Johnny Kelley - 1936-1992

If there was one athlete who personified the Boston Marathon, it was Johnny Kelley. A two-time winner, seven-time runner-up, and 58-time finisher, Kelley was a fan favorite for decades even beyond his final finish in 1992. In addition to being one of the most decorated Boston Marathoners in history, Kelley was a two-time Olympic marathoner for Team USA. A statue in his honor sits at the base of Heartbreak Hill in Newton.

Centennial Celebration - 1996

At the time, the 100th Boston set a world record for participants in a single marathon — 35,868 finishers — which stood until 2004. The race celebrated a century’s worth of Boston history, with many champions returning to cover 26.2 miles.

Driscoll’s Dominance - 2000

Jean Driscoll dominated the Hopkinton-to Boston route, winning eight wheelchair titles within an 11-year span. She is the most decorated women’s winner in history, with her final victory coming in 2000.

World Best - 2011

Kenya’s Geoffrey Mutai clocked the fastest time in race history, running 2:03:02—both a course record and world best at the time. Mutai’s mark helped spark a new era of speed in the marathon. Ryan Hall’s 2:05:58 in the same race became the fastest American marathon in history, too.