The 1897 Boston Marathon was the inaugural edition of the marathon race that became known as the Boston Marathon. At the time it was run, the race was not known by a proper name. It took place on April 19, 1897, and was run from Ashland to Boston, Massachusetts, over a distance of .
A contemporary report in The Boston Globe stated 15 runners competed in the race, although 18 entrants were listed. The Boston Athletic Association states there were 15 runners.
Results Position Athlete Representing Time 1 John McDermott Pastime A.C., New York 2:55:10 2 J. J. Kiernan St. Bartholomew A.C., New York 3:02:02 3 E. P. Rhell Jamaica Plain, Boston 3:06:02 4 Hamilton Gray St. George A.C., New York 3:11:37 5 H. T. Eggleston Pastime A.C., New York 3:17:50 6 James Mason Star A.C., New York 3:31:00 7 W. Ryan South Boston A.A. 3:41:25 8 Lawrence Brignolia Bradford Boat Club, Cambridge, Massachusetts 4:06:12 9 Harry Leonard Melrose, Massachusetts 4:08:00 10 A. T. Howe Lowell, Massachusetts YMCA 4:10:00 alias H. Franklin
Dick Grant of Harvard also ran in the race, but was one of multiple entrants who did not finish.
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