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+--- Thread: Past Boston Marathon Champions Returning for Recognition and Celebration (/Thread-Past-Boston-Marathon-Champions-Returning-for-Recognition-and-Celebration)
Past Boston Marathon Champions Returning for Recognition and Celebration - TheEd - 25-03-2010
BOSTON - (March 24, 2010) - The Boston Athletic Association (B.A.A.) has announced that eight former champions of the Boston Marathon will be returning to Boston and participating in the events surrounding the 114th Boston Marathon on Monday, April 19, 2010.
Jacqueline Gareau (1980), Lisa Rainsberger [Larsen-Weidenbach] (1985) and Gelindo Bordin (1990) will celebrate the anniversaries of their legendary Boston Marathon victories by running the historic 26.2 mile course again on Marathon Monday. Four-time Boston Marathon champion Bill Rodgers, 1968 winner Amby Burfoot, 1970 victor Ron Hill and 1983 champion Greg Meyer will also take part in the B.A.A. 5K on Sunday, April 18. The anniversaries of Geoff Smith (1984, 1985) as well as Hill, Gareau, Rainsberger and Bordin will be recognized at Saturday morning's Champions' Breakfast at the Fairmont Copley Plaza Boston.
"Boston Marathon champions are held in high regard throughout the running world, and in especially high regard in Boston. To have five of them at the Champions' Breakfast will be a true delight," said Guy Morse, executive director of the B.A.A. "It's a bonus that Jacqueline, Lisa and Gelindo will celebrate by returning to the site of their victories, and that Amby, Ron, Bill and Greg will be taking part in the 5K."
Gareau, Rainsberger, and Bordin will be recognized on Marathon Monday by wearing bib numbers with their names on them. In the sea of more than 25,000 runners, this will make them more recognizable to spectators.
On Sunday of Marathon weekend, the 5,000 participants of the B.A.A. 5K will have the chance to run alongside Amby Burfoot, Ron Hill, Greg Meyer (the last U.S. man to win the storied Boston Marathon) and Bill Rodgers - some of the most famous names in distance running history.
In addition, registration for the second B.A.A. 5K has closed. Registration opened on Wednesday, March 3 and reached the 5,000 participant maximum 20 days later on Tuesday, March 23.
The 3.1 mile race will take place Sunday, April 18, 2010 at 8:00am, starting at Copley Place Square, and finishing at the Boston Marathon finish line. Among some of the 5,000 participants will be the previously mentioned Bill Rodgers, Amby Burfoot, Ron Hill and Greg Meyer as well as women's running pioneer and author Kathrine Switzer. Maria Varela, winner of the inaugural B.A.A. 5K in 2009 returns to defend her title, while Ryan Hardiman, winner of the B.A.A. Invitational Scholastic mile in 2009, will also take part. The event helps expand the excitement of the Marathon to Sunday, and gives runners of shorter distances the chance to compete during race weekend.
Race participants from 30 different countries will run past Boston's historic landmarks and cross the same finish line marathoners will the following day. The B.A.A. organizes both the Boston Marathon and the B.A.A. 5K.
"We are pleased to be able to offer a race for those interested in a shorter distance on Marathon weekend," said Guy Morse, B.A.A. Executive Director. "The speed with which the race filled is testament to the spirit of race weekend and the enthusiasm of last year's participants to return again."
Immediately following the 5K, and beginning at approximately 9:30am, the B.A.A. will host Invitational races: a 1000 meter race for Middle School participants, Scholastic Mile for high-school-aged athletes, and a Professional Mile for elite athletes. Runners and spectators of the 5K, as well as the general public are invited to the Copley Square area to watch the short events. Collectively, these six races comprise the B.A.A. Invitational Mile.