Lead woman at Boston, Atsede Baysa, hands over trophy to women’s running pioneer
In one of the classiest moves in the sport, the champion of the women's race in Boston passed off her trophy to the woman who first ran the course in 1966.
Runners everywhere have just been given a new reason to love the top woman at this year’s Boston Marathon. Atsede Baysa, the lead woman at the 2016 Boston Marathon, just handed over her trophy to the woman who was the first female to ever run the course.
This was originally reported on by The Boston Herald.
This year, runners flocked to the streets of Boston for North America’s favourite race to  celebrate the 120th running of the event– and the 50th anniversary of female participation.
RELATED: Runners celebrate 50th anniversary of female participation at the Boston Marathon
In 1966, Roberta (Bobbi) Gibb had been refused a spot in the race but she decided to run it anyway. She sprung from the bushes and ran the marathon without a number and in a pair of borrowed surf shorts. She crossed the line in 3:21:40 having created a sort of women’s race at the Boston Marathon for the first time.
It was years before she was recognized as the official winner of the 1966 Boston Marathon. She did not receive a trophy in 1966 Â and women weren’t accepted as official race participants until 1972.
When Baysa (a two-time Chicago winner) heard Gibb’s story, she asked to be able to meet with Gibb. The two women met on Tuesday. Baysa had been in possession of the trophy for less than 24 hours when she handed it over to this pioneer of women’s running.
Gibb told The Boston Herald that she was moved to tears by the runner’s gesture. She is keeping the trophy for a year at which point she insisted on giving it back to Baysa.
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