Elite Athletes
The Credit Union Cherry Blossom 10 Mile welcomes elite athletes from the United
States and around the globe. The event takes great pride in being the only event
in the Nation's Capital offering significant prize money to elite athletes.
Supporting elite athletes has been an important part of our mission since the
dawn of the prize money era in the early 1980s. The event has featured Olympic
Gold Medalists, World Champions, and World and American Record holders over the
years.
Our elite athlete program consists of travel and lodging for qualified athletes.
Our time standards for consideration as an elite athlete are as follows:
Men: Sub 48:00 10-mile time (or equivalent at a similar distance)
Women: Sub 56:00 10-mile time (or equivalent at a similar distance)
Athletes meeting these standards should contact Elite Athlete Coordinator Bill
Orr at borr@cherryblossom.org.
Drug
Testing of Elite Athletes
To help curb the use of performance-enhancing
drugs in distance running, there will be random drug testing among the prize
money winners of this year’s race.
As a member of the PRRO circuit, the Credit Union Cherry Blossom
supports and abides by the circuit's new policy which prohibits any travel or lodging expenses being offered to an elite athlete who
has been found guilty of a major doping offense and has served a suspension of two years or longer.
Partners for a Drug Free Sport
Advance
Start for Elite Women
Elite women who expect to complete the 10-mile
course in less than 61 minutes may be eligible for our elite women’s start. We
anticipate approximately 30 women for the advance start that will take place at
7:45 a.m. Contact Chan Robbins at snibbor@comcast.net
if you wish to be considered.
Prize Money
Structure
A total of $35,500 in prize money and bonuses will be awarded in 2008. Prize
money will be awarded to the first 12 men and
12 women as detailed below. Time bonuses of $750 will be awarded to the top two
sub-46:00 men and the top two sub-52:00 women.
A $30,000 bonus is offered to any runner winning the 2008 Credit Union
Cherry Blossom 10 mile, any one of the following races -- the 2007 Utica
Boilermaker 15k, the 2008 World's Best 10K, and the 2008 Lilac Bloomsday 12K -- and
the 2008 Peachtree Road Race 10K (split if the same man and woman accomplish the
feat in the same cycle). A trip to a major international race will be awarded to
the first U.S. male and female finisher.
| 2008
Prize Structure |
| Place |
Men |
Women |
| 1st |
$6000 |
$6000 |
| 2nd |
$3250 |
$3250 |
| 3rd |
$1500 |
$1500 |
| 4th |
$1200 |
$1200 |
| 5th |
$1000 |
$1000 |
| 6th |
$850 |
$850 |
| 7th |
$650 |
$650 |
| 8th |
$500 |
$500 |
| 9th |
$400 |
$400 |
| 10th |
$350 |
$350 |
| 11th |
$300 |
$300 |
| 12th |
$250 |
$250 |
Race
Awards
Awards were given to the first 25 men and
women in 2007. Trip to the PRRO Race of Champions at the 2007 Peachtree 10K in
Atlanta, GA to the first local man and woman. Prizes to the top 3 male and
female wheelchair finishers (push-rim only), and top finishers as
outlined below. The 2008 awards structure will be posted here as soon as it
becomes available:
| 2007
Awards Structure |
| Division |
# Awards
Men & Women |
| Open |
25 |
| Local |
1 |
| Wheelchair |
3 |
| 19 & under |
3 |
| 20-24 |
5 |
| 25-29 |
5 |
| 30-34 |
5 |
| 35-39 |
5 |
| 40-44 |
5 |
| 45-49 |
5 |
| 50-54 |
5 |
| 55-59 |
5 |
| 60-64 |
5 |
| 65-69 |
5 |
| 70-74 |
5 |
| 75-79 |
3 |
| 80+ |
1 |
Sister Race Bonus: The
top American male finisher wins an all-expenses paid trip to run in a race
in Japan. The top U.S. female won a
trip to a race in Europe.
Seeded Runners
Top open and age-group runners are
eligible for special seeded numbers. Seeded runners may be admitted after the
race closing and will be allowed to start the race in the second corral. If you
qualify, check the appropriate box on the entry form and send in the entry form
as instructed. Then send verifiable credentials to Chan Robbins, Seeded
Runner Coordinator, 3806 N. Richmond St., Arlington, VA 22207; snibbor@comcast.net.
You will hear back from Chan shortly after January 15, 2008. Qualifying times
are as follows:
Seeded Runner Qualifications
| |
Male |
Female |
| Open |
54:00 |
64:00 |
| 40-44 |
57:00 |
67:00 |
| 45-49 |
59:00 |
71:00 |
| 50-54 |
61:00 |
76:00 |
| 55-59 |
65:00 |
82:00 |
| 60-64 |
70:00 |
89:00 |
| 65-69 |
78:00 |
98:00 |
| 70-74 |
90:00 |
1:50:00 |
| 75+ |
1:45:00 |
2:05:00 |
|
