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Kenyan Lawrence Cherono edges Ethopian Lelisa Desisa for first place for the Men's Elite race, at the 123rd Boston Marathon on April 15, 2019 in Boston, Massachusetts. - Kenya's Lawrence Cherono sprinted to victory in the Boston Marathon on Monday, overhauling Ethiopia's Lelisa Desisa in the final few metres of the gruelling race to claim a thrilling win. In damp, chilly conditions, Cherono, Desisa and Kenya's Kenneth Kipkemoi broke away from the field over the final few miles as the world's oldest major marathon reached a dramatic conclusion. Desisa, the 2013 World Champion and two-time Boston Marathon champion, looked to be on course for victory as he kicked for home in the final 200m.But with the crowds at Boston's famous Boylston Street finish line roaring them on, it was Cherono who timed his finish to perfection, overhauling the grimacing Desisa just a few metres from the tape to claim a magnificent win in 2hr 7min 57 sec. (Photo by RYAN MCBRIDE / AFP) (Photo credit should read RYAN MCBRIDE/AFP vRYAN MCBRIDE/Getty Images

2020 Boston Marathon Postponed to Sept. 14 Because of Coronavirus Concerns

Paul KasabianMar 13, 2020

The Boston Marathon has officially been postponed for the first time since its inception in 1897 because of ongoing concerns regarding the coronavirus pandemic.

According to WBZ's Anna Meiler, Boston Mayor Marty Walsh said Friday that the race will be moved to Sept. 14.

Word that the event, which was scheduled for April 20, could see a date change emerged on Thursday, when Walsh told Paula Ebben of WBZ-TV that it was a possibility.

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Later that evening, WBZ-TV reported that the event was postponed, with hope that it could be run in September:

"Officials from the eight cities and towns on the route – Hopkinton, Ashland, Framingham, Natick, Wellesley, Newton, Brookline, and Boston – met Wednesday at Boston City Hall to talk about a change of date for the race, a day after Gov. Charlie Baker declared a State of Emergency in Massachusetts on Tuesday.

"Those authorities are now looking at the possibility of holding the event on a Monday in September, instead of Monday, April 20. They hope to reach a decision by the end of this week, but there are a great deal of logistics in those communities that still need to be worked out."

The official announcement soon followed on Friday.

The race has played a significant part in the greater Boston area's history and culture. The marathon always takes part on the city's Patriots' Day, which commemorates the first battles of the American Revolutionary War.

The event serves as the centerpiece of the day in addition to a Boston Red Sox home game (barring cancellation due to rain or other events) in the late morning or early afternoon since 1959.

However, the marathon has now become the latest sporting event to be postponed.