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 Elitss.
About the Houston Marathon Committee, Inc.
Established in 1972, the Houston Marathon Committee, Inc. (HMC) annually organizes the nation's premier winter marathon, half-marathon, and 5K. Over 250,000 participants, volunteers and spectators make Chevron Houston Marathon Race Day the largest single-day sporting event in Houston. A founding member of Running USA, the HMC is an IAAF bronze level event that retained Gold Certification from the Council of Responsible Sport and was awarded the AIMS Green Award for industry-leading sustainability initiatives. Race Weekend generates over $50 million in economic impact for the region annually. In 2016, the Run for a Reason Charity Program raised $2.3 million, while the Houston Marathon Foundation supported youth and community running initiatives. Televised annually by broadcast partner ABC13, 2016 was the first time that the event was syndicated live nationally and internationally on ESPN3 and the Longhorn Network. Host to 16 U.S. Half Marathon Championships since 2005 and the 1992 women's Olympic Trials Marathon, the HMC also conducted the 2012 men's and women's U.S. Olympic Trials Marathon.
For more information, visit ChevronHoustonMarathon.com or call 713.957.3453.
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