Boston — Running enthusiasts who aspire to earn a spot in the Boston Marathon in 2026 will need to accelerate their speed.
The Boston Athletic Association has modified the qualifying times for the oldest annual marathon in the world, requiring most entrants to complete a 26.2-mile race five minutes quicker than they did in the previous year in order to receive a starting number.
The BAA’s president and CEO, Jack Fleming, stated in a statement released on Monday that “we’ve seen athletes continue to raise the bar and soar to new peaks every time the BAA has modified qualification standards, most recently in 2019). This age group (18–59) has seen the highest rate of athlete turnaway in recent years; the adjustment reflects the depth of engagement as well as the pace at which athletes are running.
Qualifying timings were first established by the BAA in 1970, and over the years, the conditions have been broadened and modified. There are no requirements for runners who are running the event to raise money for charity.
In order to qualify for the 2026 race, men between the ages of 18 and 34 will now need to complete a marathon during the qualification window in two hours, 55 minutes or less—a five-minute faster time than for the current race.
Applicants who identify as women or nonbinary must finish the course in 3:25.
The participants who are 80 years of age and older have the slowest qualifying times. In that division, male runners had to finish the marathon in 4:50, while female and nonbinary competitors have to finish in 5:20. The most recent modification did not alter those figures.
The BAA said it had 36,406 qualifier entry applications for next year’s race, more than ever before.
Read more at;https://sportupdates.co.uk
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