Switzer, who got her bachelor's degree from SU in 1968 and her master's in 1972, went on to finish that race in approximately four hours and 20 minutes.
Geoffrey Kirui and Edna Kiplagat produced a Kenyan sweep at the Boston Marathon, winning the men's and women's races on Monday by conquering the race's hilly final miles to establish their dominance. She finished in 4:44:31. Gibb also ran in the '67 race, again unofficially, but no one realized Switzer was a woman until after the race started - partly due to the cold weather on that April 19th, prompting her to wear oversized sweats. Most importantly, he says it wasn't about the time, it was about finishing. This afternoon, surrounded by members of 261 fearless, the running club she created to empower women.
The Boston Marathon has retired only one other number in its history: 61, in recognition of the 61 races started by athlete Johnny Kelly.
Cavs hold on for win
At some point in the playoffs, the team will find its groove and make its way through the East to meet the Warriors in the Finals. The series will now shift back to IN for Game 3, as Cleveland carries along the same problems that plagued them all season long.
An advocate for equal rights in sports, Switzer successfully campaigned for the Olympics to adopt the women's marathon as a sport in 1984. Taking the course in a sea of men until the marathon director was alerted about a woman in the race. You know, we laugh about it now because it's so amusing when a girl is saved by her burly boyfriend. But. I said to my coach immediately after the incident: 'I have to finish this race now because if I drop out of this race, nobody's going to believe that women are serious'.
The Boston Marathon, after all, has become the pinnacle of what most runners aspire to accomplish. And she competed in Boston several more times, placing second in the women's race in 1975 with a time of 2:51, her personal best.
And for those who don't run, Marathon Monday is a day of celebration.
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