Walt Murphy’s News and Results Service ([email protected])
Clarification–Marathon Records
The IAAF (now World Athletics) didn’t recognize World Records in road races until 2004. They instituted course standards to determine if a performance would be eligible for record consideration (USATF has the same policy). Boston, which is a “point-to-point” race (with runners sometimes aided by a tailing wind) and is downhill in the early stages of the race, is one of the courses that doesn’t conform to those standards. While there are some who would prefer we use the term “best”, we will continue to refer to relevant marks achieved in Boston (and elsewhere) prior to 2004 as American/World Records.
This Day in Track & Field–April 15
1928—Margaret Jenkins set an American Record of 129-1 ½ (39.25) in the Javelin in Santa Clara, CA.
Was a 2-time U.S. Champion in the Javelin (1927, 1928) and a 2-time U.S. Olympian in the Discus (1928,1932-9th)
San Jose Sports Hall of Fame: https://sjsa.org/margaret-jenkins/
https://www.mercurynews.com/2008/11/14/a-woman-of-firsts-honored-at-last/
1961—Romania’s Iolanda Balas cleared 6-1 ½ (1.87) in Bucharest to set the 11th of her 14 World Records in the High Jump.
WR Progression: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Women%27s_high_jump_world_record_progression
1967—Texas Southern, anchored by Jim Hines, ran 39.6 at Grambling to tie Southern University’s year-old World Record in the 440y-relay. Hines would win two gold medals (100,4×100) at the following year’s Olympics in Mexico City
1972—Sweden’s Kjell Isaakson bettered his week-old World Record of 18-1 (5.51) in the Pole Vault when he cleared 18-2 (5.54) at the Meet of Champions in Westwood, CA (UCLA).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BeBBYSZW7_8
WR Progression: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Men%27s_pole_vault_world_record_progression
1974—Neil Cusack (2:13:39) of Ireland (and East Tennessee State) was the winner of the Men’s race at the Boston Marathon, with Tom Fleming (2:14:25) finishing 2nd for the 2nd year in a row. Finishing 3rd was Canadian Jerome Drayton (2:15:40), who would win the 1977 race.
Cusack was the NCAA X-Country Champion in 1972, the year that Steve Prefontaine was injured. Some say Cusack would have beaten a healthy Pre on that day!
It was a breakthrough year for women in Boston, with 38-year-old Miki Gorman (2:47:11) leading three others under the 3-hour barrier. Finishing 5th, also under the previous Course Record of 3:05:07, was the legendary Kathrine Switzer (3:01:39).
A local resident, Larry Rawson, was driving with some friends to watch the marathon when he heard announcers on three different radio stations all saying that Cusack was from the University of Tennessee. Being an accomplished runner at Boston College and an avid fan of the sport, Rawson knew that wasn’t the case, but all he could do was shake his head as his friends dropped him off near the finish line so he could get a good view of the runners coming in.
As luck would have it, he found himself standing just a few feet away from one of those announcers, who appeared to be in the middle of a commercial break. Seizing the moment, Rawson offered the correct information on Cusack to the appreciative guy, who admitted he knew very little about what was going on!
As Rawson turned to return to his viewing position, the young man grabbed his arm and said, “Please don’t go anywhere.” Before he knew it, Rawson was on the air for the next hour, offering insightful commentary and making the station look good. That impromptu performance led to a bigger role the following year, and, long story short, as he’s fond of saying, eventually led to a TV career that has now lasted for more than 50 years!
Cusack Remembers the Day (Great Read): http://www.letsrun.com/2009/cusack0416.php
https://trackandfieldnews.com/larry-rawson-50-years-of-boston-broadcasts/
1985—Lisa Rainsberger (then known as Larsen-Weidenbach) ran uncontested to win the Women’s race in Boston in 2:34:06 and remained the last female American champion at Boston until Des Linden won in 2018. Rainsberger placed fourth at the 1984, 1988, and 1992 U.S. Olympic trials.
