29°
Warm and humid, temperature rising to 84 F with the course warning level reaching red
2008 Ballot results
The datasheet
Bank of America Chicago Marathon 2008 ballot: 31st running, 31,401 finishers
The 2008 Bank of America Chicago Marathon, the 31st running, was the first held under the new Event Alert System after the 2007 heat shutdown, and the warning reached red as temperatures climbed to 84 F.
Edition
31st running
Applications not published by race organiser
Field size
31,401
Total finishers
Race day
Oct 12
2008
Time qualifier
M2:50 W3:20
Open category (18–34)
Race day weather
What runners faced on the course
Context
What made 2008 notable
Heat defined Chicago in 2008. A year after the 2007 race was halted partway through in near record temperatures, organisers introduced a color-coded Event Alert System to flag course conditions. It was tested at once. Race officials said the temperature climbed to 84 F, and the warning reached its red high level late in the race as runners were urged to slow down. The event held together far better than 2007, with more water and aid on course. Of 33,033 starters, 31,401 finished. Evans Cheruiyot won the men's race in 2:06:25, a personal best in only his second marathon, while Lidiya Grigoryeva took the women's title in 2:27:17.
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 2008 ballot
Did the 2008 Chicago Marathon use a ballot or lottery?
No. The 2008 race used open public registration capped at 45,000 places on a first come basis, not a non-guaranteed entry drawing, so there were no ballot applications or acceptance rate.
How hot was the 2008 Chicago Marathon?
Race officials said the temperature rose to 84 F. It was the first race under the new Event Alert System, and the course warning reached its red high level late in the race.
Who won the 2008 Chicago Marathon?
Evans Cheruiyot of Kenya won the men's race in 2:06:25, a personal best in only his second marathon, and Lidiya Grigoryeva of Russia won the women's race in 2:27:17.
How many people finished the 2008 Chicago Marathon?
World Athletics reported 33,033 official starters and 31,401 finishers, held on 12 October 2008.
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