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By Walt Murphy’s News and Results Service (wmurphy25@aol.com), used with permission.
This Day in Track & Field–April 19
1918–22nd Boston Marathon
Due to American involvement in World War I, the traditional Patriots’ Day race underwent a temporary change of format. A 10-man military relay race was contested on the course, and one of the teams from Camp Devens in Ayer, Massachusetts, bested the field in 2:24:53.
- Camp Devens Divisional Team…….. 2:24:53
- 302nd Infantry, Camp Devens …….. 2:28:10
- Boston Navy Yard ……………………… 2:28:45
- 301st Signal Battalion, Camp Devens 2:29:14
- Naval Cadet School …………………… 2:29:23
To mark the event’s 100th Anniversary in 2018, military members representing each of the eight cities and towns along the course took part in a ceremonial relay to recreate the 1918 event and symbolize the B.A.A.’s Year of Service.
1939—Runners at the start of the 43rd Boston Marathon were greeted by a partial eclipse of the sun! Ellison “Tarzan” Brown went on to win in 2:28:51 on the point-to-point course, becoming the first American to break 2:30 for the distance.
Brown, a member of the Narragansett Indian Tribe of Rhode Island, also won the race in 1936.
https://runningmagazine.ca/the-scene/famous-eclipse-moment-running-history-1939-boston-marathon/
http://narragansettindiannation.org
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ellison_Brown
Photo: https://www.digitalcommonwealth.org/search/commonwealth:5425m178j
1963—Belgium’s Aurele Vandendriessche won the Boston Marathon in 2:18:58, breaking the course record of 2:20:03, set in 1957 by John (The “Younger”) Kelley, who finished 2nd(2:21:09) today. Vandendriessche, a 3-time Olympian, won his 2nd Boston title in 1964.
Other notable finishers included Ethiopians Abebe Bikila (5th-2:24:43/the…
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