World Marathon series announced

Five of the world's top marathons have combined to create a two-year series that will award US$500,000 to the men's and women's winners.

The organisers of the five - B.A.A. Boston Marathon, Flora London Marathon, real-Berlin Marathon, LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon and ING New York City Marathon - today confirmed that the series, to be called the “World Marathon Majors”, will also include the World Championship and Olympic marathons.

Men and women will be scored separately, getting points by placing among the top five in each race: 25 points for a win, 15 points for second, 10 for third, five for fourth and one for fifth.

Athletes would have to complete three races over the two years to be eligible, but only four results will count. If there is a tie, the winner of any head-to-head competition between the contending athletes in one of the eligible races will get the top prize. If they do not race against each other, the five race directors will choose the winner by a majority vote.

The two-year scoring periods will overlap, allowing the group to award prizes on an annual basis following the first winners in 2007.

All five marathons have contributed equally to the first series' US$1 million total purse.

This year's Boston Marathon takes place on 17 April, the London Marathon is scheduled for 23 April, the Berlin Marathon follows next on 24 September, the Chicago Marathon on 22 October, and the New York City Marathon will be held on 5 November. In 2007, the World Championship marathons in Osaka, Japan, will also be counted.