John J McDermott baa_1898_mcdermott_sm
McDermott
Ronald McDonald 220px-MacDonald-Evan_Nappen,Esq._Collection
MacDonald

1897 – 1909: The United States vs. Canada

When Canada’s Ronald J. MacDonald captured the second Boston Marathon in 1898, besting by almost thirteen minutes the time of New York’s John J. McDermott the year before, he signaled very quickly Boston would not be solely a United States affair. Through the early 1930s, runners from the two North American nations accounted for all Boston victories

 

 

1897 1898 1899 1900 1901 1902 1903
1904 1905 1906 1907 1908 1909

 

Veteran marathoner Clarence DeMar of the Melrose American Legion Post crosses the finish line April 19, 1930 in Boston, Mass., to win the Boston Marathon for the last of his record seven wins. DeMar's time was 2:34:48.2. (AP Photo)
Veteran marathoner Clarence DeMar of the Melrose American Legion Post crosses the finish line April 19, 1930 in Boston, Mass., to win the Boston Marathon for the last of his record seven wins. DeMar’s time was 2:34:48.2. (AP Photo)

1910 – 1930: The Era of “Mr. DeMarathon”

Clarence DeMar survived a Dickensian childhood and bad medical advice to win the Boston Marathon seven times, despite taking two long breaks from running while he was in his twenties.

1910 1911 1912 1913 1914 1915 1916
1917 1918 1919 1920 1921 1922 1923
1924 1925 1926 1927 1928 1929 1930

 

kelley1945_lg
Johnny A. Kelley on his way to his second win at Boston (1945).

1931 – 1946: Kelley the Elder

Between the ages of 26 and 38, Johnny Kelley made a consistent mark among the leaders as he compiled a record of two wins and seven second place finishes.

1931 1932 1933 1934 1935 1936 1937 1938
1939 1940 1941 1942 1943 1944 1945 1946