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 Medallists, 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 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 Women

Women who expect to complete the 10-mile course in less than 61 minutes may participate in our women’s advance start. We anticipate approximately 30 women for the advance start which will take place at 7:30 A.M. Women must start with the women’s advance start in order to be eligible for prize money. 

Women with sub-56:00 times should contact Elite Athlete Coordinator Bill Orr at borr@cherryblossom.org. 

Women with over 56:00 times should contact Seeded Runner Coordinator Chan Robbins after January 15, 2010 at seededrunners@cherryblossom.org if you wish to be considered.

Prize Money Structure

A total of $42,500 in prize money and bonuses will be awarded in 2010 in equal amounts to the top 10 men and top 10 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 total of $3,500 in prize money will be awarded to the top 3 U.S. men and women who finish in the top 15 finishers. The breakdown is detailed below.

The PRRO Circuit Championship bonus of $35,000 will be paid to any runner winning any one of the following races – The 2009 Boilermaker 15K in Utica, NY, 2010 World’s Best 10k, the 2010 Credit Union Cherry Blossom 10 mile, or the 2010 Lilac Bloomsday 12K – plus the 2010 Peachtree Road Race 10K. (The bonus will be split if a man and woman accomplish the feat in the same cycle.)

Race Awards

Awards will be given to the first 25 men and women. A trip to the PRRO Race of Champions at the 2010 Peachtree 10K in Atlanta, GA will be awarded 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. 

RRCA National Championship Awards

RRCA National Championship awards will be given to the first place male and female, first place male and female Masters (40-49), and first place male and female Grandmasters (50-and-over).

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. To be considered send verifiable credentials to Chan Robbins at seededrunners@cherryblossom.org. 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