Nina Kuscsik, the first women's division champion in the Boston Marathon, has died at age 86. An obituary for Kuscsik said she "passed away peacefully" on the morning of Sunday, June 8, "after a long battle with Alzheimer's disease and a shorter struggle with respiratory failure."

Nina Kuscsik, who campaigned for women's inclusion in long-distance running and then won the Boston Marathon the first year that they were officially allowed to enter into the race, has died. She was 86.

Nina Kuscsik, a pioneer for women's distance running who became the first female to win the Boston Marathon in 1972, has died. She was 86.