Daughter Katie, one of the most sought-after recruits in the U.S. in 2016, finished 4th at the 2016 NCAA X-Country Championships, leading Oregon to the team title.
Despite having to walk for a while due to leg cramps, England’s Geoff Smith, who was on course-record pace through the first half on a warm day (a blistering 1:02:51), was still able to repeat as the Men’s champion, winning by more than 5 minutes over Gary Tuttle (2:14:05-2:19:11.
This was the final year the race ended at the Prudential Center. The finish line was moved to its current location, near Copley Square Park, in 1986.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lisa_Rainsberger
In Her Own Words(2007):
http://www.runnersworld.com/lisa-rainsberger-how-i-won-the-boston-marathon
https://www.flickr.com/photos/cityofbostonarchives/9504751542/
Daughter: http://www.denverpost.com/2016/11/19/katie-rainsberger-oregon-ncaa-cross-country-championships/
Geoff Smith: http://www.garycohenrunning.com/Interviews/GSmith.aspx
1991—Poland’s Wanda Panfil (2:24:18) won the Boston Marathon over a field that included 3 past or future Boston champions-Germany’s Uta Pippig (3rd-2:26:52/1994-1996), American Joan Benoit (4th-2:26:54/1979,1983), and Norway’s Ingrid Kristiansen (6th-2:29:51/1986,1989). 2nd in the race was American Kim Jones (2:26:40).
Kenya’s Ibrahim Hussein (2:11:06) won the Men’s race for the 2nd time in 4 years (also won in 1988).
https://www.nytimes.com/1991/04/16/sports/marathon-women-sizzle-in-boston-spotlight.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1991_Boston_Marathon
Highlights(Men): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TIkz4x9Vl54
1996–The historic 100th running of the Boston Marathon attracted 38,708 official entrants and had 35,868 finishers, the most in history at the time. Germany’s Uta Pippig overcame a 30-second deficit and severe dehydration, among other difficulties, to become the first woman of the official era to win the race in three consecutive years.
Kenya’s Moses Tanui won the Men’s race in 2:09:16.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1996_Boston_Marathon
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dbTsB6f8Acc
Pre-Race: https://www.nytimes.com/1996/04/14/us/boston-braces-for-a-colossal-100th-marathon.html
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8S3V87rsydk
https://www.amazon.com/Boston-Century-Running-Celebrating-Anniversary/dp/0875962831
https://www.wcvb.com/article/boston-marathon-history-women-sara-mae-berman/60398820
2005—Lithuania’s Austra Skujytė set the current World Record of 8358 points in the Women’s Decathlon in Columbia, MO.
Skujytė was a 2-time Olympic medalist in the Heptathlon (2004-silver, 2012-bronze) and a 2-time NCAA Champion (2001,2002) in the 7-eventer while at Kansas State.
12.49, 20-1 (6.12), 53-10 ½ (16.42), 5-10 (1.78), 57.19, 14.22w, 151-6 (46.19), 10-2 (3.10), 160-0 (48.78) 5:15.86
A record isn’t a record unless there are competent officials on hand to make sure that all relevant requirements are met in order for the mark to be ratified by USATF and/or World Athletics.
From Wayne Armbrust:
“I was the meet referee for this. There aren’t many world records anymore that aren’t set at majors like the Olympics and World Championships. Diamond League, etc., where little more than the results are required to ratify a record. We were alerted that a World Record was likely by Cliff Rovelto, the Kansas State coach. I didn’t want to drop the ball on this! First, I ensured we had certified officials for each event. I then printed out 11 world record applications, one for each event in the Decathlon and one for the Decathlon itself. I filled in as much as I could before the meet started, and with each event, I made sure that I got all the required signatures from the officials as well as the results, wind readings, etc. The application had to first be sent to USATF, which then forwarded it to the IAAF (now WA) along with the track certification and a field certification for slope. It was a lot of work, but it went right through without a hitch!”
