FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Karen Kalan
The Los Angeles Marathon
310-444-5544 x306
Los Angeles Marathon Prize Purse Increased to Over $400,000
Resulting in the Nation's Top Guaranteed Cash Prize for Challenge Champion
Race bonuses also offered for the first time
to fastest American and Californian athletes
LOS ANGELES - (October 18, 2005) - A race record $417,600 will be available
in prize money at the 2006 Los Angeles Marathon presented by Honda on
Sunday, March 19. With an overall prize purse increase of 32% from 2005,
the Los Angeles Marathon now offers the fourth highest prize purse in the
United States and the largest guaranteed first place payout at $135,000.
The major changes for 2006 include increasing prize money for "The
Challenge" from $75,000 to $100,000 and adding $51,000 in prize money for
places 1-10.
"The Challenge" is an L.A. Marathon innovation in which the elite women
start the race ahead of the elite men at a time to be determined - a
mathematical model taking into consideration each athlete's past 18 months
of racing. The result promises to be a dramatic finish with the first
person to cross the finish line winning the $100,000 bonus. "The Challenge"
Champion will also be awarded $35,000 for finishing first in his or her
division, making the $135,000 cash prize the nation's highest guaranteed
first place payout.
For the first time, the L.A. Marathon will also be offering prize money and
bonuses for American and Californian athletes. The American and California
total prize purses will be $18,000 and $5000, respectively, for the top 3
places per gender. For anyone who places in the top 3 in multiple
categories, prizes are cumulative. In addition, Marathon organizers
announced a bonus of $1000 for any U.S. athletes who run under the 2008
Olympic Trials "A" qualifying times of 2:20:00 for men and 2:39:00 for
women.
"Coming off the largest race in our twenty-year history, we are pleased to
be able to increase our prize purse by more than 30% thanks to our
sponsors, participants and our new parent company, Devine Racing," said Los
Angeles Marathon President, Dr. William Burke. "With the addition of prize
money for the fastest Americans and Californians, the Los Angeles Marathon
is taking a leadership role in rewarding excellence."
About the Los Angeles Marathon
The 21st annual L.A. Marathon will take place on Sunday, March 19, 2006.
The Los Angeles Marathon presented by Honda, is the largest marathon held
in California, the fourth largest in the country and the seventh largest in
the world. It is expected to draw more than 25,000 runners from 50 states
and 100 countries in 2006. In total, event day will include more than
45,000 participants for the 26.2 mile run, the Acura L.A. Bike Tour and the
Emerald Nuts 5K Run/Walk. Registration for all three events is now open.
Since its inception, the L.A. Marathon, a Running USA Founding Member, has
raised more than $25 million for local charities by encouraging
participants to run for a cause. Once again, the L.A. Marathon promises to
deliver what has become known as the "Million Dollar Morning," as 50
charities will benefit from the anticipated $2.5 million raised by runners
who complete the 26.2-mile run.
The Los Angeles Marathon will once again be televised live on NBC4 and
Telemundo 52 and via the World Wide Web courtesy of NBC4. The webcast
enables a global audience to experience NBC4's live broadcast of the
marathon in real-time by logging onto NBC4.tv or by linking thru
www.LAMarathon.com.
In addition to American Honda Motor Co., Inc., marathon sponsors include
American Airlines, NBC4, Telemundo 52, Saucony and Emerald Nuts. To-date,
more than 375,000 runners and walkers have participated in the L.A.
Marathon.
For more information or to register for L.A. Marathon XXI, visit
www.LAMarathon.com or call (310) 444-5544.
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