20°
Mild and mostly cloudy at the start near 20 C, climbing to about 26 C, unusually warm for Chicago
2021 Ballot results
The datasheet
Bank of America Chicago Marathon 2021 ballot: 43rd edition, 26,106 finishers
Chicago came back from its lost 2020 on 10 October 2021 with a reduced, health-screened field of 26,106 finishers, run on an unusually warm morning.
Edition
43rd edition
Applications not published by race organiser
Field size
26,106
Total finishers
Race day
Oct 10
2021
Time qualifier
M2:50 W3:20
Open category (18–34)
Race day weather
What runners faced on the course
Context
What made 2021 notable
After the cancelled 2020 race, Chicago returned on 10 October 2021 as a scaled-back, health-screened event rather than a full great-big-city party. Runners had to show proof of vaccination or a recent negative test, and 26,106 of them finished, well below the pre-pandemic norm. The weather did not cooperate: it was mild and mostly cloudy near 20 C at the start, climbing toward 26 C, warm enough to blunt the usual fast Chicago times. Seifu Tura took the men's title in 2:06:12. Ruth Chepngetich won the women's race in 2:22:31, the first of three straight Chicago wins for her. The relief of simply racing again outweighed the modest field and the heat.
Year over year
Applications over time
Applications · 2022 → 2025
80K86K123K160K
'22'23'24'25
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 2021 ballot
When was the 2021 Chicago Marathon held?
Sunday, 10 October 2021, the first Chicago Marathon since 2019 after the 2020 edition was cancelled.
How many runners finished the 2021 Chicago Marathon?
26,106 finishers, a reduced field run under COVID-19 health requirements including proof of vaccination or a negative test.
Who won the 2021 Chicago Marathon?
Seifu Tura of Ethiopia won the men's race in 2:06:12 and Ruth Chepngetich of Kenya won the women's race in 2:22:31.
What were race-day conditions on 10 October 2021?
Unusually warm for Chicago: mild and mostly cloudy near 20 C at the start, climbing toward 26 C.
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Bank of America Chicago Marathon 2020 results
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