FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
B.A.A. Issues Special Invitation To 2013 Boston Marathon Starters
Who Did Not Cross Boylston Street Finish Line
BOSTON - The B.A.A., organizer of the Boston Marathon, is issuing an
invitation to participate in the 2014 Boston Marathon to official entrants
in the 2013 Boston Marathon who were unable to cross the Boylston Street
finish line. More than 5000 official starters were affected on Monday,
April 15 at the 117th Boston Marathon when the race was stopped at 2:50
p.m. ET.
"The opportunity to run down Boylston Street and to cross the finish line
amid thousands of spectators is a significant part of the entire Boston
Marathon experience," said Tom Grilk, B.A.A. Executive Director. "With the
opportunity to return and participate in 2014, we look forward to inviting
back these athletes and we expect that most will renew their marathon
training commitment. Boston spectators are known for their impassioned
support and unbridled enthusiasm, and they will give these returning
athletes some of the loudest cheers at next year's race. We want to thank
our participants for their patience as we continue to work through the
details of arranging this accommodation for them, and we ask for continued
patience from the running community as we plan the 2014 Boston Marathon
next April."
To be eligible, a 2013 Boston Marathon participant must have been an
official entrant who started the race and who reached the half marathon
mark in this year's race on Monday, April 15. Registration for the 2014
Boston Marathon is scheduled to occur in September, and 2013 Boston
Marathon participants who were unable to cross the finish line on Boylston
Street will receive a non-transferable unique code in early August to be
used for entry. An applicant's entry will be guaranteed only during a
designated registration period. Participants will be required to pay an
entry fee, which has yet to be determined.
The B.A.A. has communicated by email to the participants in this year's
race who are eligible. Among the 5633 in this group are 2611 from
Massachusetts and 726 who are international. In total, residents of 54
states and 47 countries are among this group. Also, the group is comprised
of 2983 women and 2650 men and ages range from 18 to 82.
No decision has been made on the maximum field size for the 2014 Boston
Marathon, including the number of qualifiers and invitational applications
available. The B.A.A. will work with many partners, including public safety
officials, before determining changes, if necessary, to the event and the
race.
About the Boston Athletic Association (B.A.A.)
Established in 1887, the Boston Athletic Association is a non-profit
organization with a mission of managing athletic events and promoting a
healthy lifestyle through sports, especially running. The B.A.A.'s Boston
Marathon is the world's oldest annual marathon, and the organization
manages other local events and supports comprehensive charity, youth, and
year round running programs. Since 1986, the principal sponsor of the
Boston Marathon has been John Hancock Financial. The Boston Marathon is
part of the World Marathon Majors, along with the international marathons
in Tokyo, London, Berlin, Chicago, and New York City. Nearly 50,000 runners
will participate in B.A.A. events in 2013. The 118th Boston Marathon will
be held on Monday, April 21, 2014. For more information on the B.A.A.,
please visit www.baa.org.
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