BOSTON - The Boston Athletic Association (B.A.A.) today continued its notification to qualified applicants of their acceptance into the 2020 Boston Marathon®. In preparation for the 2020 Boston Marathon, the B.A.A. implemented the same registration process for qualified runners as used in recent years, allowing the fastest qualifiers to register first. The 124th Boston Marathon will be held on Monday, April 20, 2020 and will mark the 35th consecutive year that John Hancock will serve as principal sponsor.
Qualifiers who were one minute, 39 seconds (1:39) or faster than the qualifying time for their age group and gender have been accepted into the 2020 Boston Marathon. A total of 24,127 qualified applicants have been accepted to date or are in the process of being accepted, pending verification of their qualifying performance. In total, 27,288 applications were received during the registration period for qualifiers.
In cooperation with the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and the eight cities and towns along the Boston Marathon route, the B.A.A. has also announced an increased field size of 1,500 official entrants for the 2020 Boston Marathon. The expanded field size will allow even more qualified and charity participants to take part in the Boston Marathon. Previously, the Boston Marathon featured a field size of 30,000 participants from 2015 through 2019.
Among those accepted into the 2020 Boston Marathon were athletes from 112 countries and all 50 U.S. states. This year the B.A.A. was unable to accept 3,161 qualifiers due to field size limitations.
More than 80% of the 2020 Boston Marathon field will be comprised of athletes who have met the qualifying standards. The balance will consist of invitational entrants, including runners participating as part of the Boston Marathon’s Official Charity Program and John Hancock’s Non-Profit Program, as well as invited elite athletes. Participants who ran on behalf of nearly 300 non-profit organizations raised a race-record $38.7 million for charity at the 2019 Boston Marathon.
“Each year, the Boston Marathon brings together participants from around the world in pursuit of athletic excellence,” said Tom Grilk, B.A.A. Chief Executive Officer. “For many, earning a spot on the starting line in Hopkinton is the pinnacle of their running aspirations. We celebrate those who will be joining us next April, and also recognize and applaud the many runners who displayed interest in being part of the 2020 race. We thank the entire running community, and look forward to a memorable 124th running of the Boston Marathon.”
Since 1970, the Boston Marathon has featured qualifying standards as a means of entry. In September of 2018, the B.A.A. updated qualifying standards for the 2020 race; a breakdown of Boston Marathon qualifying standards can be found below.
Registration for runners who met the B.A.A.’s Qualifying Standards for the 2020 Boston Marathon began on Monday, September 9 using a “rolling admission” schedule and continued through Saturday, September 14. Registration re-opened on Monday, September 16 and application submissions were received through Wednesday, September 18. Registration for the Boston Marathon is not first-come, first-served, but rather allows for a more systematic and orderly application procedure with the fastest qualifiers of those who submitted entries accepted.
- 27,288 applications were received during the registration period for qualifiers.
- 24,127 qualified applicants have been accepted to date or are in the process of being accepted, pending verification of their qualifying performance.
- 3,161 applicants were unable to be accepted due to the large number of eligible qualifiers who submitted an application for entry.
- This year’s ‘Cut-Off’ time needed to gain entry into the Boston Marathon was one minute, 39 seconds or faster than the qualifying time for each respective age group and gender.
During the registration period, the breakdown of accepted Qualifiers was as follows:
- 4,051 Qualifiers met their qualifying time by 20 minutes, 00 seconds or faster.
- 6,772 Qualifiers met their qualifying time by 10 minutes, 00 seconds or faster.
- 6,948 Qualifiers met their qualifying time by 05 minutes, 00 seconds or faster.
- 5,885 Qualifiers met their qualifying time by 1 minute, 39 seconds or faster.
- 471 Qualifiers were accepted based on finishing 10 or more consecutive Boston Marathons.
- 290 Qualified Para Athletes have been accepted, or are expected to be accepted, through the conclusion of the Para Athletics Divisions and Adaptive Programs registration period.
Qualifying performances for the 2020 Boston Marathon must have been run between September 15, 2018 and September 18, 2019. Notices to those accepted will be issued by the B.A.A via e-mail.
For reference, qualifiers needed to be four minutes, 52 seconds or faster than their age group and gender for the 2019 Boston Marathon; three minutes, 23 seconds or faster for the 2018 Boston Marathon; two minutes, nine seconds or faster for the 2017 Boston Marathon; two minutes, 28 seconds or faster for the 2016 Boston Marathon; one minute, two seconds or faster for the 2015 Boston Marathon; and one minute, 38 seconds or faster for the 2014 Boston Marathon.
This year’s one minute, 39 second cut-off is the lowest cut-off time since 2015 (1:02). A history of Boston Marathon qualifying standards and cut-off times can be found here. Notices to those who submitted an application for entry but who were not accepted were also issued today.
2020 BOSTON MARATHON: Men’s Qualifying Standards and Accepted Times*
| AGE GROUP | QUALIFYING STANDARD | QUALIFICATION TIMES ACCEPTED (faster than and including) |
|---|---|---|
| 18-34 | 3hrs 00min 00sec | 2hrs 58min 21sec |
| 35-39 | 3hrs 05min 00sec | 3hrs 03min 21sec |
| 40-44 | 3hrs 10min 00sec | 3hrs 08min 21sec |
| 45-49 | 3hrs 20min 00sec | 3hrs 18min 21sec |
| 50-54 | 3hrs 25min 00sec | 3hrs 23min 21sec |
| 55-59 | 3hrs 35min 00sec | 3hrs 33min 21sec |
| 60-64 | 3hrs 50min 00sec | 3hrs 48min 21sec |
| 65-69 | 4hrs 05min 00sec | 4hrs 03min 21sec |
| 70-74 | 4hrs 20min 00sec | 4hrs 18min 21sec |
| 75-79 | 4hrs 35min 00sec | 4hrs 33min 21sec |
| 80 and over | 4hrs 50min 00sec | 4hrs 48min 21sec |
2020 BOSTON MARATHON: Women’s Qualifying Standards and Accepted Times*
| AGE GROUP | QUALIFYING STANDARD | QUALIFICATION TIMES ACCEPTED (faster than and including) |
|---|---|---|
| 18-34 | 3hrs 30min 00sec | 3hrs 28min 21sec |
| 35-39 | 3hrs 35min 00sec | 3hrs 33min 21sec |
| 40-44 | 3hrs 40min 00sec | 3hrs 38min 21sec |
| 45-49 | 3hrs 50min 00sec | 3hrs 48min 21sec |
| 50-54 | 3hrs 55min 00sec | 3hrs 53min 21sec |
| 55-59 | 4hrs 05min 00sec | 4hrs 03min 21sec |
| 60-64 | 4hrs 20min 00sec | 4hrs 18min 21sec |
| 65-69 | 4hrs 35min 00sec | 4hrs 33min 21sec |
| 70-74 | 4hrs 50min 00sec | 4hrs 48min 21sec |
| 75-79 | 5hrs 05min 00sec | 5hrs 03min 21sec |
| 80 and over | 5hrs 20min 00sec | 5hrs 18min 21sec |
* Qualified entrants for the 2020 Boston Marathon must have met the designated time standard that corresponds with their age group and gender in a certified marathon on or after September 15, 2018. Proof of qualification must accompany each athlete's application, and participants are required to be 18 years or older on Boston Marathon race day.
The qualifying window for the 2021 Boston Marathon began on Saturday, September 14, 2019, and will continue through the conclusion of 2021 Boston Marathon registration next fall. Registration dates for the 2021 Boston Marathon will be announced next year.