https://worldathletics.org/news/news/skujyte-improves-recently-recognised-womens-d
2013—Boston Strong—Not long after winners Lelisa Desisa (ETH/2:10:22) and Rita Jeptoo (KEN/2:26:25) had crossed the finish line, two bombs exploded near the finish of the Boston Marathon.
http://www.masslive.com/news/boston/index.ssf/2014/04/boston_makes_big_strides_since.html
http://www.cnn.com/2015/04/14/us/boston-marathon-bombing-trial/
http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2015/04/14/boston-marathon-bombing-anniversary/25780275/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boston_Marathon_bombings
2017—Two Collegiate Records were set by the Oregon Ducks at the Mt.SAC Relays. Raevyn Rogers won the 800-meters in 1:59.10 to narrowly break the previous mark of 1:59.11 that was set by Wisconsin’s Suzy Favor 27 years earlier (1990).
Oregon (42.12) edged LSU (42.14) in the Women’s 4×100 as both teams bettered the Ducks’ previous CR of 42.34 that was set earlier in the season. LSU would tie Oregon’s new record two weeks later on its home track in Baton Rouge.
Oregon-42.12 (Makenzie Dunmore, Daejah Stevens, Hannah Cunliffe, Ariana Washington)
LSU-42.14 (Mikiah Brisco, Kortnei Johnson, Jada Martin, Aleia Hobbs)
2019—The day started with weather reminiscent of the miserable conditions that plagued the 2018 Boston Marathon, but all was fine by the time this year’s Elite Women’s race went off.
Ethiopia’s Worknesh Digefa, who had run 2:17:41, one of the fastest times in history, in Dubai in January, broke away from the Women’s field early in the race and was never challenged, winning in 2:23:31 over 39-year old Edna Kiplagat of Kenya (2:24:13) and American Jordan Hasay (2:25:20), running her first marathon since 2017 after sitting out 2018 with a stress fracture in her left foot. Finishing a creditable 5th was Des Linden (2:27:00), last year’s winner, and 9th was Lindsay Flanagan (2:30:07).
Running an impressive 3:04:00 forty years after winning in Boston was 61-year old legend Joan Benoit-Samuelson, who surpassed her goal of running within 40-minutes of her 1979 winning time of 2:35:15! “I ran with patience today”, said the winner of the first Olympic Marathon for women in 1984.
While it was a runaway in the Women’s race, the Men’s outcome was in doubt when three men made the turn together onto the final 600-meter stretch on Boylston Street.
Ethiopia’s Lelisa Desisa, a 2-time Boston winner (2013,2015) was joined by Kenyans Lawrence Cherono and Kenneth Kipkemoi, who soon faded from contention. Moving into sprint mode at the end of the 26.2 mile race, Cherono was able to edge past Desisa in the final strides to claim the win in his Boston debut (2:07:57-2:07:59). Kipkemoi finished 3rd in 2:08:07.
Finishing 7th and 8th, respectively, were Americans Scott Fauble (2:09:09/PR) and Jared Ward (2:09:25/PR).
The Grand Marshall for the day was 2014 men’s winner Meb Keflezighi, who was wearing a New England Patriots jersey!
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2019_Boston_Marathon
Coverage
https://www.flotrack.org/events/6394333-2019-boston-marathon
https://www.letsrun.com/events/2019-boston-marathon/
https://www.runnersworld.com/news/g27045805/boston-marathon-highlights/
Hasay(pre-race): www.bostonherald.com/2019/04/12/hasay-looks-for-a-second-strong-effort-in-the-123rd-boston-marathon/
Benoit-Samuelson(Post-Race): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_bxgZv-TpA4
2024—Kenya’s Hellen Obiri (2:22:37) won the Boston Marathon for the 2nd year in a row, while Ethipia’s Sisay Lemma won the Men’s race in 2:06:17. Both won $150,000 for their effort.
It was sweet redemption for Lemma, who hadn’t fared well in his 3 previous appearances in Boston. He finished 30th in his debut in 2019 and failed to finish in 2017 and 2022.
