7°
Sunny and cool, around 45F
1977 Ballot results
The datasheet
TCS New York City Marathon 1977 ballot: 8th edition, 3,655 finishers
Held on a sunny, cool 23 October 1977, the 8th New York City Marathon and the second over the five borough course saw Bill Rodgers of the United States repeat as men's champion in 2:11:28 and Miki Gorman of the United States retain her women's title in 2:43:10, in front of 3,655 finishers in the race's open entry era before any ballot existed.
Edition
8th edition
Applications not published by race organiser
Field size
3,655
Total finishers
Race day
Oct 23
1977
Time qualifier
M2:53 W3:13
Open category (18–34)
Race day weather
What runners faced on the course
Context
What made 1977 notable
Nineteen seventy seven sat early in the New York origin story. The race began in 1970 as a few dozen runners looping Central Park for a dollar entry, stayed in the park through 1975, then exploded onto the five borough course in 1976. The 1977 edition was the second over those streets, and both 1976 champions returned to win again. Bill Rodgers took the men's race in 2:11:28 on a sunny, cool morning, holding off Jerome Drayton of Canada. Miki Gorman, then 42, retained her women's title in 2:43:10. With 3,655 finishers, the field was tiny next to the modern marathon, and entry was still open with a flat fee, years before any lottery.
Year over year
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'13'14'17'18'19'22'23'24'25'26
Qualifying
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 |
FAQ
Questions about the 1977 ballot
Who won the 1977 NYC Marathon?
Bill Rodgers of the United States won the men's race in 2:11:28 for his second straight New York title, ahead of Jerome Drayton of Canada in 2:13:52 and Chris Stewart of the United Kingdom in 2:13:52. Miki Gorman of the United States won the women's race in 2:43:10 for her second straight title, ahead of Kim Merritt of the United States in 2:46:03 and Gayle Barron of the United States in 2:52:19.
When was the 1977 NYC Marathon held?
Sunday 23 October 1977, on a sunny and cool morning around 45F. It was the 8th edition of the New York City Marathon and the second run over the five borough course, with 3,655 finishers.
How big was the 1977 NYC Marathon field?
The race recorded 3,655 finishers, 3,478 men and 177 women. That is tiny next to the modern marathon, which now draws tens of thousands of finishers each year.
What were the 1977 NYC Marathon ballot numbers?
There were none. In 1977 New York used open entry with a flat fee rather than a drawing or lottery, so there are no application or acceptance figures for this edition. The NYC Marathon lottery came later as demand grew.
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