:25:14
19152:31:41
19162:27:16
19172:28:37
1918colspan=2 2:29:53 Ten-man ekiden was held over the course for military teams. Camp Devens was the winner.
19192:29:13
19202:29:31
19212:18:57
19222:18:10 Second victory; 24.5-mile course record
19232:23:47 Third victory
19242:29:40 Starting line moved to Hopkinton, Massachusetts; fourth victory for DeMar
19252:33:00
19262:25:40
19272:40:22 Course record, fifth victory
19282:37:07 Course record, sixth victory
19292:33:08 Course record, second victory
19302:34:48 Seventh victory
19312:46:45
19322:33:36
19332:31:01 Course record
19342:32:53
19352:32:07
19362:33:40
19372:33:20
19382:35:34 Second victory
19392:28:51 Course record, second victory
19402:28:28 Course record
1941 2:30:38 Third victory
1942 2:26:51 Course record
19432:28:25 Second victory
19442:31:50 Third victory
19452:30:40 Second victory
19462:29:27
19472:25:39 World record
19482:31:02 Fourth victory
19492:31:50
19502:32:39
19512:27:45
19522:31:53
19532:18:51 Considered a world record until it was discovered that the course was short.
19542:20:39
19552:18:22
19562:14:14 25.7mile course record; considered a world record until it was discovered that the course was short.
19572:20:05 Course record
19582:25:54
19592:22:42
19602:20:54
19612:23:39 Second victory
19622:23:48 Third victory
19632:18:58 Course record
19642:19:59 Second victory
19652:16:33 Course record
19662:17:11
19672:15:45 Course record
19682:22:17
19692:13:49 Course record
19702:10:30 Course record
19712:18:45
19722:15:39
19732:16:03
19742:13:39
19752:09:55 Course record
19762:20:19
19772:14:46
19782:10:13 Second victory
19792:09:27 Course record, third victory
19802:12:11 Fourth victory
19812:09:26 Course record
19822:08:52 Course record
19832:09:00
19842:10:34
19852:14:05 Second victory
19862:07:51 Course record
19872:11:50 Second victory
19882:08:43
19892:09:06
19902:08:19
19912:11:06 Second victory
19922:08:14 Third victory
19932:09:33
19942:07:15 Course record, second victory
19952:09:22 Third victory
19962:09:15
19972:10:34
19982:07:34 Second victory
19992:09:52
20002:09:47
20012:09:43
20022:09:02
20032:10:11
20042:10:37
20052:11:44
20062:07:14 Course record, second victory
20072:14:13 Third victory
20082:07:45 Fourth victory
20092:08:42
20102:05:52 Course record
20112:03:02 Current men's course record; world's fastest time
20122:12:40
20132:10:22
20142:08:37
20152:09:17 Second victory
20162:12:45
20172:09:37
20182:15:58
20192:07:57
2020colspan=5
20212:09:51 Held in October[15]
20222:06:51
20232:05:54
2024Sisay Lemma2:06:17

Women's open division

Year ! scope="col"
Winner CountryTime Notes
19663:21:40 Unofficial era, course record
19673:27:17 Unofficial era, second victory
19683:30:00 Unofficial era, third victory
19693:22:46 Unofficial era
19703:05:07 Unofficial era, course record, second victory
19713:08:30 Unofficial era, third victory
19723:10:26 First year that women were officially sanctioned, official course record
19733:05:59 Official course record
19742:47:11 Course record
19752:42:24 World record. Represented the Federal Republic of Germany (commonly known as West Germany before 1990).
19762:47:10
19772:48:33 Second victory
19782:44:52
19792:35:15 Course record
19802:34:28 Course record; Rosie Ruiz was declared the winner of the 1980 race, but was later stripped of her win when it was discovered she did not run the entire race.[16]
19812:26:46 Course record
19822:29:33 Represented the Federal Republic of Germany (commonly known as West Germany before 1990).
19832:22:43 World record, second victory
19842:29:28
19852:34:06
19862:24:55
19872:25:21
19882:24:30 Second victory
19892:24:33 Second victory
19902:25:24 Third victory
19912:24:18
19922:23:43
19932:25:27 Second victory
19942:21:45 Course record
19952:25:11 Second victory
19962:27:12 Third victory
19972:26:23
19982:23:21 Second victory
19992:23:25 Third victory
20002:26:11
20012:23:53 Second victory
20022:20:43 Course record
20032:25:19
20042:24:27 Third victory
20052:25:12 Fourth victory
20062:23:38
20072:29:18
20082:25:25
20092:32:16
20102:26:11
20112:22:36
20122:31:50
20132:26:25 Second victory
20142:19:59 Current course record;[17] Rita Jeptoo originally won the 2014 race, but was subsequently disqualified for taking performance-enhancing drugs.[18] In a recent WSJ interview it was confirmed Deba was never paid the winner's prize money for her first place finish https://www.wsj.com/articles/boston-marathon-buzunesh-deba-rita-jeptoo-7dc69230
20152:24:55
20162:29:19
20172:21:52
20182:39:54
20192:23:31
2020colspan=4 ; "virtual alternative" held in September
20212:25:09 Held in October; on-course winner Diana Kipyokei later disqualified for doping
20222:21:01
2023Hellen Obiri2:21:38
2024Hellen Obiri2:22:37Second Victory

