TORONTO — Jerome Drayton, who won the 1977 Boston Marathon and held the Canadian men’s marathon record for 43 years, died Monday in Toronto. He was 80.

Legendary long-distance runner Jerome Drayton, who won the Boston Marathon in 1977 and held the Canadian men’s marathon record for 43 years, has died. He was 80.

Two American hopefuls are hitting the course with high hopes. Conner Mantz, 28, just shattered the American record for the half marathon, breaking an hour and finishing in 59 minutes, 17 seconds. Clayton Young, 31, set his own personal best.

Jerome Drayton, the Canadian who won the Boston Marathon in 1977 and knocked Bill Rodgers and Frank Shorter off the top of the world marathon rankings, died on February 10 at age 80. He died in Toronto, unexpectedly, during knee surgery.