Posted: November 16, 2007

Athletics: Rome Marathon Offers Generous Bonuses, Prize Money

From David Monti © 2007 Race Results Weekly, all rights reserved RaceResultsWeekly.com The 14th edition of the Maratona della Città di Roma, set for Mar. 16, 2008, will not only offer runners a beautiful course through one of the world's most historic cities, but a chance to win sizable bonuses and prize money. While it is unlikely that a new world record would be set in Rome, there is a €250,000 ($366,000) world record bonus for the first man to break 2:04:26 or the first woman to break 2:15:25. Perhaps more realistic are the €50,000 ($73,000) bonuses for a new Italian all-comers record for either men (2:07:45) or women (2:24:59). Furthermore, Italian citizens can earn a €75,000 ($110,000) bonus for breaking either their male (2:07:22) or female (2:23:47) national records. Finally, there are €25,000 ($37,000) bonuses for new male or female course records (2:08:02 and 2:25:07, respectively). The race is also offering equal prize money for men and women based solely on finishe position. The above bonuses are cumulative with the prize money (Euros): 1st, €16,000 ($23,000); 2nd, €10,000; 3rd, €7,000; 4th, €5,000; 5th, €3,000,00; 6th, €2,000; 7th, €1,000; 8th, €750; 9th, €500; 10th, €500. The winners of the 2007 edition of the race were Elias Kemboi of Kenya in 2:09:36, and Souad Ait Salem of Algeria who set both a national and course record of 2:25:08. The Maratona della Città di Roma is the largest marathon in Italy. The 2007 edition had a record 12,027 finishers, including 1,832 women. The race website is at www.maratonadiroma.it. Subscribe to the Runner's Web Weekly Digest