Organizers of the Lilac Bloomsday Run 12-K in Spokane, Wash., have added USA-only prize money to the 2009 edition of their event in an effort to attract and reward home country athletes. The additional $20,000 in prize money set aside for American citizens brings their total purse to $93,000, one of the largest of any non-marathon road race in the United States.
"Bloomsday's decision to increase the elite athlete purse shows its continued commitment to competitive distance running, both in the United States and internationally," said Bloomsday elite athlete coordinator Jon Neill in a prepared statement. "We're hopeful the American purse will draw top U.S. runners to Spokane and show that they can compete with the world's best."
Like most of the top road races in the United States which invite international fields, Bloomsday hasn't seen an American men's champion in a long time. The last American man to win Bloomsday was Jon Sinclair in 1986, while men from Kenya have won the last 15 editions of race. On the women's side, Colleen De Reuck was the last USA champion in 2002.
Race director Don Kardong has made sure the USA prize money will be fairly earned, however. In order to be eligibe for a home country award, an American athlete must finish in the top-25 overall. Also, the USA awards will be cumulative with open prizes, meaning that an American champion would earn a total payday of $12,000 ($7,000 open award plus $5,000 USA award). USA prize money will be paid five-deep, equal for men and women: $5,000-2,500-1,250-750-500.
Held the first Sunday in May, the race is also one of America's largest. Last year's edition, the 32nd, recorded 43,629 finishers, and the race has seen nearly 1.3 million finishers since its inception in 1977.
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