"The numbers of entries in all marathons has been going down." Morse told The Boston Globe The Boston race is the only major marathon in which entrants must qualify by time.
The greatest number of entries in the Boston Marathon was 7,900 in 1979 Because the starting area in Hopkinton is small, the qualifying times were toughened after that race.
The greatest number of entries under the tougher times was 7,600 in 1982.
Entrants for this year's race include defending champion Geoff Smith of England and Ron Tabb, who finished second three years ago Morse said there are 20 men entered who have run a marathon in less than 2 20 Eight of them have done it in 2 15 or less.
Smith finished in 2 10 34 last year.
There are 12 women entered who have been clocked at 2 42 or better, including Julie Brown, who holds one of the best times ever for a woman at 2 26.
Top runners and former winners like Bill Rodgers and Greg Meyer have predicted the race will lose top entrants unless it begins offering prize money or expense money.
Morse said prize money has nothing to do with the number of entrants because few runners who enter the race hope to win prize money.