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The number of entrants being allowed for this
year's race, scheduled to be held on Oct. 11, is 33% below the
typical number of runners at one of the world's most prestigious
marathons.
The Boston Athletic Association (B.A.A.), which organises the
marathon, said it worked closely with local, city, and state
partners to establish an appropriate field size for the race
that extends from the suburb of Hopkinton to downtown Boston.
"In addition to a smaller field than in previous years, we will
have significant additional protocols in place to ensure
participant and public health," B.A.A. President Tom Grilk said
in a news release https://www.baa.org/125th-boston-marathon-field-size-established-20000-entrants.
The Boston Marathon, which is typically held in April and
generally draws over 30,000 runners from all over the world, had
been held annually since 1897 until it was cancelled for the
first time in its history last year because of COVID-19.
The global pandemic also forced organisers to push back the date
for this year's race.
As a result, all six marathon majors scheduled this year will
now be condensed into a six-week window, starting with the
Berlin Marathon on Sept. 26 and ending with the New York City
race on Nov. 7.
The 2019 Boston Marathon had 30,234 entrants, according to the
B.A.A. website.
(Reporting by Frank Pingue in Toronto; Editing by Ken Ferris)
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