Pioneers Teams

Honoring History. Uplifting Legacy. Connecting Generations.

The Pioneers Team was created to honor those who broke barriers and paved the way for future generations of distance runners. As we celebrate the 70th anniversary of the New York Pioneer Club (NYPC)’s historic presence at the Boston Marathon, we honor both the legends of the past and the powerful voices of the present.

About the Pioneers - Team 70

The Pioneers Team links past to present, and honor to action. It ensures that the contributions of Black and Brown runners—so often erased from the narrative—are seen, celebrated, and remembered. Through this annual recognition, we create space for history to be acknowledged and for a new generation to take its rightful place.

This team reflects our commitment to visibility, legacy, and intergenerational connection within the world of long-distance running.

2025 Honorary Pioneer Team

Carrying the Legacy Forward

The 2025 Honorary Pioneer Team celebrates modern athletes who embody the courage, endurance, and excellence of the original NYPC champions. These runners represent the power of perseverance and the enduring impact of visibility and representation on the course.

Mebrahtom “Meb” Keflezighi

An Olympic silver medalist and winner of the 2009 New York City and 2014 Boston Marathons, Meb is one of the most decorated long-distance runners in U.S. history. His 2014 Boston win, one year after the bombings, was a historic and emotional triumph that united a city and inspired a nation.

Nathan Martin

Three-time U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials qualifier, Martin made history in 2020 by running the fastest marathon by a U.S.-born Black man (2:11:05), a record he later improved to 2:10:45. A high school coach and proud ASICS-sponsored athlete, Martin embodies resilience and the future of elite running in America.

Jason Phillips

Jason began running in 2014 and has since completed 21 marathons, with a personal best of 2:49:17. He’s placed first overall in multiple local races and is a coach for the Quicksilver Striders in Queens, NY. This year marks his 5th Boston Marathon, and a powerful return after injury and recovery. He is dedicated to helping others achieve their running goals and credits his journey to the strength of community and self-belief.

Cedric King

Retired Master Sergeant Cedric King is a decorated U.S. Army veteran and double amputee who has completed 22 marathons, including 7 Boston Marathons and 5 of the 6 World Majors. Just 21 months after his injury in Afghanistan, he finished his first Boston Marathon. A nationally recognized speaker and author of The Making Point, Cedric continues to inspire through resilience, endurance, and his unwavering spirit on and off the course.

Michael Alcaide

Known in the running community as “Mike the Korican,” Michael Alcaide is a three-time Abbott Six Star Finisher and the first Puerto Rican to achieve this milestone. A certified RRCA and USATF coach, he leads The Global Running Crew and Michael’s Miracle Marathon Team, mentoring runners of all levels. Celebrated for his commitment to community and representation, Michael blends his heritage, coaching philosophy, and global racing experience to inspire others in the sport.

1955 NYPC Boston Marathon Team Champions

The First (and Only) U.S. Team of Color to Win the Boston Marathon Team Championship

In 1955, three men of color—Rudy Méndez, Ted Corbitt, and Luis Torres—represented the New York Pioneer Club at the Boston Marathon and made history. Though unheralded at the time, their collective effort earned them the Boston Marathon Team Championship, an achievement that remains unmatched by any other U.S. team of color.

Team Results – 1955 Boston Marathon:

• Rudy Méndez – 2:28:30 (10th place)

• Ted Corbitt – 2:32:27 (11th place)

• Luis Torres – 2:38:00 (14th place)

Historical Note:
The NYPC also won the 1952 and 1957 Boston Marathon Team Championships. The 1952 team featured two African-American runners (Ted Corbitt and Louis White), while the 1957 team included both Corbitt and Méndez.

Corbitt, Torres, Mendez -NYPC - 1955 Boston Marathon Team Champions

Rodolfo “Rudy” Méndez Jr.

Born in 1931, Méndez was a former boxer turned elite marathoner who competed for Puerto Rico and the NYPC. He placed 10th in the 1955 Boston Marathon and was a 1956 U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials competitor. Méndez was a frequent rival and peer of Corbitt and later became one of the original members of the New York Road Runners.

Theodore “Ted” Corbitt

Born in 1919, Corbitt is widely regarded as the father of distance running in the U.S. He was the first Black American to represent the U.S. in the Olympic marathon (1952) and a national champion. Corbitt completed over 200 marathons and ultramarathons, was a pioneer in course measurement standards, and co-founded what would become the New York Road Runners. His training mileage and endurance records remain legendary.

Luis Torres

Born in 1927, Torres was a lifelong athlete who competed in the Boston Marathon from the 1950s through the 1970s and later into his 90s in World Masters events. Representing Puerto Rico, Torres competed in multiple disciplines and earned global recognition well into his senior years. In 1955, he placed 14th in Boston with a time of 2:38:00.