10°
Cool, around 50 F (about 10 C), with a strong wind through the later stages that worked against the leaders
2004 Ballot results
The datasheet
Bank of America Chicago Marathon 2004 ballot: 27th edition, 33,033 finishers
Kenya's Evans Rutto defended his Chicago Marathon title at the 27th running on 10 October 2004, winning in 2:06:16, the year's second-fastest marathon, while Romania's Constantina Tomescu-Dita took the women's race in 2:23:45.
Edition
27th edition
Applications not published by race organiser
Field size
33,033
Total finishers
Race day
Oct 10
2004
Time qualifier
M2:50 W3:20
Open category (18–34)
Race day weather
What runners faced on the course
Context
What made 2004 notable
Chicago in 2004 belonged to Evans Rutto. A year after his stunning debut record, the Kenyan ran from the front and closed in 2:06:16, the second-fastest marathon in the world that season and another perfect result in an unbeaten career over the distance. A strong wind through the closing miles and ragged early pacing denied him the course-record bonus, but the win never looked in doubt against a field that included four-time champion Khalid Khannouchi, fifth in 2:08:44. The women's race was Constantina Tomescu-Dita's, the Romanian front-running to 2:23:45 despite a week of illness. Cool air near 50 F greeted a capped field that produced 33,033 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 2004 ballot
Who won the 2004 Chicago Marathon?
Kenya's Evans Rutto won the men's race in 2:06:16, defending his title undefeated, ahead of fellow Kenyan Daniel Njenga in 2:07:44 and Japan's Toshinari Takaoka in 2:07:50. Romania's Constantina Tomescu-Dita won the women's race in 2:23:45, ahead of compatriot Nuta Olaru in 2:24:33 and Russia's Svetlana Zakharova in 2:25:01.
Why was Evans Rutto's 2004 Chicago win notable?
His 2:06:16 was the second-fastest marathon run anywhere in 2004 and a successful title defense that kept him unbeaten over the distance. A strong wind in the closing miles and erratic early pacing denied him the 200,000 dollar course-record bonus, with the record then standing at 2:05:42. He beat a field that included four-time former champion Khalid Khannouchi, who placed fifth in 2:08:44.
What was the weather at the 2004 Chicago Marathon?
Cool, around 50 F, roughly 10 C. A strong wind through the later stages of the race worked against the leaders and helped keep the finishing times short of a course record.
Did the 2004 Chicago Marathon use a ballot or lottery?
No. The 2004 race used first come open registration, capped at 40,000 entrants, and that cap filled on 16 August 2004. It was not a non-guaranteed entry drawing, so no ballot acceptance rate or application count exists for this edition. The race recorded 33,033 finishers.
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