Men's wheelchair division

Year ! scope="col"
Winner CountryTime Notes
19752:58:00 Course record
1976colspan=4
19772:40:10 Course record, second victory
19782:26:57 Not listed as a course record by BAA
19792:38:59 Not listed as a course record by BAA
19801:55:00 Course record
19812:00:41
19821:51:31
19831:47:10 Course record, second victory
19842:05:20
19851:45:34 Course record, second victory
19861:43:25 Course record, second victory
19871:55:42 Third victory
19881:43:19 Course record
19891:36:04 Course record
19901:29:53 Course record, second victory
19911:30:44 Third victory
19921:26:28 Course record, fourth victory
19931:22:17 Course record, fifth victory
19941:21:23 Course record
19951:25:59
19961:30:14 Second victory
19971:28:14 Second victory
19981:21:52 Third victory
19991:21:36 Fourth victory
20001:33:32 Fifth victory
20011:25:12
20021:23:19 Second victory
20031:28:32 Third victory
20041:18:27 Course record, fourth victory
20051:24:11 Fifth victory
20061:25:29 Sixth victory
20071:29:16
20081:26:49 Seventh victory
20091:33:29 Eighth victory
20101:26:53 Ninth victory
20111:18:50 Second victory
20121:18:25 Course record
20131:25:33
20141:20:36 Tenth victory
20151:29:53
20161:24:01 Second victory
20171:18:03 Course record, third victory
20181:46:26 Fourth victory
20191:21:36
2020colspan=4
20211:18:11 Fifth victory[19]
20221:26:58 Second victory
20231:17:06course record, sixth victory
20241:15:35Current course record, seventh victory

Women's wheelchair division

Year ! scope="col"
Winner CountryTime Notes
19773:48:51 Course record
19783:52:35
19793:27:56 Course record
19802:49:04 Not listed as a course record by BAA
19812:38:41 Not listed as a course record by BAA
19822:12:43 Course record, second victory
19832:27:07
19842:56:51 Second victory
19852:05:26 Course record, third victory
19862:09:28 Fourth victory
19872:19:55 Fifth victory
19882:10:44 Sixth victory
19891:50:06 Course record
19901:43:17 Course record
19911:42:42 Course record, second victory
19921:36:52 Course record, third victory
19931:34:50 Course record, fourth victory
19941:34:22 Course record, fifth victory
19951:40:42 Sixth victory
19961:52:56 Seventh victory
19971:54:28
19981:41:19 Second victory
19991:42:23 Third victory
20002:00:52 Eighth victory
20011:53:54 Fourth victory
20021:45:57
20031:54:47
20041:39:53
20051:47:45 Second victory
20061:43:42 Second victory
20071:53:30
20081:48:32 Second victory
20091:54:37 Third victory
20101:43:32 Fourth victory
20111:34:06 Course record, fifth victory
20121:37:36
20131:45:25
20141:35:06 Second victory
20151:52:54 Third victory
20161:42:16 Fourth victory
20171:28:17 Current course record[20]
20182:04:39 Fifth victory
20191:34:19 Second victory
2020colspan=4
20211:35:21 Third victory
20221:41:08 Fourth victory[21]
2023Susannah Scaroni1:41:45
2024Eden Rainbow-Cooper1:35:11

Men's handcycle division

Year ! scope="col"
Winner CountryTime NotesRefs
20170:58:36 Current course record [22]
20181:18:41 Second victory [23]
20191:01:22 Third victory [24]
2020colspan=5
20211:11:53 [25]
20221:08:40 (unofficial)[26]
20231:11:51 Second victory [27]
20241:04:46 Third victory

Women's handcycle division

Year ! scope="col"
Winner CountryTime NotesRefs
2:39:05 Only female handcyclist finisher
1:40:22 Course record
2:01:02
2020colspan=5
20211:37:15 Course record
20221:35:10 Course record, second victory
20231:18:15 Course record, second victory[28]
20241:15:20 Current course record, third victory[29]

Victories by nationality

Country ! scope="col" class="unsortable" colspan="2"
Open divisionWheelchair divisionHandcycle divisionTotal
Men's Women's Men's Women's Men's Women's
4316143077117
2514000039
161400021
001460020
90350017
78000015
001000010
7000007
1500006
1004005
0400004
3001004
0030003
1200003
0300003
3000003
2000002
2000002
0200002
1000001
0001001
1000001
1000001
1000001
0100001
1000001
1000001

