Boston Athletic Association Media Relations sent us an email with lots of interesting information about this year’s marathon. We thought some of you might be interested, so here you go!
ONE BOSTON DAY
This year’s Boston Marathon marks the first time that the race falls on April 15, One Boston Day, since April 15, 2013. Just before 2:49 p.m. on Monday, announcers at the Boston Marathon finish line will say a few words recognizing April 15, 2013 before pausing for a moment of reflection and remembrance at 2:49 p.m. The bells will ring at Old South Church following the moment of reflection.
COMPOSITION OF THE FIELD
- 30,349 total entrants (16,645 men and 13,704 women)
- 4,927 entrants from Massachusetts
- 22,691 entrants residing in the United States of America
- 7,658 entrants from outside the United States
- 118 countries represented by participants in the Boston Marathon
- All 50 U.S. states represented by participants in the Boston Marathon
DEFENDING CHAMPIONS COMPETING IN 2019
- Men’s Open Division: Yuki Kawauchi, Japan, 2:15:58
- Women’s Open Division: Desiree Linden, USA (MI), 2:39:54
- Men’s Wheelchair Division: Marcel Hug, Switzerland, 1:46:26
- Women’s Wheelchair Division: Tatyana McFadden, USA (MD), 2:04:39
- In total, 17 champions will be racing the 2019 Boston Marathon
COURSE RECORDS
- Men’s Open Division: 2:03:02, Geoffrey Mutai, Kenya, 2011
- Women’s Open Division: 2:19:59, Buzunesh Deba, Ethiopia, 2014
- Men’s Masters Division: 2:11:04, John Campbell, New Zealand, 1990
- Women’s Masters Division: 2:27:58, Firaya Sultanova-Zhdanova, Russia, 2002
- Men’s Wheelchair Division: 1:18:04, Marcel Hug, Switzerland, 2017
- Women’s Wheelchair Division: 1:28:17, Manuela Schar, Switzerland, 2017
BY THE NUMBERS
- $871,000: Amount of prize money to be awarded by principal sponsor John Hancock Financial
- 17 Boston Marathon champions will compete this year: Yuki Kawauchi (JPN), Des Linden (USA/MI), Geoffrey Kirui (KEN), Edna Kiplagat (KEN), Lemi Berhanu (ETH), Lelisa Desisa (ETH), Caroline Rotich (KEN), Wesley Korir (KEN), Sharon Cherop (KEN), Marcel Hug (SUI), Tatyana McFadden (USA/MD), Manuela Schar (SUI), Ernst van Dyk (RSA), Hiroyuki Yamamoto (JPN), Joshua Cassidy (CAN), and Masazumi Soejima (JPN). Joan Benoit Samuelson (USA/ME) will also be competing, celebrating the 40th anniversary of her 1979 victory.
- 9,700 B.A.A. volunteers will contribute to this year’s Boston Marathon and B.A.A. 5K
- 26.2 miles (26 miles and 385 yards; 42.195 kilometers) through eight cities and towns (Hopkinton, Ashland, Framingham, Natick, Wellesley, Newton, Brookline, and Boston)
- On pace for more than $30 million (USD) estimated to be raised through the 2019 Boston Marathon for charities as part of the B.A.A.’s Boston Marathon Official Charity Program and the John Hancock Non-Profit Program
NOTEWORTHY YEARS, DATES, AND ANNIVERSARIES
- 1897: Every year since its inception, the Boston Marathon has been held on Patriots’ Day, a civic holiday commemorating the Battles of Lexington and Concord. From 1897-1968, Patriots’ Day fell on April 19, before being officially moved to the third Monday in April, starting in 1969.
- 2019 is the first year that the Boston Marathon falls on One Boston Day, a day where all members of the community are encouraged to perform an act of kindness and reflect on the tragic events of April 15, 2013.
- 30th anniversary of the Boston Marathon Official Charity Program. In 1989, the Boston Marathon Official Charity began with one single charity – the American Liver Foundation – and raised $6,600. Now, more than 200 charities annually apply to be part of the Boston Marathon Official Charity Program, with 36 charities accepted into the program. Combined with the John Hancock Non-Profit Program, more than $333 million has been raised through last year’s race.
- 34th anniversary of the Boston Marathon and principal sponsor John Hancock’s partnership.
- 11th B.A.A. 5K started and finished at Boston Common on Saturday, April 13, taking more than 8,484 participants on a scenic tour of Boston’s Back Bay and across the Boston Marathon finish line.
- 51 years: Longest active streak of consecutive Boston Marathons finishes (Bennett Beach, 69, Bethesda, MD).
- 85 years, 4 months, 20 days: Oldest participant entered, Master Sergeant Lawrence Cole of Harwich, MA. Cole was the Grand Marshal of last year’s Boston Marathon as part of the B.A.A. Military Relay team, honoring the 100th anniversary of the 1918 Boston Marathon Military Relay.
- 18 years, 9 days: Youngest participant on race day, Delaney Callaghan of Weston, MA.
- April 20, 2020: Date of the 124th Boston Marathon
Categories: Race Coverage
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