Boston’s Marathoners Program

Running Collaborative’s

W ith her 2:33:57, 27th place marathon debut, Erika Kemp became the fastest American-born Black woman in marathon history. Erika shaved 17-seconds from Samia Akbar’s previous record of 2:34:14, set in 2006.

PHOTOS BY MARATHONFOTO

“I promise I won’t be at the top of the list for too long — there’s a lot more coming,” she tweeted after the race.

I In its first year, the Boston

Program provided an
opportunity for people of color
from Boston to participate
in the marathon named for
their city. Representation
and visibility are key factors
in engaging more diverse
runners and creating a Boston
Marathon that is inclusive and
representative of the city itself.

The nine athletes selected were
nominated by BRC members
for their strong ties to the
Boston running community.