The 2024 Boston Half presented by Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and the Jimmy Fund took place on Sunday, November 10 under beautiful blue skies, starting and finishing within Boston’s Franklin Park. A total of 6,767 athletes participated in the event.

It was an adidas sweep at the front of the field, as Eritrea’s Yemane Haileselassie and Ethiopia’s Fentaye Belayneh sprinted to victories in the men’s and women’s open divisions, clocking times of 1:01:46 and 1:10:26. Americans Daniel Romanchuk (47:38) and Michelle Wheeler (1:00:25) won the men’s and women’s wheelchair divisions, respectively, with Romanchuk setting a new event record in the process.

On Friday November 15, the Boston Athletic Association held a special lunch at the Museum of Science in Boston to celebrate and thank 27 volunteers who have been part of the Boston Marathon for 30 years or more!

These incredible individuals are part of the 9,000 strong cohort without whom the marathon couldn’t happen. The volunteers play such an important role in all the marathon related events and in creating the atmosphere across the city over the weekend and race day that Boston is known for.

Stephen Purnell began running B.A.A. races about ten years ago and went on to complete his Abbott World Marathon Major Six Star Journey in Berlin this past September. His daughter Courtney is also an avid runner and wife Jessica supports both of them with their training, racing and the thousands of dollars that Stephen has raised for charities while pounding the pavement.

We caught up with the Purnell family from Stoughton, MA to find out more.

The B.A.A. works to enrich our community through diverse year-round events and programming, which extend far beyond the iconic Boston Marathon. With events like the Boston 5K, 10K, Half, and youth and community races, the B.A.A. fosters an inclusive environment that promotes fitness, wellness, and community spirit. Our programming supports local initiatives, empowering runners of all ages, levels, and backgrounds to engage in physical activity and further the B.A.A’s mission. Our year-long commitment to youth development helps to ensure a lasting positive impact on future generations, encouraging a lifelong love of running and healthy living.

As 2024 wraps up, we’re proud to celebrate the sustainability milestones achieved at this year’s Boston Marathon:

• Achieved 55% waste diversion through improved recycling and composting efforts.
• Introduced medals made from 100% recycled U.S.-made steel and eco-friendly Adidas celebration jackets.
• Donated 40,000 lbs of clothing and collected over 600 pairs of shoes for families and micro-enterprises.

Thank you to everyone who made these achievements possible.

Let’s keep the momentum going in 2025!

The Boston Athletic Association and Meet Boston released an independent economic impact report conducted by the Economic and Public Policy Research group at the University of Massachusetts Donahue Institute, commissioned to look at the direct impact of one of the oldest and most historic marathons in the world, the Boston Marathon presented by Bank of America.

The $509.1 million impact represents the B.A.A.’s operational costs, spending by marathon participants and spectators, and other secondary economic impacts from household spending, taxes and vendor spending. For this report, the Donahue Institute examined the two categories of expenditures of the B.A.A. – year-round operations and a larger set of spending associated with marathon weekend.

Boston Athletic Association Update in Support of Clean Athletes

Last month the Boston Athletic Association announced that the organization will issue voluntary payments to athletes who were adversely affected by doping offenses at B.A.A. events. In offering these voluntary payments, we further recognize clean athletes.

On Nov. 3, Tom O’Keefe crossed the finish line of the TCS New York City Marathon with his friend, Jorge Rosales, five years to the day after they met at the Cambridge (Mass.) 10K.

It was an anniversary and accomplishment both men are proud of, and it was only possible because Jorge donated one of his kidneys to Tom last January.

But this isn’t just a story about how Jorge’s incredible selflessness may have saved Tom’s life. It’s also one about how Tom’s selflessness in establishing the nonprofit Stride for Stride in 2018 may also have saved his own life.

Tom was a well-known Boston-area food blogger (BostonTweets) and avid runner when he founded Stride for Stride (a 2025 Bank of America Boston Marathon Official Charity Program partner) to donate official race entries (bibs) to immigrants and people of color.

One of those people he helped was Jorge Rosales, who had immigrated to the US from El Salvador.

That’s where Jorge came in. Jorge volunteered to donate one of his kidneys to Tom.

Meeting Tom and joining Stride for Stride “was like finding my other family in this country,” Rosales told Runner’s World. “I’m so grateful that bib number was available for me. Tom’s a great person with his kindness and friendship.”

But Tom will tell you that kindness has been repaid a thousand-fold by Jorge and his cousin: “The fact Jorge would take an organ out of his body and give it to me is the greatest act of kindness I’ve ever experienced. I’m grateful for what I went through, because without it I would’ve never experienced that kindness. He’s the greatest man I’ve ever known and I’m so proud to call him my brother.”

So, the two finished the TCS New York City Marathon. Then the next weekend, they completed the B.A.A. Half Marathon, and like NYC, Tom and Jorge ran together, Stride for Stride.

To learn more about becoming an organ donor, visit OrganDonor.gov.

This is the first of our Runner Spotlights profiling some of the incredible participants who are preparing to run the 129th Boston Marathon presented by Bank of America.

Kelly Dwyer is running on April 21 as part of the Boston MedFlight team. This organization means a lot to Kelly and her entire family following a major event in January 2023 where they came to the rescue.

