Calm with temperatures in the 50s Fahrenheit
1998 Ballot results
The datasheet
Bank of America Chicago Marathon 1998 ballot: 21st edition, 17,204 finishers
Kenya's Ondoro Osoro won the 21st Chicago Marathon on his marathon debut in 2:06:54, the fastest debut ever run and at the time the third fastest marathon in history, as the race set entrant and finisher records and debuted ChampionChip timing.
Edition
21st edition
Applications not published by race organiser
Field size
17,204
Total finishers
Race day
Oct 11
1998
Time qualifier
M2:50 W3:20
Open category (18–34)
Race day weather
What runners faced on the course
Context
What made 1998 notable
Ondoro Osoro made the 1998 race unforgettable. Running his first ever marathon, the Kenyan won the 21st Chicago Marathon in 2:06:54, the fastest debut anyone had run and at the time the third fastest marathon in history, taking course, world debut, North American, and Kenyan national records in one go. Joyce Chepchumba completed a Kenyan double, winning the women's race in 2:23:57. The day also marked a technical milestone, with organisers debuting the ChampionChip timing system to record splits for every runner. Calm weather in the 50s Fahrenheit and roughly 700,000 spectators helped push the event to records of 20,063 registrants and 17,204 finishers.
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 1998 ballot
Who won the 1998 Chicago Marathon?
Ondoro Osoro of Kenya won the men's race in 2:06:54 on his marathon debut, and Joyce Chepchumba of Kenya won the women's race in 2:23:57.
Why was Ondoro Osoro's 1998 Chicago time so significant?
His 2:06:54 was the fastest marathon debut ever run and at the time the third fastest marathon in history, setting course, world debut, North American, and Kenyan national records.
How big was the 1998 Chicago Marathon field?
The race set event records with 20,063 registrants, 17,731 starters, and 17,204 finishers, a 97 percent completion rate.
What is the 1998 Chicago Marathon acceptance rate?
Chicago does not publish a single official drawing acceptance rate, so none is recorded for 1998.
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