Bank of America Chicago Marathon 1977 ballot: 1st edition, 2,128 finishers
On 25 September 1977 the inaugural Mayor Daley Marathon launched the modern Chicago Marathon, with Dan Cloeter and Dorothy Doolittle of the United States winning in 2:17:52 and 2:50:47 as more than 4,200 runners started and 2,128 finished.
What made 1977 notable
Chicago's marathon story starts here. On 25 September 1977 the inaugural Mayor Daley Marathon, named for the late mayor Richard J. Daley, drew more than 4,200 runners and was billed as the largest marathon in the world at the time. Dan Cloeter of Indiana won the men's race in 2:17:52 and Dorothy Doolittle of Texas took the women's race in 2:50:47, with 2,128 runners reaching the finish. The day was not without drama: the ceremonial starter's cannon misfired into the crowd, injuring two spectators, while eight-year-old Wesley Paul ran an age-group world record of 3:15:20. Entry was open, with no ballot, the foundation on which the late-century boom would build.
Applications over time
Time qualifier standards
View full age-group standards
| Age group | Men | Women |
|---|---|---|
| 18-34 | 2:50:00 | 3:20:00 |
| 35-39 | 2:55:00 | 3:25:00 |
| 40-44 | 3:00:00 | 3:30:00 |
| 45-49 | 3:10:00 | 3:40:00 |
| 50-54 | 3:15:00 | 3:50:00 |
| 55-59 | 3:25:00 | 3:55:00 |
| 60-64 | 3:40:00 | 4:15:00 |
| 65-69 | 3:55:00 | 4:30:00 |
| 70-74 | 4:15:00 | 4:45:00 |
| 75-79 | 4:30:00 | 5:00:00 |
| 80-84 | 4:50:00 | 5:20:00 |
| 85-89 | 4:50:00 | 5:20:00 |
| 90+ | 4:50:00 | 5:20:00 |
Questions about the 1977 ballot
Who won the first Chicago Marathon in 1977?
Dan Cloeter of the United States won the men's race in 2:17:52, and Dorothy Doolittle, also of the United States, won the women's race in 2:50:47.
How many people finished the 1977 Chicago Marathon?
A total of 2,128 runners finished. More than 4,200 turned out to start, which at the time made it the largest marathon in the world.
Did the 1977 Chicago Marathon have a ballot or lottery?
No. Entry was open in 1977, so there are no application or acceptance figures for that year. The drawing system arrived in later decades as demand grew well beyond the field size.
What was the 1977 Chicago Marathon called?
It was run as the Mayor Daley Marathon, named in honour of the late mayor Richard J. Daley, before being renamed the Chicago Marathon the following year.