TCS New York City Marathon 1998 ballot: 29th running, 31,539 finishers
Run on 1 November 1998, the 29th New York City Marathon produced the second-closest finish in race history, as defending champion John Kagwe of Kenya held off Joseph Chebet by three seconds in 2:08:45, with the men's top three separated by only six seconds, while Italy's Franca Fiacconi won the women's race in 2:25:17.
What made 1998 notable
New York 1998 was decided by a blink. John Kagwe defended his title in 2:08:45, holding off countryman Joseph Chebet by three seconds in what officials called the second-closest finish in the marathon's 29 years. Zebedayo Bayo of Tanzania was third in 2:08:51, so the whole men's podium fit inside six seconds. Chebet would finish runner-up in New York again before finally winning in 1999, having also lost Boston by three seconds that spring. The women's race went to Franca Fiacconi of Italy in 2:25:17, ahead of Adriana Fernandez and a fading Tegla Loroupe. A total of 31,539 runners finished, then a record field for the event.
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 1998 ballot
Why was the 1998 NYC Marathon notable?
It produced the second-closest finish in the marathon's 29 years. John Kagwe of Kenya defended his title in 2:08:45, just three seconds ahead of Joseph Chebet in 2:08:48, with Zebedayo Bayo of Tanzania third in 2:08:51, so the entire men's podium was covered by six seconds.
Who won the 1998 NYC Marathon?
John Kagwe of Kenya won the men's race for the second straight year in 2:08:45, ahead of Joseph Chebet of Kenya in 2:08:48 and Zebedayo Bayo of Tanzania in 2:08:51. Franca Fiacconi of Italy won the women's race in 2:25:17, ahead of Adriana Fernandez of Mexico in 2:26:33 and Tegla Loroupe of Kenya in 2:30:28.
How many people ran the 1998 NYC Marathon?
A total of 31,539 runners officially finished, 22,587 men and 8,952 women. It was the 29th running, held on Sunday 1 November 1998.
What were the 1998 NYC Marathon drawing numbers?
New York Road Runners did not publish a separate drawing or lottery selection count for the 1998 race, so application and acceptance figures are not listed here.