1961 Boston Marathon

Footrace in Boston, Massachusetts, USA 1961 Boston Marathon April 19, 1961 Boston, Massachusetts, U.S. 165 Eino Oksanen 2:23:29 1960 Boston Marathon nl Boston Marathon 1960 de Boston-Marathon 1960 1960 1962 Boston Marathon nl Boston Marathon 1962 de Boston-Marathon 1962 1962 The 1961 Boston Marathon took place on Wednesday, April 19, 1961.Per the Boston Athletic Association: "From 1897–1968, the Boston Marathon was held on Patriots' Day, April 19, a holiday commemorating the start of the Revolutionary War and recognized only in Massachusetts and Maine. The lone exception was when the 19th fell on Sunday. In those years, the race was held the following day (Monday the 20th). However, in 1969, the holiday was officially moved to the third Monday in April."https://www.baa.org/races/boston-marathon/history History of the Boston Marathon Boston Athletic Association baa.org April 17, 2025 It was the 65th time the Boston Marathon was organized. Contemporary news sources noted there were 231 registered runners,https://www.newspapers.com/article/standard-freeholder-boston-marathon-set/170557421/ Boston Marathon Set With 231 Entry List CP Cornwall Standard-Freeholder Cornwall, Ontario 21 April 19, 1961 April 17, 2025 newspapers.com with 165 actually starting the event.Sports Illustrated https://vault.si.com/vault/1961/05/01/the-hero-of-the-marathon-didnt-win-it The Hero Of The Marathon Didn't Win It Gwilym Brown si.com/vault May 1, 1961 April 17, 2025 It was the coldest weather for the race since the 1925 edition, at 39 F C.https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-boston-globe-dog-oksanen-down-kelle/170560128/ Dog, Oksanen Down Kelley Jerry Nason The Boston Globe 43 April 20, 1961 April 17, 2025 newspapers.com The race was won by Eino Oksanen of Finland in 2:23:29. American John J. Kelley finished second, 25 seconds behind, and British runner Frederick Norris finished third, nearly two minutes later. There were 101 runners that finished the race, all men. This edition of the marathon is remembered for an incident in Newton Lower Falls, approximately 16 mi km into the race, when a dog that had been running with the athletes knocked down John J. Kelley. In an act of sportsmanship, Frederick Norris stopped and helped Kelley get up. Kelley recovered well enough to lead the race until he was overtaken by Eino Oksanen with approximately 1000 yard m left. After the race, Kelley refused to blame the dog for his defeat.https://www.boston.com/sports/boston-marathon/2026/04/14/boston-marathon-dog-1961-johnny-kelley-eino-oksanen/ How a dog was blamed for ruining the 1961 Boston Marathon Hayden Bird Boston.com April 17, 2025 April 17, 2025 Results thumb|right|Eino Oksanen, at left, in a 1964 race Position Athlete Nationality Time 1 Eino Oksanen 2:23:29 2 John J. Kelley 2:23:54 3 Frederick Norris 2:25:46 4 Gordon McKenzie 2:28:40 5 Olavi Manninen 2:29:46 6 George Terry 2:30:20 7 Gar Williams 2:32:22 8 Fritz Gruber 2:32:49 9 James Green 2:32:58 10 Edward Duncan 2:33:46 Other notable runners included Johnny Kelley (17th). Source:https://marathonview.net/race/95322 Boston Marathon 1961 marathonview.net April 17, 2025https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-boston-globe-baa-marathon-finish/170560559/ BAA Marathon Finish The Boston Globe 45 April 20, 1961 April 17, 2025 newspapers.com Notes References Category:Boston Marathon Boston Marathon Boston Boston Marathon Marathon Boston Marathon