Boston Marathon Sets Record Qualifier Total With 5:17 Cutoff

The Boston Athletic Association says it has accepted or is still verifying 25,630 qualified runners for the 2027 Boston Marathon, a record number, after requiring applicants to beat their age-group qualifying standards by at least 5 minutes, 17 seconds. The B.A.A. is also randomly selecting 1,000 applicants who met their qualifying standards but missed that cutoff for an additional opportunity to enter. The preliminary acceptance total is subject to verification, and the drawing is still underway. The B.A.A. said selections would be announced in the coming days. It reported receiving 33,649 applications during registration week, leaving 8,019 applicants outside the cutoff before the drawing. The association’s final count of accepted runners will depend on verification and the selection process. The 2027 cutoff is 43 seconds stricter than the one for the 2026 race. Applicants had to run at least 5:17 faster than the qualifying time for their age group to gain acceptance through the standard process. The 2027 race is scheduled for April 19, with the overall field capped at 30,000 entrants, including qualifiers and invited participants. The B.A.A.