By Rachel G. Bowers, Boston Globe, March 15, 2016
The first woman to complete the Boston Marathon will serve as the grand marshal of this year’s race, the Boston Athletic Association announced Tuesday.
Roberta “Bobbi” Gibb finished the race as an unregistered runner in 1966 when women were still barred competing in the race from Hopkinton to Boston. This year marks the 50th year of women participating in the marathon, though the BAA did not recognize women as official marathon competitors until 1972.