25°
Hot and humid, 77F with 81 percent humidity and 20 mph wind gusts off the lakefront
1979 Ballot results
The datasheet
Bank of America Chicago Marathon 1979 ballot: 3rd edition, 2,869 finishers
On 21 October 1979 the third Chicago Marathon ran in 77F heat, 81 percent humidity and 20 mph wind gusts, with Dan Cloeter and 15-year-old Laura Michalek winning in 2:23:20 and 3:15:45 as only 2,869 of 3,700 starters finished.
Edition
3rd edition
Applications not published by race organiser
Field size
2,869
Total finishers
Race day
Oct 21
1979
Time qualifier
M2:50 W3:20
Open category (18–34)
Race day weather
What runners faced on the course
Context
What made 1979 notable
Heat defined Chicago's third year. On 21 October 1979, 3,700 starters set off into 77-degree warmth, 81 percent humidity and 20 mph wind gusts, and only 2,869 finished, a drop of nearly 1,200 on 1978. Dan Cloeter, the 1977 champion, won the men's race in 2:23:20 and then collapsed with severe dehydration. The women's story was stranger still: 15-year-old Laura Michalek of Berwyn, Illinois, crossed third but was promoted to victory in 3:15:45 after the first two finishers were disqualified, making her the youngest winner in race history. Both winning times remain Chicago's slowest. Beatrice Foods came on as first-time sponsor. Entry was open, with no ballot in this era.
Year over year
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Qualifying
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 |
FAQ
Questions about the 1979 ballot
Who won the 1979 Chicago Marathon?
Dan Cloeter of the United States won the men's race in 2:23:20, and Laura Michalek, also of the United States, won the women's race in 3:15:45 at just 15 years old.
How many people finished the 1979 Chicago Marathon?
A total of 2,869 runners finished out of 3,700 starters, a drop of nearly 1,200 on the previous year, after 77F heat, 81 percent humidity and 20 mph wind gusts.
Did the 1979 Chicago Marathon have a ballot or lottery?
No. Entry was open in 1979, with no ballot, so there are no application or acceptance figures for that year. The drawing system arrived in later decades as demand grew.
Why was the 1979 Chicago Marathon notable?
Laura Michalek, aged 15, became the youngest winner in race history after the first two women finishers were disqualified, and men's champion Dan Cloeter collapsed with dehydration after the line. Both winning times remain Chicago's slowest.
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