“Sitting on the sofa on a regular Saturday morning my mom went into sudden cardiac arrest. My son Brody – who was seven years old at the time – became a superhero as he raced to get my brother and unlock the front door for the Abington Fire Department so my brother and dad could focus on giving my mom CPR.

“She is now healthier than ever and enjoying time with family, especially her five grandchildren. Our family cannot be more grateful for the many teams that played major roles in saving my mom’s life. I am excited to have this opportunity to give back to one of the teams who helped her as she is just one of the many lives and loved ones saved by Boston MedFlight.

“Boston MedFlight steps in during the most traumatic types of calls and work hand in hand with doctors to help save lives. They give individuals and families a fighting chance when a medical emergency happens. Although I have met and thanked the individuals and teams who were a part of my mom’s journey, a simple thank you does not feel enough. For several months I was trying to figure out how I could help, how I could better say thank you to them, and when this opportunity came about, I knew this was the way.

“Running the Boston Marathon means everything to me. I grew up running with my dad before school each morning and because of him, I developed a love of running. I ran kid road races on weekends in Brockton for a while and then ran 5K’s with my dad (who always let me finish ahead of him). As I grew older, running became a way of healing for me. If I had a hard day, I went for a run. If I needed to clear my head, I went for a run. This upcoming marathon is a part of my healing journey after the trauma experienced from my mom’s cardiac arrest and it is giving back to the people who were essential in keeping my mom alive and healthy. This marathon is just a little way to say thank you to everyone who played a part in keeping my mom with us.

“My mom is my motivation. During her recovery, she has surpassed everyone’s expectations, crushed milestones we were told would take significantly longer, and all of the doctors keep calling her a miracle. I am also running for my own children. I hope to be half the mother to my four children as my mom is to me.”

(Nov 10) Boston Half Marathon Notable Performances:

B.A.A. High Performance team member Barry Keane finished 9th overall in 1:02:35

B.A.A. High Performance team member Megan Hasz was the top American woman and finished 10th overall in 1:11:27.

Amanda Watters was the 3rd masters woman overall.

Justin Maloney was the 1st man 45-49

Diana Bowser was the 1st woman 50-54

Michael McGrane was the 1st man 50-54

Joe Regan was the 1st man 60-64

Brian Sherras was the 2nd man 65-69

Katie McMenamin was the 2nd woman 30-34

Karen Ringheiser was the 3rd woman 60-64

(Nov 17) USATF-NE Cross-Country Championships Notable Performances:

Alexandra Lucki finished 2nd overall in the Open Women’s Race

Ashley Jensen finished 3rd overall in the Masters Women’s race

Ryan Irwin finished 3rd overall in the Masters Men’s race

Karolyn Bowley was the 1st woman 50-54

Peter Hammer was the 2nd man 55-59

Ernest Cook was the 2nd man 70-74

Masters Men’s team finished 2nd overall

Masters Women’s team finished 2nd overall

Open Women’s team finished 3rd overall

Name: Anthony Palhete

Where are you from? Weymouth, MA

What do you do for the B.A.A.? Distribution Center Coordinator

What does that involve?

I assist in the everyday operations at the Distribution Center which includes storing and maintaining all Boston Athletic Association equipment as well as some sponsor items related to events while also assisting in the acceptance of deliveries and keeping inventory. During the buildup to our events, I help load and unload all the equipment to and from the events, while also assisting in the planning and operations that take place within the Operations team.

What is your favorite B.A.A. event to be part of and why?

My favorite B.A.A. event is the Boston Marathon. It’s just amazing to see so many people come together to put on and be a part of such an historic event, especially knowing all that goes into it! Seeing 30,000 excited and smiling runners about to accomplish such a feat is truly something special.

Give us a fun fact about you!

My favorite place in the United States to visit must be Washington D.C. as history is one of my favorite subjects!

If you could be any marathon runner from past or present, who would it be and why?

I would be Zdeno Chara, to be able to have played such a long, impactful, and successful hockey career and then be able to transition into running at such a high caliber is truly inspiring to me.

The B.A.A. is saddened to learn of the passing of Jim Knaub, a five-time Boston Marathon champion and icon of the sport. Knaub transitioned from pole vaulter to wheelchair road racer, going on to dominate the roads between Hopkinton to Boston, setting five course records and becoming a leading figure in U.S. wheelchair sports. Jim returned to celebrate his victories in recent years.

His fastest Boston title came in 1993, when the Californian established a world record (1:22:17) and ushered in a new era of speed in Boston. We recognize and remember Jim, and extend our thoughts to his family and friends.

The B.A.A. is Hiring!

Interested in joining Team B.A.A.? We’re hiring for a number of positions as we gear up for the 129th Boston Marathon presented by Bank of America.

We’re currently hiring for Chief Community Officer and Temporary Volunteer & Community Associate.

The Boston Run Show is March 1-2, 2025!

Book FREE tickets to The Boston Run Show!

Limited Availability! The expo returns March 1-2, 2025 and collocates with The Boston Outdoor Expo for the first time. Don’t miss incredible guest speakers including Laz Lake, Des Linden, Dylan Bowman, Alex Hermanson and many more!

Use code BAA for free tickets, available for a limited time only.

© 2024 B.A.A.

This is an official publication of the Boston Athletic Association

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