Bank of America Chicago Marathon 2005 ballot: 28th edition, 40,000 entrants
Deena Kastor won the 2005 LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon, the 28th edition, in 2:21:25 on 9 October, leading an American charge while Kenya's Felix Limo took the men's title in a year's world-leading 2:07:02.
What runners faced on the course
What made 2005 notable
Chicago in 2005 was an American showcase. Deena Kastor controlled the women's race and closed in 2:21:25, surviving a late fade and a hard surge from defending champion Constantina Tomescu-Dita, who finished five seconds back in 2:21:30. Behind them, 41-year-old Colleen De Reuck took fourth in 2:28:40 and broke the American masters record by nearly four minutes. The men's contest stayed bunched until the final kilometre, where Felix Limo edged Benjamin Maiyo and Daniel Njenga in 2:07:02, the fastest marathon run anywhere that year. Cool air in the 50s F and a stubborn wind over the second half kept times honest in a field capped at 40,000 from 125 countries.
Applications over time
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 |
Questions about the 2005 ballot
Who won the 2005 Chicago Marathon?
Deena Kastor of the United States won the women's race in 2:21:25, ahead of Romania's Constantina Tomescu-Dita in 2:21:30 and Japan's Masako Chiba in 2:26:00. Kenya's Felix Limo won the men's race in 2:07:02, the year's fastest marathon, ahead of fellow Kenyans Benjamin Maiyo in 2:07:09 and Daniel Njenga in 2:07:14.
Why was Deena Kastor's 2005 Chicago win notable?
It was a rare home victory in the women's race, the first by an American at Chicago since 1994. Her 2:21:25 ranked among the fastest marathons ever run by a US woman, and 41-year-old Colleen De Reuck finished fourth in 2:28:40 to break the American masters record by nearly four minutes.
What was the weather at the 2005 Chicago Marathon?
Cool, with temperatures in the 50s F, around 10 to 14 C. A stiff wind worked against the leaders over the second half of the course and kept the finishing times honest.
Did the 2005 Chicago Marathon use a ballot or lottery?
No. The 2005 race used first come open registration, capped at 40,000 entrants from 125 countries, not a non-guaranteed entry drawing. Chicago did not move to a lottery until later, so no drawing acceptance rate or application count exists for this edition.