FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Boston Athletic Association and Principal
Sponsor John Hancock Announce Record Prize Purse
for 112th Boston Marathon
Top Finishers to Receive $796,000:
Largest increase since prize money introduced in 1986.
Boston, Mass. -- The Boston Athletic Association announced today that the
prize purse for the 112th Boston Marathon has been increased by more than
38%, climbing from $575,000 to $796,000. The purse, funded by principal
sponsor John Hancock Financial, will be the largest in the history of the
race. The world's oldest annual marathon first began offering prize money
in 1986 when John Hancock became the race's primary sponsor.
"For more than 20 years, John Hancock has partnered with the B.A.A. to
ensure that the Boston Marathon holds its status as one of the elite
marathons in the world," said Guy Morse, B.A.A. Executive Director. "With
more than $11 million in prize money awarded since 1986, John Hancock's
commitment to the Boston Marathon and the sport has been unwavering."
Prize money is awarded to the top open division finishers, as well as the
top masters and push-rim wheelchair division finishers. Under the new
prize structure, money has been added to the top five overall finishers in
each class.
The men's and women's open division victor will each receive $150,000, a
record level for guaranteed prize money among individual race winners from
the World Marathon Majors events, which – besides Boston – includes the
Flora London Marathon; Bank of America Chicago Marathon; real,- Berlin
Marathon; and the ING New York City Marathon.
"John Hancock is proud of its long history of supporting the Boston
Marathon, ensuring that it remains one of the world's premier road races,"
said John D. DesPrez III, President and Chief Executive Officer of John
Hancock Financial. "As we celebrate our 23rd year of fulfilling our promise
to the city of Boston and surrounding communities to support this great
race, we have also made a commitment to attract and reward the top runners
in the world that participate in this global event."
2008 Boston Marathon Prize Money as of April 14, 2008
| Overall | |
| Place | Amount |
| 1 | $150,000 |
| 2 | $75,000 |
| 3 | $40,000 |
| 4 | $25,000 |
| 5 | $15,000 |
| 6 | $12,000 |
| 7 | $9,000 |
| 8 | $7,400 |
| 9 | $5,700 |
| 10 | $4,200 |
| 11 | $2,600 |
| 12 | $2,100 |
| 13 | $1,800 |
| 14 | $1,700 |
| 15 | $1,500 |
| sub-total | $353,000 |
| total - open men and women | $706,000 |
| | |
| Additional Amount | $221,000 |
| | |
| Masters Division | |
| Place | Amount |
| 1 | $10,000 |
| 2 | $5,000 |
| 3 | $2,500 |
| 4 | $1,500 |
| 5 | $1,000 |
| sub-total | $20,000 |
| total - men and women | $40,000 |
| | |
| Wheelchair Division | |
| Place | Amount |
| 1 | $15,000 |
| 2 | $5,000 |
| 3 | $2,500 |
| 4 | $1,500 |
| 5 | $1,000 |
| sub-total | $25,000 |
| total - men and women | $50,000 |
Grand Total
$796,000
Catherine Ndereba leads all athletes in prize winnings from the Boston
Marathon, having collected $392,000 in total earnings. With his win in the
2007 Boston Marathon, Robert Cheruiyot became the all-time men's prize
leader with $319,000 earned.
The 112th Boston Marathon will be held next Monday, April 21, 2008,
Patriots' Day in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The race follows a
26.2-mile point-to-point route from the town of Hopkinton, Mass., to
Boston's Back Bay. The wheelchair division begins at 9:25 a.m. ET; the
Elite Women start at 9:35 a.m. ET; and the first wave of entrants,
including the Elite Men, commences at 10:00 a.m. ET.
Additional information about the Boston Marathon and the Boston Athletic
Association can be found online at www.baa.org.
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