Race History
2015 marks the 30th year of John Hancock’s landmark sponsorship of the legendary Boston Marathon. John Hancock’s continued support of the Boston Athletic Association, which has directed the race since 1897, ensures the stability of the world’s oldest annual marathon.
Milestones
- Monday, April 21, 2014
In a triumphant victory, American Mebrahtom Keflezighi crossed the finish first on Boylston Street in a personal best of 2:08:37. Keflezighi was spurred on by the memories of those impacted by the tragic events at the 2013 Boston Marathon, becoming the first American man to win the open race since Greg Meyer in 1983. Rita Jeptoo of Kenya ran a course record of 2:18:57 to claim her second consecutive (and third overall) Boston Marathon win. In the men’s push rim wheelchair division, Ernst Van Dyk of South Africa won his 10th Boston Marathon title, while Tatyana McFadden of the United States retained the women’s crown.
- Monday, April 16, 2012
Weather conditions reached almost 90 degrees along the course. The heat did not affect Canada’s Joshua Cassidy, who pulled away early to win the push rim wheelchair division in 1:18:25, breaking Ernst Van Dyk’s course record by two seconds. Due to the warm-weather forecast, anyone who decided to pick up a bib but chose not to run the race was given automatic deferment to the 2013 Boston Marathon. After timing adjudication post-race, 2,160 runners became eligible for this offer. The 500,000th finisher in the 116-year history of the Boston Marathon crossed the finish line.
- Monday, April 18, 2011
Geoffrey Mutai from Kenya set a new course record, as well as a new world’s best time of 2:03:02. The top four men all finished under the old course record. Caroline Kilel of Kenya just outlasted Desiree Davila of the United States to win in 2:22:36. The push rim wheelchair division had an emotional element all its own, with both men’s and women’s victories going to Japan — this just after the earthquake that had struck that country. Masazumi Soejima finished ahead of Kurt Fearnley and Ernst Van Dyk in a winning time of 1:18:50. Once again, records were set for female entrants (11,462) and finishers (10,074).
- Monday, April 19, 2010
Robert Kiprono Cheruiyot from Kenya established a new men’s course record by 82 seconds with a time of 2:05:52. In the men’s push rim wheelchair division, Ernst Van Dyk of South Africa won in 1:26:53 and became the most successful Boston Marathon competitor of all time, with his ninth title. The race marked 25 years of partnership between principal sponsor John Hancock and the B.A.A. The official charity program surpassed the $100 million mark in 2010.
Presidents and Race Directors: 1887 to the present
Presidents
1887–1891 // Robert F. Clark
1891–1896 // Henry Parkman
1896–1898 // John Oakes Shaw, Jr.
1898–1900 // Lawrence Tucker
1900–1903 // Frederick W. Smith
1903–1915 // George B. Morison
1915–1919 // A. Paul Keith
1919–1920 // Edward E. Babb
1920–1927 // Henry G. Lapham
1927–1929 // George W. Wightman
1929–1931 // Alanson L. Daniels
1931–1935 // Irving F. Marshall
1935–1936 // William F. Garcelon
1936–1941 // Clarence A. Barnes
1941–1964 // Walter A. Brown
1964–1982 // William T. Cloney
1982–1985 // Thomas J. Brown
1985–1990 // Francis L. Swift
1990–1994 // Thomas W. Whelton
1994–2000 // Frank B. Porter, Jr.
2000–2003 // Dr. John V. Coyle
2003–2010 // Thomas S. Grilk
2011–present // Joann E. Flaminio
Executive Director
2000–2010 // Guy L. Morse III
2011–present // Thomas S. Grilk
Race Director
Prior to 1947, coordination of the marathon was “by committee” with no race director having been formally designated.
1947–1982 // William T. Cloney
1983–1984 // Timothy Kilduff
1985–2000 // Guy L. Morse III
2001–present // David McGillivray