Boston Marathon 2027 sets a 5:17 cut-off for a race entry
The Boston Athletic Association (B.A.A.) has released the admission figures for the 131st Boston Marathon, set for Monday, April 19, 2027. The number of qualifiers accepted reached a record high, but the cut-off came down hard on more than 8,000 marathoners. Here’s what happened.
Qualifying for the Boston Marathon as a Boston Qualifier or BQ remains one of the ultimate goals for any serious runner. But meeting the age- and gender-based qualifying standards once again did not guarantee a place on the starting line in Hopkinton.
A 5:17 cut-off
By the end of the registration window in mid-September, the B.A.A. had received 33,649 applications from runners who had met the qualifying standards. With the overall field capped at 30,000 participants, including professionals, para athletes and charity runners, the number of places available to time qualifiers was limited.
The cut-off, the amount that had to be taken off the official qualifying standards to secure entry, came in at 5 minutes and 17 seconds this year (5:17). Based on their qualifying times, 24,630 athletes earned a direct ticket to the Massachusetts capital.
The 2027 twist: a lottery gives 1,000 runners a second chance
The major change for this 131st edition is the B.A.A.’s introduction of the Boston Qualifier Selection process. It gives a second chance to applicants who had achieved the required qualifying time but were rejected because of the 5:17 cut-off. The organization is drawing 1,000 additional entries from this group. In total, 25,630 time qualifiers will take part in the Boston Marathon, an all-time high for the race.
More than 8,000 marathoners left out
A sign of the continued rise in performance standards over 26.2 miles worldwide, 8,019 runners who had nevertheless met the official qualifying standards were not accepted. For those disappointed athletes, the only remaining route to the finish on Boylston Street now runs through charity programs, whose fundraising campaigns will open in the fall.
2027 Boston Marathon qualifying times after the cut-off is subtracted
Age group | Men’s standard | Actual time required, men (-5:17) | Women’s / non-binary standard | Actual time required, women / non-binary (-5:17) |
18–34 | 2:55:00 | 2:49:43 | 3:25:00 | 3:19:43 |
35–39 | 3:00:00 | 2:54:43 | 3:30:00 | 3:24:43 |
40–44 | 3:05:00 | 2:59:43 | 3:35:00 | 3:29:43 |
45–49 | 3:15:00 | 3:09:43 | 3:45:00 | 3:39:43 |
50–54 | 3:20:00 | 3:14:43 | 3:50:00 | 3:44:43 |
55–59 | 3:30:00 | 3:24:43 | 4:00:00 | 3:54:43 |
60–64 | 3:50:00 | 3:44:43 | 4:20:00 | 4:14:43 |
65–69 | 4:05:00 | 3:59:43 | 4:35:00 | 4:29:43 |
70–74 | 4:20:00 | 4:14:43 | 4:50:00 | 4:44:43 |
75–79 | 4:35:00 | 4:29:43 | 5:05:00 | 4:59:43 |
80+ | 4:50:00 | 4:44:43 | 5:20:00 | 5:14:43 |
Key figures for the 131st edition
33,649 qualifying applications received.
25,630 qualified athletes accepted: 24,630 based on time and 1,000 through the second-chance lottery.
8,019 applicants rejected despite meeting the qualifying standards.
120 nationalities represented among the qualifiers.
10,745 runners will compete in their first Boston Marathon.
Top five qualifying marathons: 2026 Boston Marathon (4,448 entrants), 2025 Chicago Marathon (2,043), 2025 New York City Marathon (826), 2025 California International Marathon (812) and 2026 London Marathon (610).
Athletes already targeting the 2028 edition, the 132nd running, can use qualifying times from races held from September 19, 2026 onward.