Bill Rodgers (2:09:55) and Liane Winters of West Germany (2:24:24) are the winners of the Boston Marathon.

Rodgers, a Boston College graduate student and Jamaica Plain resident, wins in a course and American record time. and course record time and goes on to win the Boston Marathon in 1978, 1979, and 1980. Bob Hall (2:58:00) becomes the first official wheelchair entry this year. A wheelchair division is established in 1984.