14°
Good racing weather in the upper 50s F, with 90 percent humidity
1986 Ballot results
The datasheet
Bank of America Chicago Marathon 1986 ballot: 10th edition, 8,173 finishers
Japan's Toshihiko Seko won the 10th Chicago Marathon on 26 October 1986 in 2:08:27, while Norway's Ingrid Kristiansen dominated the women's race in 2:27:08, on a day that drew a record 8,173 finishers.
Edition
10th edition
Applications not published by race organiser
Field size
8,173
Total finishers
Race day
Oct 26
1986
Time qualifier
M2:50 W3:20
Open category (18–34)
Race day weather
What runners faced on the course
Context
What made 1986 notable
Chicago drew its deepest field yet. On 26 October 1986 Japan's Toshihiko Seko took the men's race in 2:08:27, moving clear after 22 miles to hold off Djibouti's Hussein Ahmed Salah and Britain's Charlie Spedding. The women's race belonged to Ingrid Kristiansen of Norway, who won in 2:27:08, more than two minutes ahead of France's Maria Rebelo and Britain's Priscilla Welch. Each champion banked 40,000 dollars from Beatrice's purse. Good racing weather in the upper 50s F, despite 90 percent humidity, helped 8,173 of about 12,000 starters finish, a record total up more than 600 on the previous year that would stand until 1995.
Year over year
Applications over time
Applications · 2022 → 2026
80K86K123K160K200K
'22'23'24'25'26
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 1986 ballot
Who won the 1986 Chicago Marathon?
Japan's Toshihiko Seko won the men's race in 2:08:27, ahead of Djibouti's Hussein Ahmed Salah in 2:09:57 and Britain's Charlie Spedding in 2:10:13. Norway's Ingrid Kristiansen won the women's race in 2:27:08, ahead of France's Maria Rebelo in 2:29:51 and Britain's Priscilla Welch in 2:31:14.
Why was the 1986 Chicago Marathon notable?
It drew a record 8,173 finishers, up more than 600 on the previous year and a total not beaten until 1995. Toshihiko Seko won the men's race in 2:08:27 and Ingrid Kristiansen dominated the women's race in 2:27:08, with each champion earning 40,000 dollars.
How many people finished the 1986 Chicago Marathon?
A total of 8,173 runners finished, from about 12,000 starters, a finisher record for the race that stood until 1995. The day offered good racing weather in the upper 50s F despite 90 percent humidity.
Did the 1986 Chicago Marathon use a ballot or lottery?
No. The 1986 Chicago Marathon used open registration, not a non-guaranteed entry drawing, so no ballot acceptance rate or application count exists for this edition. The race recorded 8,173 finishers.
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