1983 Ballot results

TCS New York City Marathon 1983 ballot: 14th edition

Run in the rain on 23 October 1983, the 14th New York City Marathon turned on its final 385 yards as Rod Dixon of New Zealand ran down Britain's Geoff Smith at the 26 mile mark to win in 2:08:59 and become the first non-American man to take the title, while Grete Waitz of Norway claimed her fifth women's crown in 2:27:00.

The datasheet
Edition
14th edition
Applications not published by race organiser
Field size
n/a
Not yet reported
Race day
Oct 23
1983
Time qualifier
M2:53 W3:13
Open category (18–34)
Context

What made 1983 notable

New York 1983 was decided in the last 385 yards. Geoff Smith of England led through the second half in the rain, on pace for the fastest debut marathon ever, but Rod Dixon of New Zealand reeled him in at the 26 mile mark in Central Park. Dixon, the 1972 Olympic 1500 metres bronze medallist, surged past a wobbling Smith and won in 2:08:59, the first non-American man to take the New York title after thirteen straight home victories. Smith collapsed across the line 9 seconds later in 2:09:08, with Ron Tabb third. Grete Waitz of Norway won the women's race in 2:27:00 for her fifth New York crown, ahead of Laura Fogli and Priscilla Welch.

Year over year

Applications over time

Applications · 2013 → 2026 10 editions
33K77K98K105K118K84K128K165K200K240K
'13'14'17'18'19'22'23'24'25'26
Qualifying

Time qualifier standards

View full age-group standards +
Age groupMenWomen
18-342:53:003:13:00
35-392:58:003:15:00
40-443:03:003:26:00
45-493:13:003:38:00
50-543:18:003:51:00
55-593:28:004:10:00
60-643:43:004:27:00
65-693:58:004:50:00
70-744:13:005:30:00
75-794:28:006:00:00
80-844:48:006:35:00
85-895:03:006:35:00
90+5:18:006:35:00
FAQ

Questions about the 1983 ballot

Why was the 1983 NYC Marathon notable? +

Rod Dixon of New Zealand caught Britain's Geoff Smith at the 26 mile mark and won by 9 seconds in 2:08:59, becoming the first non-American man to win the New York City Marathon after thirteen straight United States victories.

Who won the 1983 NYC Marathon? +

Rod Dixon of New Zealand won the men's race in 2:08:59, ahead of Geoff Smith of England in 2:09:08 and Ron Tabb of the United States in 2:10:46. Grete Waitz of Norway won the women's race in 2:27:00 for her fifth New York title, ahead of Laura Fogli of Italy in 2:31:49 and Priscilla Welch of England in 2:32:31.

When was the 1983 NYC Marathon held? +

Sunday 23 October 1983, in rainy conditions. It was the 14th edition of the New York City Marathon.

What were the 1983 NYC Marathon ballot numbers? +

New York Road Runners used first-come and mail-in entry rather than a drawing or lottery for the 1983 race, so application and acceptance figures are not listed here.

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