Posted at 11:40 a.m., Tuesday, August 15, 2006
Honolulu Marathon prize money more than doubles
Advertiser Staff
First-place prize money for men and women in this year's Honolulu Marathon will almost triple from last year.Winners will get $40,000, up from $15,000 for last year, said Jim Barahal, who will oversee his 20th race as marathon president. The 34th annual event will be held Dec. 10.
Total purse for men and women will increase from $65,000 to $150,000 with money for second through fifth doubling and money for men and women will be distributed equally.
Bonus structure will remain the same. A winner who breaks the Honolulu Marathon men's or women's time record will get an extra $10,000. There are also 11 different time incentive bonuses applicable to men and women that pay between $1,000 and $50,000.
The Honolulu Marathon began offering prize money in 1985 when first place paid $2,000.
Kenyans have won the men's division here 16 times since in 1985 and runners from former Soviet Republics have won the women's title nine of the last 10 years.
The defending men's champion and race record holder is 5-time winner Jimmy Muindi of Kenya. His record is 2 hours, 11 minutes and 12 seconds set in 2004.
The defending women's champion is Olesya Nurgalieva of Russia. The women's race record is held by three-time winner Lyubov Morgunova of Russia in 2 hours, 27 minutes and 33 seconds, also in 2004.
