Light rain dampening the streets
1997 Ballot results
The datasheet
TCS New York City Marathon 1997 ballot: 28th running, 30,427 finishers
Run on 2 November 1997, the 28th New York City Marathon saw Kenya's John Kagwe win the men's race in 2:08:12, just 11 seconds off the course record despite his right shoelace coming undone three times, while Switzerland's Franziska Rochat-Moser took the women's title in 2:28:43.
Edition
28th running
Applications not published by race organiser
Field size
30,427
Total finishers
Race day
Nov 2
1997
Time qualifier
M2:53 W3:13
Open category (18–34)
Race day weather
What runners faced on the course
Context
What made 1997 notable
New York 1997 belonged to a runner fighting his own shoe. John Kagwe won in 2:08:12, only 11 seconds off Juma Ikangaa's 1989 course record, even though his right shoelace came undone three times. He stopped to retie it twice in the early miles, then ran the last stretch with it flapping rather than risk the win, saying he tried to forget the shoe. Joseph Chebet and Stefano Baldini completed the podium. The women's race was an upset: Franziska Rochat-Moser of Switzerland ran a steady race in 2:28:43 as two-time defending champion Tegla Loroupe broke down late and slipped to seventh. Light rain dampened the streets all morning.
Year over year
Applications over time
Applications · 2013 → 2026
33K77K98K105K118K84K128K165K200K240K
'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 1997 ballot
Why was the 1997 NYC Marathon notable?
John Kagwe of Kenya won in 2:08:12, only 11 seconds off the course record of 2:08:01 set by Juma Ikangaa in 1989, despite his right shoelace coming undone three times. He stopped to retie it twice early on, then ran the final miles with it loose rather than risk losing the race.
Who won the 1997 NYC Marathon?
John Kagwe of Kenya won the men's race in 2:08:12, ahead of Joseph Chebet of Kenya in 2:09:27 and Stefano Baldini of Italy in 2:09:31. Franziska Rochat-Moser of Switzerland won the women's race in 2:28:43, ahead of Colleen De Reuck of South Africa in 2:29:11 and Franca Fiacconi of Italy in 2:30:15.
How many people ran the 1997 NYC Marathon?
A total of 30,427 runners officially finished, 22,014 men and 8,413 women. It was the 28th running, held on Sunday 2 November 1997 in light rain.
What were the 1997 NYC Marathon drawing numbers?
New York Road Runners did not publish a separate drawing or lottery selection count for the 1997 race, so application and acceptance figures are not listed here.
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