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: 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
Runners
33,033
Total finishers
Race day
Oct 10
2004
Semi-elite
M02:50:00 W03:20:00
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
Semi-elite standards
View full age-group standards
| Age group | Men | Women |
|---|---|---|
| 16 – 34 | 02:50:00 | 03:20:00 |
| 35 – 39 | 02:55:00 | 03:25:00 |
| 40 – 44 | 03:00:00 | 03:30:00 |
| 45 – 49 | 03:10:00 | 03:40:00 |
| 50 – 54 | 03:15:00 | 03:50:00 |
| 55 – 59 | 03:25:00 | 03:55:00 |
| 60 – 64 | 03:40:00 | 04:15:00 |
| 65 – 69 | 03:55:00 | 04:30:00 |
| 70 – 74 | 04:15:00 | 04:45:00 |
| 75 – 79 | 04:30:00 | 05:00:00 |
| 80 and over | 04:50:00 | 05:20:00 |
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.
← Previous year
Bank of America Chicago Marathon 2003 results
Next year →
Bank of America Chicago Marathon 2005 results
Free alerts · Bank of America Chicago Marathon
Want the next Bank of America Chicago Marathon ballot window?
Set alert