FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Shawn M. Platt
11 East Adams
Lower Level II
Chicago, IL 60604-1901
(312) 904-7240
(312) 907-2862 – Cell
(312) 904-6521 – FAX
shawn.platt@abnamro.com
www.chicagomarathon.com
LASALLE BANK CHICAGO MARATHON INCREASES PRIZE PURSE TO $650,000
Purse includes $125,000 to Top Finishers and $80,000 to Top Americans
CHICAGO (February 5, 2004)—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 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 (which take place this weekend) to American athletes who met
either the A-standard or B-standard qualifying times in Chicago. Seventy
American athletes who met the qualifying standards and who will compete in
the Olympic trials achieved the qualifying standard time in Chicago.
More impressively, 7 of the top 15 eligible American men competing in the
trials qualified for them in Chicago, including Alan Culpepper with a time
of 2:09:41 at the 2002 race and Meb Keflezighi with a time of 2:09:41 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 2:20:21 set in 1985.
“There is a very talented pool of American athletes that will be competing
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.”
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