Runners needed to run a lot faster to qualify for the 2020 Boston Marathon than in previous years. Despite lowering the qualifying times by 5:00 for each age group, runners still needed to be 1:39 under their qualifying standard to be accepted into the next year’s race.
This year the Boston Athletic Association expanded the field by 1,500 runners to 31,500 and accepted one thousand more qualifiers. Even with the expanded field and faster qualifying times, 3,161 runners who achieved a BQ were denied entry into next year’s Boston Marathon.
This year the B.A.A. received 27,288 applications from qualifiers – down from the more than 30,000 applicants last year.
Historical Cut-off Times for the Boston Marathon
2020: 1:39 (6:39 compared to 2012-2019 qualifying times)
2019: 4:52
2018: 3:32
2017: 2:09
2016: 2:28
2015: 1:02
2014: 1:38 (Field size 36,000)
2013: 0:00 (Field size – 27,000)
2012: 1:14 (Field size – 27,000)
For more information view our list of historical Boston Marathon qualifying statistics and the BQ percentages and numbers for all 2020 Boston Marathon qualifying races in the U.S.
Also, checkout our list of the Best Boston Qualifiers based on the BQ percentage, number of qualifiers, and fastest courses.
