121st Boston Marathon qualifier: 26,171 entries, 2 minutes 9 seconds under cutoff
The 121st Boston Marathon needed a cutoff of 2 minutes 9 seconds under the qualifying standard, then handed Kenya a sweep as Geoffrey Kirui and Edna Kiplagat won on a warm Patriots Day.
What made 2017 notable
The 121st Boston Marathon delivered a Kenyan sweep on an unusually warm Patriots Day, with highs reaching 73 degrees Fahrenheit. Geoffrey Kirui surged away after 35 kilometers to win in 2:09:37, holding off American Galen Rupp by 21 seconds, while two-time world champion Edna Kiplagat broke clear on the Newton hills to take the women's race in 2:21:52. Behind the elites, demand again outstripped the 30,000-entry field: 26,171 runners registered with a valid Boston Qualifying time, the BAA accepted 23,214, and 2,957 qualifiers were turned away at a cutoff of 2 minutes 9 seconds under standard. It was the fourth consecutive year a cutoff was needed. Of 27,221 starters, 26,411 finished.
Qualifier pool over time
Age-group qualifying times
View full age-group BQ standards
| Age | Men | Women |
|---|---|---|
| 18-34 | 03:05:00 | 03:35:00 |
| 35-39 | 03:10:00 | 03:40:00 |
| 40-44 | 03:15:00 | 03:45:00 |
| 45-49 | 03:25:00 | 03:55:00 |
| 50-54 | 03:30:00 | 04:00:00 |
| 55-59 | 03:40:00 | 04:10:00 |
| 60-64 | 03:55:00 | 04:25:00 |
| 65-69 | 04:10:00 | 04:40:00 |
| 70-74 | 04:25:00 | 04:55:00 |
| 75-79 | 04:40:00 | 05:10:00 |
| 80+ | 04:55:00 | 05:25:00 |
Questions about the 2017 qualifier
What was the 2017 Boston Marathon qualifier cutoff?
2 minutes 9 seconds under each age-group standard. It was the fourth consecutive year the BAA needed a cutoff to fill the 30,000-entry field.
How many qualifiers applied for the 121st Boston?
26,171 runners with a valid Boston Qualifying time. The BAA accepted 23,214, and 2,957 qualifiers were turned away despite hitting a BQ standard.
When was the 2017 Boston registration window?
Open 12 September 2016, closed 21 September 2016. Acceptance and the cutoff were announced 28 September 2016.
Who won the 2017 Boston Marathon?
Geoffrey Kirui won the men's race in 2:09:37, ahead of American Galen Rupp in 2:09:58. Edna Kiplagat won the women's race in 2:21:52 for a Kenyan sweep.