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.

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.

Jerome Drayton, who finished sixth in the marathon at the Montreal Olympics and won the 1977 Boston Marathon, has died at the age of 80.