Bank of America Chicago Marathon 1983 ballot: 7th edition, 5,237 finishers
On 16 October 1983 the Chicago Marathon produced one of the sport's closest finishes, with Joseph Nzau of Kenya out-leaning Britain's Hugh Jones by half a second to win in 2:09:44.3, while Rosa Mota took the women's race in a course-record 2:31:12.
What made 1983 notable
Nineteen eighty-three gave Chicago one of the closest finishes the marathon has ever seen. After more than two hours together, Joseph Nzau of Kenya and Hugh Jones of Great Britain reached the line locked in a sprint, and Nzau out-leaned Jones by half a second, 2:09:44.3 to 2:09:44.8, in what the organisers called the most competitive race the city had staged. Simon Kigen made it two Kenyans in the top three. The women's race was nearly as tight: Rosa Mota of Portugal moved clear in the final mile to win in a course-record 2:31:12, with Jacqueline Gareau of Canada second. Held long before any lottery, the seventh running drew 5,237 finishers.
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 1983 ballot
Who won the 1983 Chicago Marathon?
Joseph Nzau of Kenya won the men's race in 2:09:44.3, and Rosa Mota of Portugal won the women's race in 2:31:12, a course record.
How close was the 1983 Chicago Marathon men's finish?
Extremely close. Joseph Nzau out-leaned Hugh Jones of Great Britain by half a second, 2:09:44.3 to 2:09:44.8, one of the closest finishes in marathon history.
Did the 1983 Chicago Marathon have a ballot or lottery?
No. Chicago had no entry ballot in 1983, so there are no application or acceptance figures for that year. The drawing system came in later decades as demand grew.
When was the 1983 Chicago Marathon and how many finished?
It was held on Sunday, 16 October 1983, the seventh running, and 5,237 runners finished, an increase of nearly 600 on the previous year.