SUBSCRIBE! Sign up for our daily newsletter and never miss a story!

Lauren Barr, from Calgary, centre, runs to her second-place finish among women racers in the Edmonton Marathon on Sunday, Aug. 16, 2026, in this handout photo. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Handout - Lauren Barr (Mandatory Credit)

Those who ran in botched Edmonton event may still qualify for Boston Marathon

Aug 20, 2026 | 12:38 PM

EDMONTON — Marathon runners who exhausted themselves in the Edmonton Marathon in the hope of qualifying for the marquee Boston Marathon may still have a shot.

The Edmonton Marathon says more than 10,000 people registered for its race Sunday, which was later found to be two-thirds of a kilometre longer than necessary.

That brings uncertainty for people who were hoping to use their marathon and half-marathon times to qualify for other prestigious races, such as the Boston Marathon.

A spokesperson for the non-profit Boston Athletic Association, which organizes the Boston Marathon, says in an email the marathon would not accept adjusted qualifying times.

But the association also confirms that if an athlete ran farther than the required length, but still met a qualifying time for the marathon, they would still make the cut.

Edmonton Marathon director Tom Keogh says the event is communicating with its partners, including the Boston Athletics Association, to see how this year’s results can be recognized.

The Boston Marathon is scheduled for April 19 of next year with registration set to begin this September.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 20, 2026.

— By Dayne Patterson in Calgary

The Canadian Press