TCS London Marathon 1987 ballot: 7th edition, 19,586 finishers
At the 1987 Mars London Marathon, 42-year-old Priscilla Welch ran 2:26:51 for second place, a W40 masters world record that stood for more than two decades.
What made 1987 notable
The seventh Mars London Marathon, run on Sunday 10 May 1987, is best remembered for Priscilla Welch. At 42 the Briton finished second in 2:26:51, a time that set a W40 age group world record and stood until 2008, ranking her sixth fastest woman in the world that year. Norway's Ingrid Kristiansen won the women's race in 2:22:48, with Veronique Marot third in 2:30:15. Japan's Hiromi Taniguchi took the men's title in 2:09:50, holding off Morocco's El Mostafa Nechchadi by 19 seconds, with Britain's Hugh Jones third. Chris Hallam won the men's wheelchair race in 2:08:34, the first year a London wheelchair winner crossed the line ahead of the able-bodied champion. Around 80,000 applied and 19,586 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 1987 ballot
When was the 1987 London Marathon held?
Sunday 10 May 1987. It was the seventh running and was held under title sponsor Mars.
Who won the 1987 London Marathon?
Japan's Hiromi Taniguchi won the men's race in 2:09:50, ahead of El Mostafa Nechchadi. Norway's Ingrid Kristiansen won the women's race in 2:22:48.
What made the 1987 London Marathon notable?
Britain's Priscilla Welch, aged 42, finished second in 2:26:51, setting a W40 masters world record that stood until 2008.
How many runners finished the 1987 London Marathon?
19,586 finished. Around 80,000 applied, 28,364 were accepted and 21,485 started.