Mississippi’s Gulf Coast Marathon wasn’t 42.2K
Any times thought to be BQs are no longer eligible as the Gulf Coast Marathon was not 42.2K, according to race officials
Finishers of the 2017 Gulf Coast Marathon were informed that the course was approximately 475-500m short of 42.2K (42.195K more specifically), nullifying any Boston Marathon qualifying times.
A turnaround on the point-to-point course of the Dec. 10 race, which began in Henderson Point, Miss., was misplaced. Race director Jonathan Dziuba told WLOX News that he is taking full responsibility for the error saying he misinformed the person marking the course of where the turnaround point was to be situated.
As the course was short, the Boston Athletic Association won’t accept times as marks cannot be adjusted for any distance not covered during the race. According to the Sun Herald, runners who achieved what was originally thought to be a Boston qualifying time can enter the Louisiana Marathon at no charge, or participate in next year’s Gulf Coast Marathon for free.
Entry for the 2018 Boston Marathon is closed so runners have time to get in their qualifying marks before the 2019 edition of the prestigious road race. There was at least one Canadian among the 441 finishers.
WLOX published the email sent out to participants.
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