Boston Marathon to welcome non-binary athletes for 1st time in 2023 race
Prestigious event becomes latest major marathon to add non-binary divisions
Non-binary athletes will be able to run in Monday's Boston Marathon without having to register as members of the men's or women's divisions, race organizers announced last September.
A field of about 30,000 is expected for this year's 127th edition of the storied race.
Non-binary athletes can submit entry applications if they've completed a marathon as a non-binary participant during the current qualifying window, the BAA said. It said it's still working to establish qualifying standards for non-binary participants, but that its online applications will include "non-binary" as a gender option.
Non-binary pro miler and 1,500 runner Nikki Hiltz, who came out as transgender last year and narrowly missed a spot on the U.S. team for the Tokyo Olympics, lauded the move.
"There's still so much work to be done but I'm thrilled that non-binary runners are being acknowledged by the Boston Marathon and BAA," Hiltz tweeted.
Last year's Philadelphia Distance Run, a premier event offering a half marathon and a 5K, became the first large race in the U.S. to establish a non-binary division and offer equal prize money.
The Brooklyn Marathon and Half Marathon followed in April. Eighty-two competitors who had registered as non-binary participants were among the finishers.
