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.
In 1971, the marathon was held in Central Park, when it was called the Earth Day Marathon, and again in 1972, when it was run for the last time.
It is considered the predecessor to the New York City Marathon 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.
History The Cherry Tree Marathon was one of seven events organized by the RRC–NYA in its first year.
Alex Breckenridge’s speedy finish in the second Cherry Tree Marathon prompted the question, “Is it a full length course?”“Tape Measure Anyone?” (PDF). Road Runners Club, New York Association Newsletter. No. 3. Winter 1960. p. 1. 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.“MacCombs Dam Park Courses” (PDF). Road Runners Club, New York Association Newsletter. No. 6. Fall 1960. p. 1.
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.”“Local Marathon Scene” (PDF) Road Runners Club, New York Association Newsletter. No. 44. Spring 1970. p. 1. Retrieved 2026-03-19. 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. 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. +WinnersDateAthleteTimeFebruary 22, 1959Ted Corbitt2:38:57February 21, 1960Alex Breckenridge2:21:39R.R.C., N.Y.A. Newsletter, No. 3, Winter 1960February 19, 1961John J. Kelley2:25:27Road Runners Club, New York Association Newsletter, No. 7, Winter 1961February 25, 1962John J. Kelley2:29:55Road Runners Club, New York Association Newsletter, No. 11, Winter 1962February 24, 1963Adolph Gruber2:37:40Road Runners Club, New York Association Newsletter, No. 15, Winter 1963February 23, 1964George Foulds2:25:25February 22, 1965Tom McCarthy2:29:33.6February 13, 1966Bob Scharf2:21:41.5February 26, 1967John Garlepp2:35:38February 25, 1968Moses Mayfield2:35March 16, 1969Gary Muhrcke2:29:24March 15, 1970Herb Lorenz2:28March 21, 1971Thomas Fleming2:23:44.2March 19, 1972Tom Hollander2:23:17.6Road Runners Club, New York Association Newsletter, No. 52, Spring 1972
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