runnersweb.com reportsTwo additional athletes will join Ridouane Harroufi of Morocco and Alice Timbili of Kenya in pursuit of the $10,000 PRRO Circuit purse as the series moves to its second stop at the World's Best 10K in San Juan, Puerto Rico on Sunday, February 28. Under the new format adopted last year, the male and female winners of each PRRO circuit event are eligible to race for the bonus at the PRRO Championship held each year at the Atlanta Journal-Constitution Peachtree Road Race on July 4th.
Harroufi and Timbili earned their eligibility by capturing the first titles up for grabs on the 2009-10 PRRO Circuit purse at the Boilermaker 15K in Utica, New York last July 12th.
In the 2008-09 PRRO Circuit, Kenyan stars Sammy Kitwara and Lineth Chepkurui each claimed half ($17,500) of the $35,000 Circuit purse by winning the Atlanta Journal-Constitution Peachtree Road Race. Once a bonus is paid out, it resets to $10,000 the following year and grows by $5000 each year that it is not claimed at the Championship race. If a qualified male and female both win the Championship, the purse is shared.
"We adjusted our rules a year ago to allow an athlete to become eligible to compete for the Circuit purse by winning just one of the first four races," said PRRO President Don Kardong. "That means there should always be several athletes in contention for the Purse at the PRRO Championship each year at the Atlanta Journal-Constitution Peachtree Road Race."
The PRRO Circuit offers world-class competition for athletes of all nations in events at less than the marathon distance. The Circuit has shown its commitment to a drug-free sport by funding mandatory drug testing for professional athletes at all the PRRO Circuit events. The testing is carried out by the United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA).
The 2009-10 PRRO Circuit series:
* Boilermaker 15K, July 12, 2009, Utica, NY
Men's winner: Ridouane Harroufi (MAR), 43:56
Women's winner: Alice Timbili (KEN), 49:32
* World's Best 10K, February 28, 2010, San Juan, Puerto Rico
Over $600,000 in prize money and bonuses; $25,000 for 1st; elite athlete contact: Rafael Acosta, (787) 767-2000.
* Credit Union Cherry Blossom Ten Mile, April 11, 2010, Washington, DC
$40,000 in prize money and bonuses; $7500 for first; elite athlete contact: Bill Orr, (863) 533-0654.
* Lilac Bloomsday 12K, May 2, 2010, Spokane, WA
Over $80,000 in prize money; $7000 for 1st; elite athlete contact: Jon Neill, (509) 747-0101
* Atlanta Journal-Constitution Peachtree Road Race (2009-10 PRRO Championship), July 4, 2010, Atlanta, GA
Over $80,000 in prize money; $15,000 for 1st; $10,000 PRRO Circuit Bonus for eligible runners; elite athlete contact: Elizabeth Unislawski, (404) 231-9064 x11
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