Joan Benoit Samuelson of Freeport announced today she plans to run the 115th Boston Marathon next week.

Samuelson, the 1979 Boston champion while a student at Bowdoin College, normally serves as a television commentator for the annual event. She last ran Boston in 1993.

Additional Photos

In this April,18, 1983, photo Joan Benoit crosses the finish line to win the Boston Marathon and shatter the world women's mark in 2:22.42. She clipped nearly three minutes off the old mark. The clock in the picture registers the time one second after she broke the tape. Samuelson, now 53, says she'll run in next week's Boston Marathon. AP

“Boston is special race for me,” Samuelson, 53, said in a written statement. “The crowds know and appreciate the athletes competing and their accomplishments, and they never disappoint with their encouragement and enthusiasm. I look forward to experiencing their energy and excitement on Patriots’ Day.”

In 1983, Samuelson set a world record at Boston with a time of 2 hours, 22 minutes, 43 seconds. In order to qualify for the 2012 Olympic Trials, she would need to run 2:46 or better.