PRRO Bonuses Sweeten the Pot for Runners at Upcoming Circuit Championship
Kiprono, Chepkurui, Wacera Could Earn $27,000 at 2014 Race of Champions at Utica Boilermaker
Three runners—Allan Kiprono, Lineth Chepkurui and Mary Wacera—have qualified to collect as much as $27,000 if they enter and win the upcoming PRRO Circuit Championship at the Utica Boilermaker 15K on July 14th. That amount includes the PRRO Circuit Bonus of $15,000 (split if an eligible male and female win), a “Bump-Up Bonus” of $5,000, and the first place Utica Boilermaker prize of $7,000. The Bump-Up Bonuses were added to the PRRO Circuit last fall to encourage runners to participate in multiple PRRO Circuit events.
Allan Kiprono became eligible to compete for the $15,000 PRRO Circuit purse by winning the Lilac Bloomsday Run on May 4th, and his potential bonus was “bumped up” an additional $5,000 by his third place finish at the Credit Union Cherry Blossom Ten Mile on April 6. Lineth Chepkurui became eligible with her win at the 2013 Utica Boilermaker, and her runnerup finish at this year’s Lilac Bloomsday Run increased her potential winnings by $5,000. Mary Wacera’s wins at the World’s Best 10K and Lilac Bloomsday gave her the same opportunity to collect Circuit Purse, Bump-Up Bonus and Utica prize money. An athlete must win at Boilermaker to collect any bonuses, and if an eligible male and female win, the PRRO Circuit Purse is split.
“We’re pleased with how the Bonus Purse and the Bump-Up Bonuses are encouraging participation in our PRRO Circuit events,” said PRRO President Don Kardong. “We expect the bonuses will enhance Boilermaker’s already outstanding field.”
Along with the opportunity Kiprono, Chepkurui and Wacera have to earn $27,000 if they win the PRRO Championship, four other atthletes are in the running to win $22,000. Bedan Karoki, Julius Kipyego Keter, Stephen Sambu and Mamitu Daska have all won a PRRO Circuit event this season, and could thus pocket the PRRO Circuit Bonus of $15,000 along with the first place Boilermaker prize of $7,000.
Under rules of the 2013-2014 PRRO Circuit, an athlete who wins one of the first four PRRO Circuit events, and finishes first at the PRRO Championship at the Utica Boilermaker, can claim the PRRO Circuit Bonus. The bonus grew to $15,000 this season after no one won last year’s prize. 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. Bump-Up Bonuses accrue with top-three placings in additional PRRO events.
The 2013-2014 PRRO Circuit included the Boilermaker in Utica, New York 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; and the Lilac Bloomsday Run 12K in Spokane, WA on May 4, 2014.The AJC Peachtree Road Race on July 4 is hosting men’s and women’s US Championships this year, and will resume its role as a PRRO Circuit qualfier in 2015.
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 the PRRO Circuit events. The testing is carried out by the United States Anti-Doping Agency.
A summary of results from the 2013-2014 PRRO Circuit to date appears below.
2013-2014 Events and Results (to date):
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 14, 2014, Utica, NY.
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