Editing Boston Marathon (section)

==Divisions==
The [[1975 Boston Marathon]] became the first major marathon to include a [[Wheelchair racing|wheelchair division competition]].<ref name=facts/> Bob Hall wrote race director Will Cloney to ask if he could compete in the race in his wheelchair. Cloney wrote back that he could not give Hall a race number, but would recognize Hall as an official finisher if he completed the race in under 3 hours and 30 minutes. Hall finished in 2 hours and 58 minutes, paving the way for the wheelchair division.<ref name=wheelchair/> Ernst Van Dyk, in 2004, set a course record at 1:18.29, almost 50 minutes faster than the fastest runner.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2010-04-16 |title=The Fastest Man at the Boston Marathon |url=https://www.popularmechanics.com/adventure/sports/a5529/wheelchair-racing-boston-marathon/ |access-date=2023-03-10 |website=Popular Mechanics |language=en-us |archive-date=March 10, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230310175453/https://www.popularmechanics.com/adventure/sports/a5529/wheelchair-racing-boston-marathon/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

Also in 1975, the Boston Marathon first included a women's masters division, which [[Sylvia Weiner]] won, at age 44 with a time of 3:21:38.<ref name="running">{{Cite web|title = 84-Year-Old Holocaust Survivor Says Running Saved Her Life|date = 13 April 2015|url = http://www.runnersworld.com/boston-marathon/84-year-old-holocaust-survivor-says-running-saved-her-life|publisher = Runner's World|accessdate = 2015-05-12}}</ref>

Handcyclists have competed in the race since at least 2014. Starting in 2017, handcyclists are honored the same way runners and wheelchair racers are: with wreaths, prize money, and the playing of the men's and women's winners' national anthems.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2017/04/12/baa-honor-handcylce-winners-expand-field/3sZTEFHYZzdS0H8mXaRunK/story.html |title=BAA to honor handcycle winners, expand field |website=[[The Boston Globe]] |access-date=April 15, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170507070953/http://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2017/04/12/baa-honor-handcylce-winners-expand-field/3sZTEFHYZzdS0H8mXaRunK/story.html |archive-date=May 7, 2017 |url-status=live }}</ref>

In addition to the push rim wheelchair division, the Boston Marathon<ref>{{cite news |title=Marine veteran who crawled to the Boston Marathon finish line was inspired by fallen comrades |url=https://www.full2info.com/2019/04/marine-veteran-who-crawled-to-boston.html |access-date=April 18, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190418200258/https://www.full2info.com/2019/04/marine-veteran-who-crawled-to-boston.html |archive-date=April 18, 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref> also hosts a blind/visually impaired division, and a mobility impaired program. Similar to the running divisions, a set of qualifying times has been developed for these divisions to motivate aspiring athletes and ensure competitive excellence. In 1986, the introduction of prize money at the Boston Marathon gave the push rim wheelchair division the richest prize purse in the sport. More than 1,000 people with disabilities and impairments have participated in the wheelchair division, while the other divisions have gained popularity each year.<ref name=disabled/> In 2013, 40 blind runners participated.<ref name=blind/>

The [[Non-binary gender|nonbinary]] division of the Boston Marathon was first included in 2023; it was won by Kae Ravichandran with a time of 2:38:57.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.runnersworld.com/races-places/a43607525/boston-marathon-nonbinary-results-2023/|title=Kae Ravichandran Wins Nonbinary Division at the 2023 Boston Marathon|date=April 18, 2023|website=Runner's World}}</ref>