RRCA Distance Running Hall of Fame Inductees - 51st Class Founded in 1971, the RRCA Distance Running Hall of Fame inducts American runners that have attained extraordinary levels of achievement in the sport of distance running as either an athlete or a key influencer (an individual that has contributed a considerable amount of their time and knowledge to the betterment of the sport of distance running). The RRCA is proud to announce its 51st class of RRCA Distance Running Hall of Fame inductees. Marilyn Bevans (born October 4, 1949): Her many African American firsts include the following: winning the Washington Birthday Marathon in February 1975 in Beltsville, Maryland. First to run under 3 hours (2:55:52) at the 1975 Boston Marathon. First to represent the U.S. in international marathon competition in 1976 in West Germany for the Women’s International Marathon, and in 1981 at the Tokyo International Marathon. Marilyn is the only Black American female to ever make the podium at the Boston Marathon with her 2nd place finish in 1977. Her thirteen sub-3-hour marathons ranked number one on the all-time list of American-born Black Americans for a remarkable 44 years. For eight years (1973-1981) Marilyn was the fastest African American marathoner ever with a best of 2:49:56 achieved at the 1979 Boston Marathon. She was part of the first generation of women long distance runners in the United States who preceded Title lX. Marilyn was one of the top female marathoners in the world from 1975 to 1977 with consistent high finishes in Boston of 4th, 6th, and 2nd respectively, along with a 5th place in the 1975 NY Marathon. In 1977 Track & Field News ranked her 10th in the world. Marilyn coached for more than 30 years at Baltimore's Perry Hall High School and twice was All-Metro Coach of the Year. Janet Cherobon-Bawcom (born August 22, 1978): Janet grew up in Kenya, before attending college in the United States at Harding University in Arkansas. She graduated from Harding in 2005 with a Bachelor of Business Administration in health care management and nursing. In college, she won three Division II national championships and was named an AllAmerican eight times. She was inducted into the Division II Track and Field Hall of Fame in 2010 and the Harding Athletic Hall of Fame in 2012. In 2011, Cherobon-Bawcom was a three-time U.S. road champion, winning the 20 km, with a time of 1:08:31, the 10 mi (54:15), and the 10 km (32:47) races. In August of that year, the IAAF declared her eligible to represent the United States in international competition. At the end of the year, she was declared the women's champion of the 2011 USA Running Circuit.
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