How will this affect the qualification of future runners? What went into the Boston Athletic Association’s decision?
Here are some answers to some development questions.
How is gender relevant to qualifying for the Boston Marathon?
Just as athletes must indicate their age group upon registration, gender must also be checked.
Until the registration period for this year’s Boston Marathon, non-binary entrants had to mis-gender by choosing “male” or “female” to submit their time.
Could this be the first Boston Marathon with non-binary participants?
It definitely isn’t — it’s the first place non-binary participants can register in a way that identifies themselves.
Do non-binary Boston Marathoners plan to run in their division?
No. The BAA, which administers the Boston Marathon, considers the Boston Marathon to be part of categories or designations, as well as age groups and men’s and women’s groups.
Non-binary entrants will be listed as such in the pre-race entrants list, race day, tracking and other spaces.
How can non-binary runners qualify for the Boston Marathon?
A Like all competitors, non-binary athletes must run qualifying times that meet their age group cutoffs.
But deadline times also vary by gender. The BAA has chosen the women’s qualifying times as their non-binary criteria.
Why girls?
Because the A BAA, like all other major marathons, has yet to set qualifying times for non-binary athletes.
Part of the reason, according to the BAA, is that we don’t yet have enough data to establish these times. A later women’s qualifying time than the men’s was chosen to be the most comprehensive.
Does that mean non-binary marathoners take spots from other marathoners?
No. Demand outstrips field spot supply every year. Eligible runners of all genders are not always available.
Are non-binary marathon registrants submitting qualifying times run under non-binary designation?
As of Tuesday, the BAA has received 14 non-binary registrations for next April’s race. Their qualifying times came largely from marathons where runners had to be gender-wrong because non-binary registration was not an option.
How does the BAA validate non-binary registrants?
Through direct contact with each athlete.
Why did the BAA change to include non-binary designations?
The BAA wants to be more inclusive.
“There have been inquiries as some other events around the country have started having the ability to register as non-binary, like some races in San Francisco and New York. BAA Acting CEO Jack Fleming explains:
Who does the BAA consult on this topic?
In addition to other major marathon organizers, the BAA also spoke with nonbinary marathoners who would like to attend Boston as nonbinary athletes. Some of these athletes also have advocates within the sport looking to get more non-binary opportunities at the event.
Do other top marathons have non-binary registrations?
So are New York, Chicago and London, which are part of the World Marathon Majors. In addition to men and women, Berlin has a third, “diverse” option, Fleming said.
According to The 19th, nonbinary registrations are also open for marathons in Miami, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Seattle, Colorado Springs and Flagstaff, Arizona.
If a non-binary participant wins the Boston Marathon, how will the BAA handle it?
This is almost a trick question.
Invitation to elite runners running the Boston Marathon The professional field consists of runners who list their gender as either male or female. That’s according to World Athletics rules, Fleming said.
Athletes who identify themselves as non-binary may win the race, but prize money and prizes will be awarded based on male and female designations.
Has the BAA tried this before?
A Last year we did a virtual race during the pandemic. That virtual marathon had his 56 non-binary participants, 42 of whom finished the race.
This year, 11 non-binary athletes participated in the 5K race, 10 in the 10K race and 14 in the November half marathon.
Do you think the BAA is going to change the new registration system for non-binary marathoners?
“We found that we could be more inclusive,” Fleming said. Because of the profile, naturally our sport is looking at what Boston and others are doing and if it’s actually leadership in the area then that’s great .”
Michael Silverman can be reached at michael.silverman@globe.com. Follow him on Twitter. @MikeSilvermanBB.
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