Athletics - Benoit Samuelson to race in Boston again at age 61

The twice Boston champion will be celebrating the 40th anniversary of her 1979 victory, which she won in a course-record time of 2:35:15 as a 21-year-old college student.

“My goal is to run within 40 minutes of my time 40 years ago,” the Maine native said in a statement. “I might as well celebrate during an anniversary year, while I’m still able!”

The race is scheduled for April 15.

Samuelson, a long-time leader in women's distance running, also won the 1983 Boston Marathon in a then-world record 2:22:43.

A year later, she claimed the inaugural women's Olympic marathon in Los Angeles, taking the gold medal in 2:24:52.

Samuelson’s last Boston Marathon came in 2015. She won the Veterans (age 50-59) division in 2011, 2013 and 2014.

(Reporting by Gene Cherry in Raleigh, North Carolina; Editing by Toby Davis)