HMC Announces Increased Elite Prize Purse for 2017 Chevron Houston Marathon

HOUSTON (November 10, 2016) - The Houston Marathon Committee (HMC) announced today the highest elite prize purse to date for the 2017 Chevron Houston Marathon and Aramco Houston Half Marathon. A total of $278,000 in guaranteed prize money will be awarded to the top finishers in the four races on January 15th, including a $45,000 first place payout for both the men's and women's champions at the 2017 Chevron Houston Marathon and a $20,000 first place payout for both the men's and women's champions at the 2017 Aramco Houston Half Marathon. "Since its inaugural running in 1972, the Chevron Houston Marathon has developed a reputation as a flat, fast course that routinely offers cool weather," said Board President and Race Director Brant Kotch. "This, along with an increased prize purse, provide an ideal setting for our elite field to run their fastest race. Our 2016 Aramco Houston Half Marathon women's champion and runner-up,  Mary Wacera and Cynthia Limo, moved to ninth and 11th on the all-time world list and were the two tops seeds at the IAAF World Half Marathon Championships in March, following their performances in Houston." The marathon and half marathon will pay out to the top seven men and women across the line in each race. In addition to the awards based on finish, there are time-based bonuses varying between $1,000 and $10,000 in each race. There will also be a race record bonus of $30,000 for the marathon and $15,000 for the half marathon, along with a world record bonus of $100,000 for the marathon and $50,000 for the half marathon. Race Records Men's Marathon - 2:06:51 Women's Marathon - 2:23:14 Men's Half Marathon - 59:22 Women's Half Marathon - 1:06:29 World Records Men's Marathon - 2:02:57 Women's Marathon - 2:15:25 Men's Half Marathon - 58:23 Women's Half Marathon - 1:05:09 Following are the detailed prize money categories: Marathon prize money (Equal for men and women) 1 - $45,000 2 - $20,000 3 - $10,000 4 - $6,000 5 - $4,000 6 - $3,000 7 - $2,000 Race record bonus - $30,000 World record bonus - $100,000 Standard Time Bonus Incentives Men Sub 2:10, Women Sub 2:28 - $1,000 Men Sub 2:09, Women Sub 2:27 - $2,500 Men Sub 2:08:30, Women Sub 2:26 - $5,000 Men Sub 2:08, Women Sub 2:25 - $7,000 Men Sub 2:07:30, Women Sub 2:24 - $10,000 Masters (40+) 1 - $1,500 2 - $1,000 3 - $500 Local Athletes (Local invited runners must be able to prove permanent residence in one of 19 counties surrounding Houston.) 1 - $500 2 - $350 3 - $150 Local Masters 40-49 - $250 50-59 - $125 60-69 - $125 70-79 - $125 Half Marathon prize money (Equal for men and women) 1 - $20,000 2 - $10,000 3 - $5,000 4 - $3,000 5 - $2,000 6 - $1,500 7 - $1,000 Race record bonus - $15,000 World record bonus - $50,000 Standard Time Bonus Incentives Men Sub 1:02, Women Sub 1:11 - $1,000 Men Sub 1:01, Women Sub 1:10 - $3,000 Men Sub 1:00:30, Women Sub 1:09:30 - $5,000 Men Sub 1:00, Women Sub 1:09 - $10,000 Masters (40+) 1 - $1,000 Local Athletes (Local invited runners must be able to prove permanent residence in one of 19 counties surrounding Houston.) 1 - $250 2 - $150 3 - $100 Local Masters 40-49 - $150 50-59 - $75 60-69 - $75 70-79 - $75 For complete information on the 2017 Chevron Houston Marathon and Aramco Houston Half Marathon prize purse, please visit https://www.chevronhoustonmarathon.com/participants/elites/.