Though a quintessentially American marathon, the last American man to win the race was Greg Meyer, back in 1983. Since then, the race has been dominated by Kenya, with a Kenyan winning 18 out of 26 times.
Before Mr. Meyer’s win, runners from Boston ties had done well in the race. Alberto Salazar, a Cuban-born resident of Wayland, Mass., won in 1982, and Boston University graduate Bill Rodgers was the champion in 1975, and 1978 to 1980. The last American woman to win in her division was Lisa Rainsberger in 1985.
