Boston Marathon Qualifying Standards To Get Tougher

BOSTON (CBS) - The Boston Athletic Association is phasing in two new elements of its Boston Marathon registration process after several qualified runners were shut out of this year's race due to record-high demand.

The 2011 Marathon field was full 8 hours and 3 minutes after registration opened.

From now on, the B.A.A. says the fastest runners will always get in and the size of the field will remain the same.

Runners with qualifying times will no longer be accepted on a first-come, first-serve basis.

PART 1

For the 2012 Boston Marathon, registration will extend for two weeks, beginning on Monday, September 12 and continuing until Friday, September 23.

Registration will occur on a "rolling admission" schedule until the maximum field size is reached, beginning with the fastest qualifiers.

In other words, the faster your time is, the better chance you have of getting in and it doesn't matter which marathon you use as your qualifying time.

Here is how the BAA explained the rolling admission in a statement:

On the first day of registration for the 2012 Boston Marathon, those who are eligible for entry by having met the qualifying standards for their age and gender group by 20 minutes or more will be able to enter on the first day of registration (September 12).

On the third day (September 14), registration will open for those who have met their qualifying standards by 10 minutes or more.

On the fifth day (September 16), registration will open for those who have met their qualifying standards by five minutes or more.

If the field size is not reached after the first week and additional space remains, then registration will open to all qualifiers at the beginning of Week Two (September 19) and those who have met the qualifying standards by any amount of time will be able to apply for entry.

The application process will remain open for the entire week, closing on September 23.

At the conclusion of Week Two, those who are the fastest among the pool of applicants in their age and gender will be accepted. Accepted athletes will be notified on September 28.

PART 2

The second phase of adjustment will begin with the 2013 Boston Marathon, where qualifying times will be lowered.

It's the first time since 1980 that the BAA has made qualifying times more stringent.

They will be lowered by five minutes from the times which have been in effect in recent years.

The adjusted qualifying times will go into effect on September 24, 2011, and are as follows:

Age Group   MEN WOMEN

18-34 3:05:00 3:35:00

35-39 3:10:00 3:40:00

40-44 3:15:00 3:45:00

45-49 3:25:00 3:55:00

50-54 3:30:00 4:00:00

55-59 3:40:00 4:10:00

60-64 3:55:00 4:25:00

65-69 4:10:00 4:40:00

70-74 4:25:00 4:55:00

75-79 4:40:00 5:10:00

80 and older 4:55:00 5:25:00

Registration for the 2013 Boston Marathon will begin on Monday, September 10, 2012.

The B.A.A. is making one exception. Those who have met the qualifying times and who have finished the last ten consecutive Boston Marathons will be able to enter any time during the registration period.

There are currently about 500 runners who fit these criteria.

Runners who do not qualify can still run for a charity.