Article · Wikipedia archive · Last revised Jul 18, 2026

Cherry Tree Marathon

The Cherry Tree Marathon was a marathon first held on February 22, 1959, in the Bronx. It was the first marathon held by New York Road Runners, then called the Road Runners Club–New York Association (RRC–NYA). In a field of twelve competitors, club president Ted Corbitt won with a time of 2:38:57. The race was held in the Bronx annually through 1970, beginning and ending in Macombs Dam Park, near Yankee Stadium, and consisting of trips up Sedgwick Avenue and back, along the Harlem River.

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The Cherry Tree Marathon was a marathon first held on February 22, 1959, in the Bronx. It was the first marathon held by New York Road Runners, then called the Road Runners Club–New York Association (RRC–NYA). In a field of twelve competitors, club president Ted Corbitt won with a time of 2:38:57.12 The race was held in the Bronx annually through 1970,3 beginning and ending in Macombs Dam Park, near Yankee Stadium, and consisting of trips up Sedgwick Avenue and back, along the Harlem River.4

In 1971, the marathon was held in Central Park, when it was called the Earth Day Marathon,5 and again in 1972,6 when it was run for the last time.

It is considered the predecessor to the New York City Marathon27 and is also a predecessor to the Long Island Marathon, which was called the Earth Day Marathon when it was first run in Nassau County in 1973.8

History

The Cherry Tree Marathon was one of seven events organized by the RRC–NYA in its first year.1

Alex Breckenridge’s speedy finish in the second Cherry Tree Marathon prompted the question, “Is it a full length course?”9 In June 1960 it was determined that the course had been 25.4 miles, and club members voted to extend the course to the standard marathon distance, 26 miles, 385 yards.10

Women participated in the marathon in its later years. In spring 1970, the RRC–NYA newsletter noted that two women started in the Cherry Tree Marathon and that “one a Mrs. Kuscik [sic], looked good and appears capable of cracking 3 hours.”11 In 1971, four women started in an overall field of 241, and Nina Kuscsik finished first among the women, with a time of 3:11:41.5 In 1972, she was again the top woman, with a time of 2:59:33, becoming the first woman to twice finish a marathon in under three hours.6

Winners
Date Athlete Time
February 22, 1959 Ted Corbitt 2:38:57
February 21, 1960 Alex Breckenridge 2:21:3912
February 19, 1961 John J. Kelley 2:25:2713
February 25, 1962 John J. Kelley 2:29:5514
February 24, 19631 Adolph Gruber 2:37:4015
February 23, 1964 George Foulds 2:25:2516
February 22, 1965 Tom McCarthy 2:29:33.617
February 13, 1966 Bob Scharf 2:21:41.518
February 26, 1967 John Garlepp 2:35:3819
February 25, 1968 Moses Mayfield 2:3520
March 16, 1969 Gary Muhrcke 2:29:2421
March 15, 1970 Herb Lorenz22 2:2811
March 21, 1971 Thomas Fleming 2:23:44.25
March 19, 1972 Tom Hollander 2:23:17.623
References

References

  1. "Six Decades of New York Road Runners History 1958–1970". New York Road Runners. January 31, 2018. Retrieved March 11, 2026.
  2. Cooper, Pamela (1998). The American Marathon. Syracuse University Press. p. 125. ISBN 0-8156-0520-X.
  3. "Lorenz Wins Marathon". The New York Times. 1970-03-16. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2026-03-12.
  4. "The History of the New York City Marathon". New York City Department of Parks & Recreation. Retrieved 2026-03-12.
  5. Harvin, Al (1971-03-22). "Fleming Wins Marathon Despite Pains". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2026-03-12.
  6. "Hollander, 19, Captures Central Park Marathon". The New York Times. 1972-03-20. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2026-03-12.
  7. Rubin, Ron (2004). Anything for a T-Shirt: Fred Lebow and the New York City Marathon, the World’s Greatest Footrace. Syracuse University Press. p. 18. ISBN 0-8156-0806-3.
  8. "26 Miles, 385 Yards" (PDF). Road Runners Club, New York Association Newsletter. No. 56. Spring 1973. p. 3. Retrieved 2026-03-12.
  9. “Tape Measure Anyone?” (PDF). Road Runners Club, New York Association Newsletter. No. 3. Winter 1960. p. 1.
  10. “MacCombs Dam Park Courses” (PDF). Road Runners Club, New York Association Newsletter. No. 6. Fall 1960. p. 1.
  11. “Local Marathon Scene” (PDF) Road Runners Club, New York Association Newsletter. No. 44. Spring 1970. p. 1. Retrieved 2026-03-19.
  12. R.R.C., N.Y.A. Newsletter, No. 3, Winter 1960
  13. Road Runners Club, New York Association Newsletter, No. 7, Winter 1961
  14. Road Runners Club, New York Association Newsletter, No. 11, Winter 1962
  15. Road Runners Club, New York Association Newsletter, No. 15, Winter 1963
  16. "Foulds's 2:25:25 Breaks Bronx Marathon Record". The New York Times. 1964-02-24. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2026-03-04.
  17. "McCarthy Is First In Marathon Run Over City Streets". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2026-03-18.
  18. "Scharf Wins 26-Mile Run In Wind and Rain in Bronx". The New York Times. 1966-02-14. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2026-03-04.
  19. "GARLEPP TRIUMPHS IN MARATHON HERE". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2026-03-18.
  20. "Mayfield Wins Bronx Run". The New York Times. 1968-02-26. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2026-03-04.
  21. "Muhrcke Takes Marathon". The New York Times. 1969-03-17. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2026-03-04.
  22. "Lorenz Wins Marathon". The New York Times. 1970-03-16. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2026-03-04.
  23. Road Runners Club, New York Association Newsletter, No. 52, Spring 1972