A new era begins for marathon running today when the 110th Boston Marathon marks the start of the World Marathon Majors, a “grand slam” with $1 million in prize money for the winners.
Created to increase interest in the sport and its stars, the concept involves the world’s five leading marathons – Boston, London, Berlin, Chicago and New York – with runners earning points for top-five finishes over a two-year period to determine winners. They also can accrue points at the biennial world championships and the Olympics.
The marathons have created an initial prize purse of $1 million – $500,000 going to the top man and top woman – which they hope to double when a sponsor is secured. The first WMM cycle will be completed at the 2007 New York City Marathon.
“Everybody is looking with anticipation to the start of this series, starting in Boston on Patriots Day and London the following weekend,” said Guy Morse, executive director of the Boston Athletic Association. “It’s going to add a new dynamic to (media coverage and) also how the elite athletes choose where they run in the future.”
The London Marathon will be held April 23. The other race locations and dates this year are Berlin on Sept. 24, Chicago on Oct. 22 and New York on Nov. 5.
“We believe that this is the most exciting thing that’s happened in our sport of marathon running for some time,” London race director Dave Bedford said.
Boston’s field includes Alan Culpepper of Lafayette and Olympic silver medalist Meb Keflezighi of Mammoth Lakes, Calif.
