Posted: May 12, 2007

Athletics (RRW): 2007-2008 PRRO Championship Bonus Reaches $30,000

From David Monti © 2007 Race Results Weekly, all rights reserved RaceResultsWeekly.com A $30,000 bonus awaits any athlete who can win two of the Professional Road Running Organization (PRRO) running circuit events plus the 2008 Peachtree Road Race when the 2007-2008 season kicks off with the Utica Boilermaker 15-K on Sunday, July 8. In addition to the Boilermaker, the circuit includes the 2008 World's Best 10-K in San Juan, Puerto Rico, on February 24, 2008; the Credit Union Cherry Blossom Ten Mile in Washington, D.C., on April 6, 2008; and the 2008 Lilac Bloomsday 12-K in Spokane, Wash., on May 4, 2008, plus the PRRO Championship at the 2008 Peachtree Road Race in Atlanta, GA on July 4, 2008. The bonus is paid out in addition to the prize money at the individual events. The bonus is split if an eligible male and female both win the Championship at Peachtree. Since no athlete won two or more of the five PRRO events during the 2006-2007 season, the bonus was increased by $5000 to the current $30,000 level. "I am sure the $30,000 bonus will greatly heighten interest in the 2007-2008 PRRO Circut," said PRRO President Don Kardong through a press release. "This is serious money, especially since all the events are at distances of 10 miles or less. Combined with first place prize money at the PRRO races, the winner will be earning somewhere between $57,000 and $77,000 for winning three non-marathon races." The bonus is very difficult to achieve. Winning one PRRO race in any given year is already a major accomplishment, and to then win the Peachtree --one of the most competitive road races in the world-- is a tall order. Nonetheless, Tracey Russell, who directs the Peachtree and is the executive director of the Atlanta Tracl Club, is hopeful. "We hope we will have one if not two athletes who have won two 2007-2008 PRRO Circuit events racing after the $30,000 circuit bonus at the 2008 Peachtree Road Race," she commented. This would be a most exciting finale to the 2007-2008 PRRO Championship Season." Besides the tough competition, the PRRO circuit is noteworthy for their mandatory drug testing at each event. The testing is carried out by the United States Anti-Doping Agency. Subscribe to the Runner's Web Weekly Digest