Nonbinary athletes will be able to run in next year’s Boston Marathon without having to register as members of the men’s or women’s divisions, race organizers announced Monday.
The Boston Athletic Association, which administers the prestigious marathon, said it’s been working to expand opportunities for nonbinary people — not just for the marathon but for the BAA’s other races, which include a 5K, a 10K and a half marathon.
Organizers confirmed the change as registration opened Monday for the 127th running of the marathon on April 17, 2023. A field of about 30,000 is expected for next spring’s edition of the storied race.
Nonbinary distance runner Nikki Hiltz has been competing in women’s divisions, but trumpeted the BAA’s decision to create a nonbinary division on Monday
Runners fill the recovery area during the Boston Marathon on April 18
Nonbinary athletes can submit entry applications if they’ve completed a marathon as a nonbinary participant during the current qualifying window, the BAA said. It said it’s still working to establish qualifying standards for nonbinary participants, but that its online applications will include ‘nonbinary’ as a gender option.
‘Discussions are ongoing with nonbinary athletes in an effort to further promote inclusion at all BAA events,’ the organization said, adding, ‘We view this first year as an opportunity to learn and grow together.’
Nonbinary pro miler and 1,500 runner Nikki Hiltz, who came out as transgender last year and narrowly missed a spot on the US team for the Tokyo Olympics, lauded the move.
‘There’s still so much work to be done but I’m thrilled that nonbinary runners are being acknowledged by the Boston Marathon and BAA,’ Hiltz tweeted.
One Twitter user wrote that he saw the decision as a ‘good compromise’ on the issue of gender divisions in sports, but others disagreed with the move.
‘I’m sure no one will abuse this,’ another Twitter user remarked sarcastically. ‘Especially for a race that is notoriously tough to get qualified for.’
Nonbinary pro miler and 1,500 runner Nikki Hiltz, who came out as transgender last year and narrowly missed a spot on the US team for the Tokyo Olympics, lauded the move
Many fans saw the decisions as a ‘good compromise’ on the issue of gender divisions in sports
There is a considerable amount of disagreement among race fans, who are split on the issues
Some fans taw the decision to create a nonbinary division as ‘pretty cool’
The Boston Marathon is the latest major marathon to begin adding nonbinary divisions.
Last year’s Philadelphia Distance Run, a premier event offering a half marathon and a 5K, became the first large race in the US to establish a nonbinary division and offer equal prize money.
The Brooklyn Marathon and Half Marathon followed in April. Eighty-two competitors who had registered as nonbinary participants were among the finishers, including Jacob Caswell, a middle-distance runner for Columbia University.
‘Being able to not even win but just compete as yourself, it’s just been freeing,’ Caswell, who won the nonbinary division in Brooklyn, told The New York Times.
Caswell’s time of 2:35:17 was about a minute better than the race’s fastest woman, Hirut Guangul, but about seven and a half minutes slower than men’s winner, Aaron Mora.
Winter Parts won the nonbinary division in the half marathon.
The Brooklyn Marathon and Half Marathon followed in April. Eighty-two competitors who had registered as nonbinary participants were among the finishers, including Jacob Caswell (pictured, left, with Team Brooklyn and, right, after the Queens 10K), a middle-distance runner for Columbia University
Organizers confirmed the change as registration opened Monday for the 127th running of the marathon on April 17, 2023. A field of about 30,000 is expected for next spring’s race
Although race officials in Brooklyn were making an attempt at inclusivity, both Caswell and another nonbinary runner, Zackary Harris, complained of being misgendered at times.
‘It was so comically ironic that here we are really trying to celebrate the inclusion of nonbinary runners and they’re doing the exact opposite of that,’ Harris told the Times.
In speaking with the Times, New York City Runs founder Steve Lastoe admitted that more needed to be done for trans runners.
Harris is also working Front Runners, an LBGTQ group, to address the issues, according to the Times.
‘Nonbinary runners have been here this whole time,’ Harris said. ‘We’ve been forced to run in categories that don’t match our gender identities, and now we’re seeing a shift in sports to actually recognize us.’
Front Runners New York is a group aimed at supporting LGBTQ athletes within the sport
***
Read more at DailyMail.co.uk