1969 Boston Marathon

1969 Boston Marathon
VenueBoston, Massachusetts, U.S.
DateApril 21, 1969
Competitors1,152
Champions
MenYoshiaki Unetani (2:13:49)
WomenSara Mae Berman (3:22:46)

The 1969 Boston Marathon took place on Monday, April 21, 1969. It was the 73rd time the Boston Marathon was organized. The race featured 1,342 official entrants,[1] with 1,152 starting the race.[2]

The race was won by Yoshiaki Unetani of Japan in 2:13:49, a new course record.[2] This was the first edition of the Boston Marathon contested with the Patriots' Day holiday defined as the third Monday in April.[3][4]

Results

Men

Position Athlete Nationality Time
1Yoshiaki Unetani Japan2:13:49
2Pablo Garrido Mexico2:17:30
3Alfredo Peñaloza Mexico2:19:56
4Ron Daws United States2:20:23
5Robert Moore United Kingdom[a]2:21:28
6Bob Deines United States2:22:49
7José García Mexico2:23:16
8Pat McMahon Ireland2:23:24
9Phil Hampton United Kingdom2:23:46
10Pentti Rummakko Finland2:24:14

Other notable participants included Amby Burfoot (15th), John J. Kelley (22nd), and George A. Hirsch (340th),

Source:[6][5][7]

Women

Women were not officially allowed to enter until 1972, but their first-place results from 1966 through 1971 were later ratified by the Boston Athletic Association.[8] Sara Mae Berman, originally from The Bronx in New York City, finished first among women runners, credited with a time of 3:22:46.[9] Berman is also recognized as the 1970 and 1971 women's champion.[9]

Notes

  1. ↑ Boston Athletic Association records list Moore as being a Canadian resident; contemporary news reports noted that he was originally from England.[5]

References

  1. ↑ Craig, Jack (April 21, 1969). "Japanese Unetani Sets Marathon Record". The Boston Globe. p. 1. Retrieved April 27, 2025 – via newspapers.com.
  2. 1 2 Nason, Jerry (April 22, 1969). "Unetani Smashes BAA Mark". The Boston Globe. p. 1. Retrieved April 27, 2025 – via newspapers.com.
  3. ↑ "History of the Boston Marathon". baa.org. Boston Athletic Association. Retrieved April 17, 2025.
  4. ↑ Bird, Hayden (April 15, 2017). "The Boston Marathon wasn't always held on a Monday". Boston.com. Retrieved April 27, 2025.
  5. 1 2 Nason, Jerry (April 22, 1969). "Unetani Turns Back Only Challenge by Mexican Pair". p. 37. Retrieved April 27, 2025 – via newspapers.com.
  6. ↑ "Boston Marathon Historical Results" (PDF). baa.org. Boston Athletic Association. Retrieved April 27, 2025.
  7. ↑ Hirsch, George A. (April 13, 2019). "$2 and Some Pancakes Went Far at the 1969 Boston Marathon". The New York Times. Retrieved April 27, 2025.
  8. ↑ "Worth the wait". The Boston Globe. April 13, 1996. p. 77. Retrieved April 27, 2025 – via newspapers.com.
  9. 1 2 "Champions Of The Boston Marathon". baa.org. Boston Athletic Association. Retrieved April 27, 2025.