With PRRO Circuit Bonuses, Mary Wacera Earns $27,000 at Utica Boilermaker
Bonus Resets to $10,000 for 2014-2015 PRRO Circuit
Mary Wacera of Kenya won the PRRO Circuit Championship and collected the $15,000
PRRO Circuit Bonus and a PRRO "Bump-Up Bonus" of $5,000 at this year's
Boilermaker 15K in Utica, NY on July 13. When added to the Boilermaker's $7,000 first place prize, Wacera's total winnings amounted to a whopping $27,000. Wacera became eligible to compete for the Circuit Bonus by winning the
World's Best 10K in Puerto Rico on February 23, and her victory at the
Lilac Bloomsday Run on May 4 made her eligible for the
"Bump-Up Bonus." The Bump-Up Bonuses – awarded to participants who win one PRRO Circuit race and place in the top three in a second PRRO Circuit race -- were added to the PRRO Circuit last fall to encourage runners to participate in multiple PRRO Circuit events.
Because Boilermaker was also the first race of the 2014-2015 PRRO Circuit, Wacera became eligible to compete for the Circuit Bonus at next year's PRRO Circuit Championship, as did
Geoffrey Kenisi Bundi, the men's winner at Boilermaker. The site of the 2015 PRRO Circuit Championship will be decided this fall.
"Mary Wacera has been a great champion this season, winning three PRRO Circuit Races," said PRRO President Don Kardong.
"Nobody deserves the $27,000 payday more than Wacera."
Under the rules of the PRRO Circuit, an athlete who wins one of the first four PRRO Circuit events,
and finishes first at the PRRO Championship, claims the PRRO Circuit Bonus. [The Bonus is split if an eligible male and female both win the Championship.] If no eligible athlete wins, then the Bonus grows by an additional $5,000 for the following season. With Wacera's win, the 2014-2015 Circuit Bonus resets to $10,000. The AJC Peachtree Road Race, which hosted the
Men's and Women's USA 10 km Championships this year, is expected to resume its role as a PRRO Circuit qualifier for 2015.
The 2013-2014 PRRO Circuit included the Boilermaker 15K in Utica, NY on July 8, 2013; the World's Best 10K in San Juan, Puerto Rico on February 23, 2014; the Credit Union Cherry Blossom Ten Mile in Washington, DC on April 6, 2014; the Lilac Bloomsday Run 12K in Spokane, WA on May 4, 2014; and the PRRO Championship at the Utica Boilermaker on July 13, 2014.
The PRRO Circuit offers world-class competition for athletes of all nations in events shorter than the marathon distance. The circuit has shown its commitment to a drug-free sport by funding mandatory drug testing for elite athletes at all PRRO Circuit events. The testing is carried out by the United States Anti-Doping Agency. Approximately 50 tests were conducted at PRRO Circuit events during the current season.
"Our elite field of runners is attracted to compete in the PRRO Circuit races, not only for the substantial prize awards but because they can be assured that they are competing on a clean and level playing field," said Kardong.
"We are dedicated to the development of elite runners by providing significant
prize money, world class competition and a clean sport environment."
A summary of results from the 2013-2014 PRRO Circuit appears below, along with a list of the 2014-2015 Circuit events.
2013-2014 Events and Results:
Boilermaker 15K,
July 8, 2013, Utica, NY.
Men's winner: Julius Kipyego Keter, Kenya, 43:55.
Women's winner: Lineth Chepkurui, Kenya, 50:33.
World's Best 10K,
February 23, 2014, San Juan, Puerto Rico.
Men's winner: Bedan Karoki, Kenya, 28:35. Women's winner: Mary Wacera, Kenya, 32:06.
Credit Union Cherry
Blossom Ten Mile,
April 6, 2014, Washington, DC.
Men's winner Stephen Sambu, Kenya, 45:29.
Women's winner: Mamitu Daska,
Ethiopia, 52:05.
Lilac Bloomsday Run 12K,
May 4, 2014, Spokane, WA.
Men's winner: Allan Kiprono, Kenya, 34:11.
Women's winner: Mary Wacera, Kenya, 39:36.
Boilermaker 15K (2013-2014 PRRO Championship),
July 13, 2014, Utica, NY.
Men's winner: Geoffrey Kenisi Bundi, Kenya, 44:18.
Women's winner: Mary Wacera, Kenya, 50:14.
2014-2015 Events:
Boilermaker 15K,
July 13, 2014 (next year July 12, 2015), Utica, NY. $40,000 in prize money with $6,000 for 1st.
Elite athlete contact: Dick Mattia, 315-732-1949.
2014 Men's winner: Geoffrey Kenisi Bundi, Kenya, 44:18.
Women's winner: Mary Wacera, Kenya, 50:14.
World's Best 10K,
March 1, 2015, San Juan, Puerto Rico. Over $120,000 in prize money and bonuses. $25,000 for 1st.
Elite athlete contact: Rafael Acosta,
787-767-2000.
Credit Union Cherry
Blossom Ten Mile,
April 12, 2015, Washington, DC. $50,000 in prize money and bonuses. $7,500 for first.
Elite athlete contact: Bill Orr, 863-533-0654.
Lilac Bloomsday Run 12K,
May 3, 2015, Spokane, WA. $81,000 in prize money. $7,000 for 1st.
Elite athlete contact: Jon Neill, 509-747-0101.
The AJC Peachtree Road Race,
July 4, 2015, Atlanta, GA. Over $113,000 in prize money. $15,000 for 1st.
Elite athlete contact: Elizabeth Unislawski, 404-231-9064 x11.
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