It was a Kenyan sweep in the women’s race, with Sharon Lokedi (2:22:45) and 44-year old Edna Kiplagat (2:23:21), the winner in 2017 & 2021, finishing 2nd and 3rd.
The top American women were Sara Hall (celebrating her 41st birthday!) in 15th (2:27:58), Des Linden, the 2018 winner, in 16th (2:28:27), and Jenny Simpson in 18th (2:31:39).
CJ Albertson was the top American in the men’s race, finishing 7th in 2:09:53.
Top 30: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2024_Boston_Marathon
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HvaaPBzrtSQ
Past Boston Winners
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_winners_of_the_Boston_Marathon
2022—To celebrate the opening of its new indoor facility in Boston—“The TRACK”, New Balance put together an
all-star Distance Medley team that ran 10:33.85 to set an “absolute” World Record in the event. The previous indoor record of 10:39.91 was set earlier in the season by the Nike Union A.C. The time was also faster than the outdoor record of 10:36.50, which was set by a U.S. National team at the 2015 World Relays.
The record-setters were Heather MacLean-3:14.9, Kendall Ellis-52.1, prep Roisin Willis-2:03.3, and Elle Purrier
St.Pierre-4:23.60.
Video Highlights: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JEJeqx981UQ
Born On This Day*
Donavan Brazier 29 (1997) 2019 World Champion—800 Meters
Broke Johnny Gray’s long-standing American Indoor and Outdoor Records in the 800 in 2019
Indoors—1:44.41 (Gray-1:45.00/1992)…improved to 1:44.21 in 2021
Outdoors—1:42.34 (Gray-1:42.60/1985)
2019 U.S. Indoor Champion at 600-meters—set a World Indoor Record of 1:13.77 (since broken)
2018 U.S. Indoor Champion-800m. Disqualified for a lane violation in his heat at the World Indoor
Championships (wouldn’t have made the final anyway).
Freshman at Texas A&M at the time, he won the 2016 NCAA 800 title in 1:43.55 to break
Julius Achon’s 20-year old Collegiate Record (1:44.55) and Jim Ryun’s 50-year old American Junior Record
(which was 1:44.9 for 880-yards). Turned pro soon after, but was surprisingly eliminated in the first
round at the 2016 U.S. Olympic Trials. (It was widely reported—mistakenly—that Brazier had broken Ryun’s
“CR”, but it was Achon’s mark that fell)…had another disappointing Olympic Trials in 2021—finished last (8th) in
the final of the 800. Turned out he ran with a fractured tibia…had been battling other injuries ever since.
As the defending champion, he had a bye into the 2022 World Championships in Eugene, but was eliminated in the
first round. That would be his last race until June 7, 2025, when he surprised the track world by running
1:44.70, a clear sign that he was finally healthy! He would go on to win his 3rd U.S. title in August with a personal
best of 1:42.16! (also won in 2017 & 2019). Had high hopes entering the World Championships in Tokyo, but
was eliminated in the semi-final round.
Read more about his struggles in Jonathan Gault’s article on LetsRun.com.
Finished 2nd in the 400-Meters at the 2022 U.S. Indoor Championships
Fastest prep in the U.S. in 2015—800m (1:47.55); 2014 National Scholastic Champion
Set an American Junior Indoor Record of 1:45.93 in 2016;
PBs: 46.14i (2022), 1:13.77i (2019/#2 All-Time World/U.S.), 1:44.21i (2021), 1:42.16 (2025/#3 A-T U.S.),
2:21.79i (2017), 3:35.85 (2020); 2026 SBs: 1:17.20i, 1:45.63i
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Donavan_Brazier
https://worldathletics.org/athletes/united-states/donavan-brazier-14603138
https://www.instagram.com/donavanbrazier/
http://fox17online.com/2015/05/25/donavan-brazier-among-the-nations-elite-track-athletes/
…
