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LASALLE BANK CHICAGO MARATHON INCREASES
PRIZE PURSE TO $650,000 Purse includes $125,000 to Top Finishers
and $80,000 to Top Americans
CHICAGO - The LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon will increase
its guaranteed prize purse for the 2004 race to $650,000,
which will include a $125,000 payout to the top male and female
finisher. This is the highest guaranteed first place payout
in the history of the sport. The 2004 prize purse also includes
an increase in the American athlete bonus pool to $80,000.
The LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon has added more than $150,000
to the guaranteed purse the past two years. Nearly $1 million,
which included the guaranteed purse, special time bonuses
and the American incentive pool, was paid out to the top performers
in the 2003 LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon.
Although the LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon continues to reward
top performing athletes through its handsome prize purse,
it has never swayed from its commitment to developing American
athletes in the sport. Keeping with this tradition, the event's
American Development Bonus purse increases to $80,000 this
year and will reward the top 5 male and female finishers.
Last year's purse totaled $55,000 and rewarded only the top
3 male and female finishers. The top American male and female
finisher will receive $10,000 each. The payout then descends
by $1,000 for the second, third, fourth and fifth place, with
the fifth place finisher receiving $6,000.
"The LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon is pleased to continue
its tradition of rewarding top performing athletes and we
are confident that this year's purse will once again attract
world-class athletes," remarked Executive Race Director
Carey Pinkowski. "We have always had a strong commitment
to supporting and developing American athletes. We are building
off the success of past bonus programs and are pleased to
further our commitment to American
athletes by providing more breadth and depth to the American
Development pool this year. Chicago has been and will continue
to be the foundation for many U.S. athletes for years to come."
In 2003, more than $120,000 was paid out to 42 American athletes
who met the U.S. Olympic Trials qualifying standard time at
the LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon. The race announced a special
bonus pool shortly before last year's event designed to help
fund the cost of competing in the U.S. Olympic Trials to American
athletes who met either the "A" standard or "B"
standard
qualifying times in Chicago. Seventy American athletes who
met the 2004 Trials qualifying  standards
achieved the qualifying standard time in Chicago.
More impressively, 7 of the top 15 eligible American men
who competed in the recent Olympic Marathon Trials qualified
for them in Chicago, including Trials winner Alan Culpepper
with a time of 2:09:41 at the 2002 race and Trials runner-up
Meb Keflezighi with a time of 2:10:03 at the 2003 race. Similarly,
2 of 3 top American women qualified in Chicago at the 2003
race Colleen De Reuck with a time of 2:28:01 and Deeja Youngquist
with a time of 2:29:01.
Other notable American performances in Chicago include Khalid
Khannouchi's American Record of 2:05:56 set in 2002 and Joan
Benoit-Samuelson's former American Record holding win of 2:21:21
set in 1985.
"There is a very talented pool of American athletes
in the U.S. Olympic Trials, and I'm very proud that some of
them have participated in the LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon,"
said Pinkowski. "It is important for our event and the
sport to provide opportunities for and support to American
athletes to help them achieve their full athletic potential.
By continually furthering our commitment to both the American
and open divisions, the LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon will
draw the best American and international athletes in the sport."
The 2004 LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon takes place Sunday,
October 10 starting and finishing in Chicago's Grant Park.
The race will be broadcast live on CBS 2 CHICAGO and ESPN
1000. Last year's race attracted the maximum 40,000 participants.
Runners may register online at www.chicagomarathon.com until
September 2, 2004, or when the participation capacity has
been reached (whichever comes first). Race weekend entries
will not be accepted. Printed entry forms for mail-in registration
will be available in the spring of this year.
The entrance fee for the Marathon is $80 for U.S. runners
and $90 for international runners; the registration fee for
the International Fun Run 5K, held during race weekend, is
$15 for both U.S. and international participants. Senior citizens,
ages 60 and older, receive a $5 discount. In
addition, a $5 discount will be offered to participants who
register using their MasterCard credit card or pre-paid card.
Runners interested in securing Competitive or Preferred Starting
Positions must have completed a marathon or half-marathon
since January 1, 2002 in a time faster than 3:15:00 for a
Competitive Start (marathon qualifying time) and 3:45:00 (marathon
qualifying time) for a referred Start. A half-marathon time
of 1:30:00 is needed for a Competitive Start and a half-marathon
time of 1:45:00 is needed for a Preferred Start. Proof of
qualifying times must be submitted to The LaSalle Bank Chicago
Marathon office. Instructions will be provided to online entrants.
Competitive and Preferred Starting Positions are limited and
not guaranteed.
For more information:
Shawn M. Platt, (312) 904-7240
shawn.platt@abnamro.com
source Running USA wire
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