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FIRSTENERGY AKRON MARATHON, HALF MARATHON & TEAM RELAY AWARDS

The Akron Marathon believes that supporting American Distance Running is our responsibility and should be a priority. With this in mind, our elite athlete invitations and prize purse for the Marathon, Half Marathon are reserved for those athletes who are Citizens of the United States.

The Akron Marathon will offer awards in the Men’s, Women’s and Non-Binary Divisions. Athletes that wish to be eligible for prize money or an invitation into the Elite Athlete or Seeded Programs are required to follow World Athletics, USA Track & Field, and World Para Athletics rules for competition as male or female.  Sex will be used for the Men’s & Women’s Divisions and Gender Identity, for those opting to compete in that division, will be used for the Non-Binary Division.

MEN’S & WOMEN’S DIVISON

MARATHON AWARDS

*Athletes can only be eligible for prize money in the event in which they are registered for.  All Overall and Master’s awards are based on Gun Time, not Chip Time.

Marathon Open Division

  • Men’s & Women’s First Place: $2,500 plus Champion Brouse Cup
  • Men’s & Women’s Second Place: $1,500
  • Men’s & Women’s Third Place: $1,000

Marathon Masters Division

  • Masters Men’s & Women’s First Place: $500 plus Champion Brouse Cup
  • Masters Men’s & Women’s Second Place: $375
  • Masters Men’s & Women’s Third Place: $250

Ohio Resident Division

This prize money is awarded to the first three men and first three women to finish the marathon who are residents of the State of Ohio at the time of the race regardless of age.

  • Men’s & Women’s First Place: $750
  • Men’s & Women’s Second Place: $500
  • Men’s & Women’s Third Place: $250

ADDITIONAL INCENTIVES FOR THE MARATHON

In addition to our prize money for the Marathon Open and Masters overall placement, cumulative cash incentives will be given to all runners who set a new event record.

 Open Men

  • Setting Event Record [2:15:59] – $500

Open Women

  • Setting Event Record [2:39:09] – $500

Masters Men

  • Setting Event Record [2:23:44] – $500

Masters Women

  • Setting Event Record [2:49:52] – $500

Wheelchair Division

  • Men’s & Women’s First Place: Award Plaque

Age Group Awards

  • Top Three Male and Female Marathon finishers in all age categories will receive recognition awards: 19 and under, 20-24, 25-29, 30-34, 35-39, 40-44, 45-49, 50-54, 55-59, 60-64, 65-69 and 70+. You can win only one award.

*In accordance with USATF policies, for The Akron Marathon & Half Marathon in September, where Prize Money is involved, participants CAN win more than one award where prize money is attached.  If you are an athlete over 40 years old and place in the top 3 in the Marathon or Half Marathon AND your finishing time also places you in the top 3 Masters for the race you competed in, you will be awarded the placement, awards, and prize money for the placement you earned in both the overall AND master’s categories.  Overall and Master’s winners will be removed from Age Group Awards.

MARATHON EVENT RECORDS

  • Men’s Marathon Open – Getachew Asfaw – 2:15:59 (2013)
  • Women’s Marathon Open – Maria Portilla – 2:39:09 (2005)
  • Men’s Masters Marathon – Richard Kessio – 2:23:44 (2014)
  • Women’s Masters Marathon – Elena Kaledina – 2:49:52 (2010)
  • Men’s Wheelchair Marathon – Joe Booth – 2:53:51 (2017)
  • Women’s Wheelchair Marathon – Holly Koester – 3:50:32 (2008)

HALF MARATHON AWARDS

*Athletes can only be eligible for prize money in the event in which they are registered for.  All Overall and Master’s awards are based on Gun Time, not Chip Time.

Half Marathon Open Division

  • Men’s & Women’s First Place: $1,000
  • Men’s & Women’s Second Place: $750
  • Men’s & Women’s Third Place: $500

Half Marathon Masters Division

  • Masters Men’s & Women’s First Place: $400
  • Masters Men’s & Women’s Second Place: $300
  • Masters Men’s & Women’s Third Place: $200

ADDITIONAL INCENTIVES FOR THE HALF MARATHON

In addition to our prize money for the Half Marathon Open and Masters overall placement, cumulative cash incentives will be given to all runners set a new event record.

Open Men

  • Setting Event Record [1:03:58] – $500

Open Women

  • Setting Event Record [1:14:18] – $500

Masters Men

  • Setting Event Record [1:05:16] – $500

Masters Women

  • Setting Event Record [1:23:58] – $500

Age Group Awards

  • Top Three Male and Female Marathon finishers in all age categories will receive recognition awards: 19 and under, 20-24, 25-29, 30-34, 35-39, 40-44, 45-49, 50-54, 55-59, 60-64, 65-69 and 70+. You can win only one award.

*In accordance with USATF policies, for The Akron Marathon & Half Marathon in September, where Prize Money is involved, participants CAN win more than one award where prize money is attached.  If you are an athlete over 40 years old and place in the top 3 in the Marathon or Half Marathon AND your finishing time also places you in the top 3 Masters for the race you competed in, you will be awarded the placement, awards, and prize money for the placement you earned in both the overall AND master’s categories.  Overall and Master’s winners will be removed from Age Group Awards.

HALF MARATHON EVENT RECORDS

  • Men’s Half Marathon Open – Nicholas Too – 1:03:58 (2015)
  • Women’s Half Marathon Open – Hellen Jepkurgat – 1:14:18 (2015)
  • Men’s Masters Half Marathon – Kevin Castille – 1:05:16 (2017)
  • Women’s Masters Half Marathon – Jennifer Simmerman – 1:23:58 (2023)

NON-BINARY DIVISION AWARDS 

 Top three overall finishers in the Marathon and Half Marathon will receive an award. These awards are based on chip time. Awards are mailed 6-8 weeks post-race, after results have been finalized. 

WHEELCHAIR DIVISON AWARDS 

Top finishers in each division will receive an award. These awards are based on gun time. Awards are mailed 6-8 weeks post-race.

TEAM RELAY

Top three teams for each of the following three divisions: 

  • Men’s Team Relay 
  • Men’s Masters Team Relay 
  • Women’s Team Relay 
  • Women’s Masters Team Relay
  • Mixed Team Relay (your team consists of participants who are male, female, and/or non-binary) 
  • Mixed Masters Team Relay (your team consists of participants who are male, female, and/or non-binary) 

*For the team relay division at The Akron Marathon in September, where no prize money is involved, participants can only win one award.  Overall placements are weighted more heavily than Master’s placements, therefore if you are a team of Master’s Runners who place in the top three overall, you will be awarded as such. Awards are mailed 6-8 weeks post-race, after results have been finalized. 

TEAM RELAY EVENT RECORDS

  • Men’s Open – Second Sole – 2:11:32 (2012)
  • Men’s Masters – Canal Rats – 2:38:56 (2013)
  • Women’s Open – Cleveland Elite Development – 2:42:09 (2016)
  • Women’s Masters – Your Moms… – 3:13:50 (2011)
  • Mixed Open – SupportBHunt – 2:20:06 (2005)
  • Mixed Masters – Green Eggs & Hamstrings – 2:47:13 (2014)

DRUG POLICY

Athletes who participate in this competition may be subject to drug testing by the United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) in accordance with the World Athletics Procedural Guidelines for Doping Control or the Olympic Movement Anti-Doping code. Any substance taken by an athlete is at his/her own risk and may result in a positive sample. Information on drugs and drug testing may be obtained by calling the USADA Drug Reference Hotline at 800-233-0393 or visiting the USADA website.