TCS London Marathon 1986 ballot: 6th edition, 18,067 finishers
Norway's Grete Waitz won the 1986 Mars London Marathon in a lifetime best 2:24:54, six minutes clear of the field, while Japan's Toshihiko Seko took the men's title in 2:10:02.
What made 1986 notable
The sixth Mars London Marathon, run on Sunday 20 April 1986, belonged to Grete Waitz. The Norwegian clocked 2:24:54, the fastest marathon of her career and a personal best, to win the women's race by more than six minutes from New Zealand's Mary O'Connor, with Britain's Ann Ford third. It was her second London title after 1983. The men's race went to Japan's Toshihiko Seko in 2:10:02, his only London win, ahead of Britons Hugh Jones (2:11:42) and Allister Hutton (2:12:36). Ireland took both wheelchair titles through Gerry O'Rourke and Kay McShane. Around 80,000 people had applied, 25,566 were accepted, 19,261 started and 18,067 finished.
Applications over time
Good-for-age standards
View full age-group standards
| Age group | Men | Women |
|---|---|---|
| 18-34 | 2:52:00 | 3:38:00 |
| 35-39 | 2:52:00 | 3:38:00 |
| 40-44 | 2:57:00 | 3:43:00 |
| 45-49 | 3:02:00 | 3:46:00 |
| 50-54 | 3:07:00 | 3:53:00 |
| 55-59 | 3:12:00 | 3:58:00 |
| 60-64 | 3:34:00 | 4:23:00 |
| 65-69 | 3:52:00 | 4:53:00 |
| 70-74 | 4:52:00 | 5:53:00 |
| 75-79 | 5:07:00 | 6:13:00 |
| 80-84 | 5:27:00 | 6:38:00 |
| 85-89 | 6:10:00 | 7:10:00 |
| 90+ | 7:20:00 | 7:45:00 |
Questions about the 1986 ballot
When was the 1986 London Marathon held?
Sunday 20 April 1986. It was the sixth running and was held under title sponsor Mars.
Who won the 1986 London Marathon?
Japan's Toshihiko Seko won the men's race in 2:10:02, ahead of Hugh Jones. Norway's Grete Waitz won the women's race in 2:24:54, her second London title.
How many runners finished the 1986 London Marathon?
18,067 finished. Around 80,000 people applied, 25,566 were accepted and 19,261 started.
Was Grete Waitz's 1986 time a record?
Her 2:24:54 was a personal best, the fastest marathon of her career, and she won by more than six minutes from Mary O'Connor.