The Boston Athletic Association has announced a change to its finish line procedures for the 2025 Boston Marathon following controversy surrounding the 2024 race. The change was posted on the BAA website on August 21.
Previously, runners had 6 hours from the time the last runner crossed the starting line in Hopkinton to reach the finish line in Boston and be counted as an official finisher. The problem was that runners on the course had no way of knowing when the last runner crossed the starting line. So they also didn’t know when the 6-hour clock started and what time they had to beat. It was a moving target.
Under the new rule, participants have until a set time – 5:30 p.m. – to reach the marathon finish line on Boylston Street and still be counted as official finishers.
In reality, this new rule only gives runners a few extra minutes to finish and be officially listed in the results. In 2024, the last person crossed the start line at 11:28 a.m., so the finishing time was 5:28 p.m.
This will put an end to the guesswork regarding the runners’ official times.
Official finishers’ names and places will be listed in the results, not just their times, and with official results they will be eligible to be considered in the World Marathon Majors count for a six-star medal.
Several marathon runners detailed in 2024 Runners world and on social media that they thought they were official finishers because that was what they were told on the course and at the finish line. Only later, when they checked the results, did they realise that they were not official results.
One runner, Cortney Blackburn, even claimed her six-star medal because she thought she had completed the WMM challenge in Boston. When she looked at the results, she realized it was not official. She had missed by 37 seconds.
According to the BAA, 497 runners reached the 2024 race after the 5:28 p.m. start time. They appeared in the results with names and times, but no placings. Volunteers handed out medals late into the evening.
Many of those who missed the cut-off time came from Wave 4, the last wave of starters. Others who started in earlier waves ran significantly slower than 6 hours, but were still counted as official finishers.
In an email about the new procedure, a BAA spokesperson wrote to Runners world“We value participant feedback and have incorporated it into our planning for the 2025 race. We are focused on better communicating the timing of the finish line closure. Participants can expect improved protocols and communications prior to the April race, including clarifications and emphasis on the finish line closure at 5:30 p.m.”
Sarah Lorge Butler is a writer and editor based in Eugene, Oregon. Her stories about sports, its trends and fascinating personalities have appeared in Runners world since 2005. She is the author of two popular fitness books, Run as fast as you can! And Walk until your butt stands on end!
