Boston Marathon ‘Working on Ways’ to Make Sure Nonbinary Athletes Are ‘Accepted’ in 2023 Race

This year’s Boston Marathon participant categories include one for nonbinary athletes for the upcoming 2023 race.

The Boston Athletic Association (BAA) announced Monday that the registration for the April 2023 event would include the added category. The group expects about 30,000 runners to participate in the 127th event.

“The Boston Athletic Association is currently working on expanding opportunities for non-binary athletes at our events, including the upcoming 2023 Boston Marathon. While we do not currently have qualifying standards for nonbinary athletes, we are working on ways nonbinary participants are accepted into the event,” the BAA said on its registration page.

The BAA also clarified how the qualification would work for returning runners now registering in the new non-binary category saying, “Non-binary athletes who have completed a marathon as a non-binary participant during the current qualifying window (September 1, 2021 through September 16, 2022) may submit an entry application into the 2023 Boston Marathon between September 12-16, 2022.”

“Entry into the event will be determined by an athlete’s submitted time and based on the Boston Marathon’s overall field size limit,” the BAA went on. “The Boston Marathon registration application will feature the option to select non-binary in regards to gender.”

Nikki Hiltz, a nonbinary athlete and pro runner who came out as transgender in 2021, applauded the decision, saying, “There’s still so much work to be done but I’m thrilled that nonbinary runners are being acknowledged by the Boston Marathon and @BAA,” according to Fox News. Hiltz almost missed making the American Olympic squad for Tokyo.

In an interview with The 19th News, nonbinary athletes expressed their belief that organizations like USA Track & Field, Ironman, and World Triathlon mandating inclusion for nonbinary athletes and runners would dramatically accelerate progress, particularly among qualifier races.

These same nonbinary runners, who directly request that they be included in events and develop resources on nonbinary race inclusion, have been a driving factor behind the policy changes that have already occurred, according to The 19th’s report.