Notes and references

Citations

Notes and References

  1. Web site: History of the Boston Marathon . . June 6, 2020.
  2. Web site: Boston Marathon History: Course Records . https://archive.today/20130502222301/http://www.baa.org/races/boston-marathon/boston-marathon-history/course-records.aspx . dead . 2013-05-02 . . May 17, 2020.
  3. News: 4 Things To Know About The Cancellation Of The Boston Marathon . Ashlock . Alex . . May 29, 2020 . June 6, 2020.
  4. Web site: Champions of the Boston Marathon . . May 30, 2020.
  5. News: Boston Marathon celebrates 50 years of female participation . Canadian Running Magazine . Huebsch . Tim . April 18, 2016 . June 6, 2020.
  6. Book: Connelly, Michael . 26.2 Miles to Boston: A Journey into the Heart of the Boston Marathon . Lyons Press . Guilford, Connecticut . 2014 . 978-0-7627-9635-9 . 100.
  7. Web site: B.A.A. to Implement Changes to Boston Marathon Handcycle Program . . June 27, 2020.
  8. News: Famous record-setting marathon runs . Powers . John . . April 13, 2012 . June 6, 2020.
  9. Book: Mark . Butler . 13th IAAF World Championships in Athletics – IAAF Statistics Handbook – Daegu 2011 . June 6, 2020 . 2011 . IAAF Media & Public Relations Department . 612, 614, 707.
  10. Book: Broadbent, Rick . Endurance: The Extraordinary Life and Times of Emil Zátopek . Bloomsbury . London . 2016 . 978-1-4729-2022-5 . 211.
  11. Book: Running Encyclopedia . Benyo . Richard . Henderson . Joe . Human Kinetics . Champaign, Illinois . 2002 . 978-0-7360-3734-1 . 171.
  12. News: New Marathon mark . Peters . Gil . United Press International . The Bryan Times . April 22, 1975 . 12 . July 24, 2020.
  13. News: Why a world record set in the Boston Marathon wouldn't officially count . Bird . Hayden . . March 18, 2019 . May 17, 2020.
  14. News: Kenyan Runs Fastest Marathon in Boston . May . Peter . . April 18, 2011 . July 24, 2020.
  15. Web site: Leaderboard . live . https://archive.today/20211011151042/https://boston.r.mikatiming.net/2021/?pid=leaderboard . October 11, 2021 . Boston Athletic Association.
  16. Web site: Rosie Ruiz, The Woman Who Rode The Green Line To Boston Marathon Infamy. Associated Press. wgbh.org. Jimmy. Golen. Rhonda. Shafner. August 9, 2019. February 7, 2023.
  17. Web site: These Boston Marathon course records are waiting to be broken. Nicole. Yang . Boston Globe Media Partners. April 13, 2017. April 17, 2019.
  18. Web site: IAAF Appeal Upheld – Rita Jeptoo Suspended for Four Years by The Court of Arbitration For Sport. tas-cas.org. April 13, 2017.
  19. Web site: Leaderboard (2021 WC) . Boston Athletic Association . October 11, 2021 . https://archive.today/20211011134128/https://boston.r.mikatiming.net/2021/?pid=leaderboard&event=P5 . 11 October 2021 . dead.
  20. Web site: Manuela Schar Is Ready To Defend Her Boston Title And World Record. Women's Running. Rich. Tenorio. April 12, 2018. April 17, 2018.
  21. News: 2022-11-22. Manuela Schar Wins Fourth Boston Marathon Women's Wheelchair Race. CBS Boston . April 18, 2022.
  22. Web site: 2017 Boston Marathon Top Finishers . . June 27, 2020.
  23. Web site: 2018 Boston Marathon Top Finishers . . June 27, 2020.
  24. Web site: 2019 Boston Marathon Top Finishers . . June 27, 2020.
  25. Web site: 2021-10-11 . The Boston Marathon, Leaderboard - Handcycle. The Boston Marathon. https://archive.today/20211011154245/https://boston.r.mikatiming.net/2021/?pid=leaderboard&event=H. 11 October 2021. October 11, 2021.
  26. News: 2022-11-22 . These are the winners of the 2022 Boston Marathon . The Boston Globe . Christopher . Gavin. April 18, 2022.
  27. News: Zachary Stinson and Alicia Dana take Boston Marathon handcycle titles: Dana set a course record for women's handcycling. Boston.com . 2023-04-18. April 17, 2023. Peyton . Doyle.
  28. News: Zachary Stinson and Alicia Dana take Boston Marathon handcycle titles: Dana set a course record for women's handcycling. Boston.com . 2023-04-18. April 17, 2023. Peyton . Doyle.
  29. News: 2024-04-14. 2024 Boston Marathon winners: Who won the men's and women's races. Draft Kings Network. 2024-04-14.

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