TCS New York City Marathon 1971 ballot: 2nd edition
Held entirely in Central Park on 19 September 1971, the 2nd New York City Marathon produced a landmark women's run as 19 year old Beth Bonner of the United States won in 2:55:22, frequently credited as the first sub three hour marathon by a woman, with Nina Kuscsik also under three hours in second, while Norm Higgins took the men's race in a course record 2:22:54.
What made 1971 notable
New York 1971 belongs to the women's record book. On a multi loop Central Park course, 19 year old Beth Bonner of the United States won in 2:55:22, a run frequently credited as the first sub three hour marathon by a woman, with Nina Kuscsik close behind in 2:56:04 and also inside three hours. Norm Higgins took the men's race in a course record 2:22:54, well clear of Chuck Ceronsky and Max White. It was only the second running of an event the New York Road Runners launched in 1970 with 127 starters and 55 finishers, won by Gary Muhrcke. New York stayed in Central Park through 1975 before the 1976 expansion across all five boroughs transformed it.
Applications over time
Time qualifier standards
View full age-group standards
| Age group | Men | Women |
|---|---|---|
| 18-34 | 2:53:00 | 3:13:00 |
| 35-39 | 2:58:00 | 3:15:00 |
| 40-44 | 3:03:00 | 3:26:00 |
| 45-49 | 3:13:00 | 3:38:00 |
| 50-54 | 3:18:00 | 3:51:00 |
| 55-59 | 3:28:00 | 4:10:00 |
| 60-64 | 3:43:00 | 4:27:00 |
| 65-69 | 3:58:00 | 4:50:00 |
| 70-74 | 4:13:00 | 5:30:00 |
| 75-79 | 4:28:00 | 6:00:00 |
| 80-84 | 4:48:00 | 6:35:00 |
| 85-89 | 5:03:00 | 6:35:00 |
| 90+ | 5:18:00 | 6:35:00 |
Questions about the 1971 ballot
Why was the 1971 NYC Marathon notable?
Beth Bonner of the United States, aged 19, won the women's race in 2:55:22, a time frequently credited as the first sub three hour marathon run by a woman, with Nina Kuscsik also under three hours in second. Norm Higgins won the men's race in a course record 2:22:54.
Who won the 1971 NYC Marathon?
Norm Higgins of the United States won the men's race in 2:22:54, a course record, ahead of Chuck Ceronsky in 2:33:21 and Max White in 2:33:52. Beth Bonner of the United States won the women's race in 2:55:22, ahead of Nina Kuscsik in 2:56:04 and Sara Mae Berman in 3:08:46.
When and where was the 1971 NYC Marathon held?
Sunday 19 September 1971, run entirely within Central Park. It was the 2nd edition of the New York City Marathon, which stayed in Central Park from 1970 through 1975 before expanding to all five boroughs in 1976.
What were the 1971 NYC Marathon ballot numbers?
There were none. In the early 1970s the New York City Marathon used open entry rather than a drawing or lottery, so there are no application or acceptance figures to report for 1971.