[10] There were 127 entrants, of whom 55 finished[11] – the only female starter, Nina Kuscsik, withdrew partway due to illness.
The following year, Beth Bonner became the first female finisher, winning the race in 2:55:22,[10] a time that is officially credited as the first sub-3-hour marathon by a woman.
[12] Grete Waitz, a Norwegian female runner, achieved three official world records at the race between 1978 and 1980.
[13] Allison Roe and Alberto Salazar set world record times in the women's and men's races in 1981, but a later investigation found that the course was short.
[9][16] Three competitors have five victories each: Kurt Fearnley of Australia, Edith Hunkeler of Switzerland, and Tatyana McFadden of the United States.