TCS New York City Marathon 1978 ballot: 9th edition, 8,510 finishers
Held on 22 October 1978, the 9th New York City Marathon saw Grete Waitz of Norway win the women's race in her marathon debut in a women's world best of 2:32:30, while Bill Rodgers of the United States took his third straight men's title in 2:12:11.
What made 1978 notable
This is the day Grete Waitz arrived. The Norwegian middle-distance runner, invited by race director Fred Lebow and racing her first marathon at the distance, won the women's race in 2:32:30, a women's world best, finishing more than nine minutes ahead of Marty Cooksey. It was the run that launched a record nine New York City Marathon women's titles between 1978 and 1988 and helped pull women's marathoning into the mainstream. The men's race went to Bill Rodgers of the United States in 2:12:11 for his third straight New York title, clear of Ian Thompson and Trevor Wright. New York still ran open paid entry in 1978, with no ballot, lottery, or drawing, so application figures do not exist.
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 1978 ballot
Why was the 1978 NYC Marathon notable?
It was Grete Waitz's marathon debut. The Norwegian, a former middle-distance track runner, won the women's race in 2:32:30, a women's world best, finishing more than nine minutes clear of Marty Cooksey. It was the first of a record nine New York City Marathon women's titles she would win between 1978 and 1988. Bill Rodgers of the United States won the men's race in 2:12:11 for his third straight title.
Who won the 1978 NYC Marathon?
Bill Rodgers of the United States won the men's race in 2:12:11, ahead of Ian Thompson of the United Kingdom in 2:14:12 and Trevor Wright of the United Kingdom in 2:14:35. Grete Waitz of Norway won the women's race in 2:32:30 on her marathon debut, a women's world best, ahead of Marty Cooksey of the United States in 2:41:49 and Sue Petersen of the United States in 2:44:43.
When was the 1978 NYC Marathon held?
Sunday 22 October 1978. It was the 9th edition of the New York City Marathon, run on the five-borough course.
What were the 1978 NYC Marathon ballot numbers?
There were none. In the 1970s the New York City Marathon used open paid entry rather than a ballot, lottery, or drawing, so application and acceptance figures do not exist for this edition. The documentable scale is the field: 8,510 finishers, 7,744 men and 766 women. The drawing era came much later.