The 126th Boston Marathon Brings Joy Back to the City
The city of Boston holds its 126th Boston Marathon after two long years of cancelation or postponement.
by Amanda Winters
On Monday, April 18, 2022, the 126th Boston Marathon took place across the greater Boston area. Runners began the infamous race in Hopkinton, MA, and ran 26.2 miles to the finish line on Boylston Street in Boston.
After being canceled for the first time in history in 2020 due to Covid-19 and postponed to October in 2021, the race returned to its normal date for the first time in 2 years. Over 28,000 runners, hand-cyclists, para-athletes, and wheelchair racers participated.
Large crowds of spectators lined Boylston Street crowding Copley Square to watch runners and other participants cross the finish line. Many were there to watch family and friends complete the race while others simply came to cheer the runners on. Spectators clapped, rang cowbells, held up large posters and signs, and shouted positive affirmations and words of encouragement as they completed the final stretch.
Kenyan runner Evans Chebet came in first place for the Professional Men’s race with a time of 2:06:51. Peres Jepchirchir finished in first place in the Professional Women’s race soon after with a time of 2:21:02.
Daniel Romanchuk of the U.S. came in first for the Men’s Wheelchair race at a time of 1:26:58 and Manuela Schär of Switzerland came in first for the Women’s Wheelchair race at 1:41:08.
The top finishers for para-athletics were Michael Roeger for the men’s race at 2:25:42 and Liza Thompson for the women’s race at 3:47:25.
The first-place racers for the Men’s and Women’s Handcycle Races were Alfredo Delossantos and Wendy Larsen. Deslossantos finished with a time of 1:08:40 and Larsen finished at 1:35:10.
The event has taken place annually since 1897 and is historically always held on Patriot’s Day, which falls on the third Monday of April. Despite having such a long history, women were not permitted to participate in the race until 1972. This race marks 50 years since the Boston Athletic Association changed the rules in favor of allowing women to run.
After two long years, the 126th Boston Marathon brought joy back to the streets and hope for a fun and eventful summer in the city.
Marathon runner David Chase waves to his wife Eloise and their newborn baby as he approaches the finish line at Copley Square. (Photo by Amanda Winters)
Massive crowds line Boylston Street towards the finish line of the 126th Boston Marathon on Monday, April 18. Spectators clapped, cheered, and rang bells at runners as they passed by. (Photo by Amanda Winters)
A volunteer wearing a neon-yellow jacket helps a marathon runner put on a protective heat sheet. Volunteers greeted runners at the finish line with heat sheets, water, Gatorade, and bags of food and other supplies. (Photo by Amanda Winters)
JP Price pushes his daughter Megan across the finish line. The father-daughter duo has participated in several marathons in honor of Price’s late son, Aaron Michael Price. (Photo by Amanda Winters)
A marathon runner carrying a small American flag notices a U.S. Army soldier walking off to the side, and stops to pass his flag over to the soldier. The soldier held up the flag as he carried it across the finish line. (Photo by Amanda Winters)
Two U.S. Army soldiers walk alongside the runners to finish the marathon. Spectators enthusiastically cheered them on and some thanked them for their service. (Photo by Amanda Winters)
A runner excitedly takes a video of spectators cheering him on. Many runners crossed the finish line with excitement by waving to friends and family or taking selfies during the final few steps. (Photo by Amanda Winters)
A runner carries a Ukrainian flag to show solidarity with Ukraine amid brewing tension and invasions from Russia . (Photo by Amanda Winters)