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Boston Marathon History
Originally, the Boston Marathon was a local event, but its fame and ranking has attracted runners from all over the world.
In recent years, critics of America's professional sports leagues have been very keen about the dominance of foreign-born athletes in the event.
After experiencing the spirit and magnificence of the Olympic Marathon, B.A.A. member and US Olympic Team Manager John Graham was inspired to arrange and conduct a marathon in the Boston area. 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, he secured his name in sports history.
In 1924, the B.A.A. moved the starting line from Ashland to Hopkinton. The organizers took into account that every Olympic Marathon run since the 1908 Games has been a distance of 26 miles, 385 yards. Therefore, in 1927, the Boston Marathon course was prolonged to the full distance of 26 miles, 385 yards to conform to Olympic standards.
Roberta Gibb was the first woman to run the full Boston Marathon in 1966. Then in 1967, Gibb was the first female finisher hid in the bushes near the start until the race began Katherine Switzer did not clearly identify herself as a female on the application and was issued a bib number. B.A.A. officials tried unsuccessfully to physically remove her from the race once she was identified as a woman entrant.
In the fall of 1971, the A.A.U. permitted its sanctioned marathons including Boston to consent women entries. Nina Kuscsik got her victory in 1972, eight women started that race and all eight finished.
The 3-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.
Scandal came to the Boston Marathon in 1980 when Rosie Ruiz came from out of nowhere to win the race. Marathon officials found Ruiz didn't appear in race videotapes until near the end of the race. A later investigation concluded that Ruiz had skipped most of the race and blended into the crowd about one mile from the finish line. Ruiz was officially disqualified, and the winner was Jacqueline Gareau.
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