Warm, temperatures in the 60s Fahrenheit
2003 Ballot results
The datasheet
TCS New York City Marathon 2003 ballot: 34th running, 34,729 finishers
The 2003 New York City Marathon, the 34th running, was defined by Margaret Okayo of Kenya, who cut nearly two minutes off her own 2001 mark to win in 2:22:31, a women's course record that would stand for 22 years until Hellen Obiri broke it in 2025.
Edition
34th running
Applications not published by race organiser
Field size
34,729
Total finishers
Race day
Nov 2
2003
Time qualifier
M2:53 W3:13
Open category (18–34)
Race day weather
What runners faced on the course
Context
What made 2003 notable
Margaret Okayo owned New York. The Kenyan went out hard, moved past Lornah Kiplagat around mile 17, and cruised home in 2:22:31, slicing nearly two minutes off her own 2001 winning time. The course record she set that warm afternoon would survive 22 years and the arrival of carbon-plated shoes before Hellen Obiri finally broke it in 2025. The men's race went the other way, decided in the final mile as 25-year-old Martin Lel, running his first marathon, surged past defending champion Rodgers Rop to win in 2:10:30. Kenya dominated throughout, taking seven of the top ten men's places. A total of 34,729 runners finished. NYRR did not publish a drawing count for 2003.
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 2003 ballot
Why was the 2003 NYC Marathon notable?
Margaret Okayo of Kenya won the women's race in 2:22:31, a course record that bettered her own 2001 winning time by nearly two minutes. The record stood for 22 years until Hellen Obiri broke it in 2025.
Who won the 2003 NYC Marathon?
Margaret Okayo of Kenya won the women's race in 2:22:31, ahead of Catherine Ndereba of Kenya in 2:23:03 and Lornah Kiplagat of the Netherlands in 2:23:43. Martin Lel of Kenya won the men's race in 2:10:30 in his first marathon, ahead of Rodgers Rop of Kenya in 2:11:11 and Christopher Cheboiboch of Kenya in 2:11:23.
How many people ran the 2003 NYC Marathon?
A total of 34,729 runners officially finished, 23,014 men and 11,715 women. It was the 34th running, held on Sunday 2 November 2003.
What were the 2003 NYC Marathon drawing numbers?
New York Road Runners did not publish a separate drawing or lottery selection count for the 2003 race, so application and acceptance figures are not listed here.
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