EIn 1972 they no longer had to hide behind a bush before the start, wear men’s shorts, hide their pigtails in a cap, or register only with their last name for fear of being discovered.
50 years ago, precisely because of the courage of women like Bobbi Gibb or Kathrine Switzer -who years before had defied the reactionary rule that women could not run a marathon-, Eight women were able to officially start the Boston Marathon.
That mythical test, in which only eight runners participated with the final victory of Nina Kuscsik in 3:10:26, was a great step towards equality, in athletics in general and in the marathon in particular.
“The things people said about why we shouldn’t run long distances were crazy,” recalls Valerie Rogosheske, one of the eight finalists that year. “Like our uteruses fell out and we couldn’t have kids or it just wasn’t good for our overall health.”
They said crazy things about why we shouldn’t run long distances, like our wombs would fall out and we couldn’t have kids, or that it wasn’t good for our health.
Precisely Rogosheske, at 75 years old, she will be one of those pioneers who will take the start together with the 14,000 women, including his daughters Abigail and Allie, who will participate in this edition of Boston, which returns to its original historical date after two years of the pandemic (the last edition was held in the fall).
Duel Jepchirchir-Jepkosgei
On this 50th anniversary of that race for history, the Boston women’s event brings together the two best marathon runners of last year: the Kenyans Peres Jepchirchir –olympic champion and recent winner in New York– and Joyciline Jepkosgei, winner at London 2021. Also present will be the best American of the moment, Molly Seidel, bronze at the Tokyo Games.
Jepchirchir has the opportunity to consolidate his status as number 1 from distance, but he will have great rivals in the running, such as his compatriot Jepkosgei or the world record holder of the distance, Brigid Kosgei, who hasn’t run in Boston since riding the front row of the marathon. There will also be the young Ethiopian Degitu Azimeraw, second in London last year, and veteran Edna Kiplagat, double world champion. A cast at the height of the anniversary of a historic career for women’s athletics.
Kipruto and Korir, among the favorites in the men’s category
Without Bekele finally on the starting line, the range of favorites in the men’s event is wide. The Kenyans Benson Kipruto, Albert Korir and Sisay Lemma stand out, who have won a major: Boston, New York and London, respectively. But there are five athletes under 2.04 -Legese, Atanaw, Chebet, Cherono and Lemma-, who will also seek victory.
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