2017 Boston Marathon & B.A.A. 5k/Mile

Jordan Hasay Destroys U.S. Marathon Debut Record By Almost Three Minutes

Jordan Hasay Destroys U.S. Marathon Debut Record By Almost Three Minutes

Jordan Hasay broke the U.S. marathon debut record by nearly three minutes at the Boston Marathon.

Apr 17, 2017 by Dennis Young
Jordan Hasay Destroys U.S. Marathon Debut Record By Almost Three Minutes
In the first marathon of her career, Jordan Hasay finished third in Boston in two hours, twenty-three minutes. Her 2:23:00 clocking is by far the fastest debut ever for an American woman; Kara Goucher, at 2:25:53, had held the U.S. debut record for the last nine years. Goucher and Olympic medalist Deena Kastor were the only American women to debut under 2:27 before today.


Hasay's performance isn't just a great debut, though. It's a great marathon, period. Shalane Flanagan's 2:22:02 in 2014, Desi Linden's 2:22:38 in 2011, and Joan Samuelson's 2:22:43 in 1983 are the only faster times by an American woman at the Boston Marathon. And though Boston is not a record-legal course, Hasay, 25, is the now the fifth fastest American marathoner in any conditions. Among Americans, only U.S. distance running legends Kastor, Flanagan, Samuelson, and Linden have ever broken 2:23:00.

Statistician K. Ken Nakamura says that it is the thirteenth fastest debut in world history. Hasay and her coach, Alberto Salazar, are no stranger to excellent debuts. Her Oregon project teammate Galen Rupp won the Olympic Trials marathon in his debut, and finished second today in his third marathon ever. Their 2-3 finishes are the best combined finishes for the top Americans in Boston since 1985, when Lisa Rainsberger won the women's race and Gary Tuttle was second in the men's race.

[The above paragraph has been corrected; it originally stated that Bill Rodgers was fourth in 1985. Rodgers was fourth in 1986.]

Hasay was a teen prodigy at shorter distances, breaking the national high school record in the 1500 meters and winning the Foot Locker cross country championships twice. But she never quite made it to the top echelon of American women on the track, and after a few years of focusing on the 5K and 10K, began transitioning full-time to the roads in late 2016. Her 68:40 and 67:55 half marathons in Houston and Prague earlier this year made it clear that she would stay on the roads, and her race today showed that the marathon is her best event.

Hasay's mother died unexpectedly in November, and in an interview after the race, she dedicated the race to her.

Related: Jordan Hasay's Boston Marathon Debut Was For Her Mother