Bank of America Chicago Marathon 1985 ballot: 9th edition, 7,562 finishers
On 20 October 1985 the Chicago Marathon delivered one of the fastest days in the sport's history, with Steve Jones missing the world record by a single second in 2:07:13 and Joan Benoit Samuelson winning in an American record 2:21:21.
What made 1985 notable
Nineteen eighty-five remains one of the fastest days the marathon has ever seen. Steve Jones returned to Chicago and ran 2:07:13, missing Carlos Lopes' world record by a single second after going through halfway on world record pace. The women's race was arguably greater still. Joan Benoit Samuelson, the reigning Olympic champion, took on Ingrid Kristiansen, who held the world record, and Rosa Mota, the two-time defending Chicago champion, in one of the deepest women's fields ever assembled. Samuelson pulled clear before 20 miles and won in 2:21:21, an American record that would last 18 years. Held long before any lottery, the race drew 7,562 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 1985 ballot
Who won the 1985 Chicago Marathon?
Steve Jones of Great Britain won the men's race in 2:07:13, and Joan Benoit Samuelson of the United States won the women's race in 2:21:21.
Why was the 1985 Chicago Marathon so fast?
Steve Jones finished in 2:07:13, just one second outside the world record of 2:07:12. Joan Benoit Samuelson won in 2:21:21, an American record that lasted 18 years, beating world record holder Ingrid Kristiansen and two-time champion Rosa Mota.
Did the 1985 Chicago Marathon have a ballot or lottery?
No. Chicago had no entry ballot in 1985, so there are no application or acceptance figures for that year. The drawing system came in later decades as demand grew.
When was the 1985 Chicago Marathon and how many finished?
It was held on Sunday, 20 October 1985, the ninth running, and 7,562 runners finished, more than 1,700 up on the previous year.