No record for Mutai in Boston; local finisher shares his view

Geoffrey Mutai's run in the Boston Marathon was historic, but it will not be recognized as a world record by the International Association of Athletics Federations.

The Boston Athletic Association and the IAAF shared the final ruling on the remarkable run on April 18, a time of 2 hours, 3 minutes, 2 seconds, the fastest 26.2 mils ever. But because of its configuration and elevation, the Boston Marathon course is not certified for IAAF or USATF records.

As Runner's World Magazine explained: Boston violates two key IAAF and USATF rules: one rule excludes courses with net elevation losses of greater than 1 meter per kilometer, and a second rule mandating that courses begin and end within 50 percent of the race's distance-in this case, 13.1 miles. (USATF rules are even stricter, at 30 percent.) Boston's elevation loss works out to three times the allowable elevation loss limit, at 3.1 meters per kilometer, and its finish is roughly 23.5 miles from the start as the crow flies, or 90 percent of the race distance.

(The point-to-point lay out of the Milwaukee Lakefront Marathon also prevents it from being a record-certified course).

Marek Kotrly, a police officer from Brookfield, finished about 40 minutes behind Mutai, in 2:40:10, and has a difficult time agreeing with the IAAF decision.

"I certainly understand not allowing the world record if it is due to the wind, just as they would not accept a wind aided 100m world record dash," Kotrly wrote.

"If it because of the "net" downhill course, I think that is a different story.

"Boston is super unique and challenging, and never seems to be the course where marathon world records are threatened. You cannot make the time back on the downhills, which you lose on the uphills.

"There is a reason the fastest times are set in Berlin, London, Chicago, and Rotterdam.

"Those are pancake flat courses, and don't challenge the elites in the same way, in my opinion. I'm not sure there is a way to solve the problem, however.

"It's not like they would be willing or should change the historic course of Boston to accommodate world records being set, and the elites know that coming into the race each year. This past Boston Marathon was unique, probably something we won't see for another 100 years."