John Lackner, #4366.
(Photos by Jen Manell)
Chris Candon, #7591.
The 26.2-mile race from Hopkinton to Copley Square in Boston was lined with crowds sporting blue and yellow clothing and posters that read “Boston Strong” and “Run to 125.” As athletes neared the finish line at the 125th Boston Marathon, spectators rang their cowbells and cheered them on, encouraging them to finish strong.
“It was surprising that in all the throngs of people, my family was on the right-hand side and I was able to see them,” said John Lackner, a resident of Harvard who competed in this year’s marathon. “When you see the finish line and the crowds, it just pulls you into the finish. I almost wish you could walk it to take it all in.”
This year’s marathon, organized by the Boston Athletic Association, was the largest in the race’s history, with 27,707 virtual entrants and nearly 20,000 in-person entrants—among them, 10 marathoners from Harvard. Virtual entrants did not need a qualifying time to participate in the marathon, which took place from Friday to Sunday and required marathoners to log 26.2 miles from wherever they ran in the world.
To ensure a fair and equal competition, in-person marathoners were divided into multiple categories, including wheelchair; handcycle and duo participants; professional athletes; para athletics; and all participants.
With spectators and athletes coming from around the world to show their support for and participate in this highly anticipated event, Lackner was surprised to find a number of familiar faces from Harvard along the race course this year. “You have 26 miles of all these faces, and to be able to pick out your neighbors and friends was a really great experience.”
Historically, the marathon has taken place on Patriots Day, but this year it took place in the fall after a 910-day gap due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Health and safety precautions led race directors and organizers to implement a rolling start for the all-participants divisions, beginning at 9 a.m.
“You just kind of walked up to the start line and went, there was no start gun like a traditional race,” said Lackner, adding that the rolling start helped spread out the runners. “Usually in the first 3 miles you’re all packed together and it makes it hard to pick where you’re running.”
While Lackner ran his first Boston Marathon in 2019, he said training this year was different due to intense heat during the summer and more rain than usual. With a finish time of 3 hours, 15 minutes, and 51 seconds, Lackner placed 3,305th out of 15,374 in the all-participants division.
Nicholas Rindenello, another Harvard resident and an avid runner in local races, placed 317th out of 15,374 in the all-participants division. With an average pace of 6 minutes and 9 seconds per mile, Rindenello finished the marathon with a time of 2:41:01.
The results for Harvard’s Boston Marathon participants in the overall race are as follows:
- 317th – Nicholas Rindenello (2:41:01)
- 379th – Spencer Holland (2:42:58)
- 2,028th – Yong Xue (3:04:57)
- 2,689th – Chris Setzler (3:11:05)
- 2,934th – Christopher Candon (3:13:02)
- 3,305th – John Lackner (3:15:51)
- 5,950th – Sue George (3:33:42)
- 6,437th – Jon Schoenberg (3:36:59)
- 8,441th – Tom Cavicchi (3:50:52)
- 12,337th – Zachary Normandin (4:31:07)
