11°
Cold at 51 F, with a strong wind especially between 12 and 22 miles
1991 Ballot results
The datasheet
Bank of America Chicago Marathon 1991 ballot: 14th edition, 5,908 finishers
Stripped of a title sponsor and most of its prize money, the 14th Chicago Marathon on 27 October 1991 was won by Brazil's Joseildo da Silva in 2:14:33 and Sweden's Midde Hamrin in 2:36:21, the slowest winning times since 1981.
Edition
14th edition
Applications not published by race organiser
Field size
5,908
Total finishers
Race day
Oct 27
1991
Time qualifier
M2:50 W3:20
Open category (18–34)
Race day weather
What runners faced on the course
Context
What made 1991 notable
The 1991 race was defined by money it no longer had. With the G. Heileman Brewing Company gone, organisers ran the event simply as the Chicago Marathon and slashed the prize purse from $30,000 to $7,500 plus two airline tickets. The thin payday kept the stars away, and the Chicago Tribune called it the weakest field since 1981. Brazil's Joseildo da Silva took the lead near seven miles, was caught by Ireland's Roy Dooney after 24 miles, then broke clear again to win by six seconds in 2:14:33. Sweden's Midde Hamrin won the women's race in 2:36:21. A cold, windy day at 51 F left both winning times the slowest in a decade. 5,908 runners finished.
Year over year
Applications over time
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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 1991 ballot
Who won the 1991 Chicago Marathon?
Brazil's Joseildo da Silva won the men's race in 2:14:33, six seconds ahead of Ireland's Roy Dooney in 2:14:39, with Brazil's Jose Santana third in 2:15:06. Sweden's Midde Hamrin won the women's race in 2:36:21, ahead of Finland's Kirsi Rauta in 2:38:21 and Brazil's Silvana Pereira in 2:40:10.
Why was the 1991 Chicago Marathon notable?
The race lost its title sponsor and ran simply as the Chicago Marathon. Prize money was cut from $30,000 in 1990 to $7,500 plus two airline tickets, which the Chicago Tribune said left the weakest field since 1981, and both winning times were the slowest since 1981.
How many people finished the 1991 Chicago Marathon?
The 1991 race recorded 5,908 finishers from roughly 7,500 starters. The day was cold at 51 F with a strong wind between 12 and 22 miles.
Did the 1991 Chicago Marathon use a ballot or lottery?
No. The 1991 race used open registration rather than a non-guaranteed entry drawing, so no ballot acceptance rate or application count exists for this edition. The race recorded 5,908 finishers.
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