100 Days Until 2008 U.S. Olympic Team Trials-Women's Marathon
Top American Women to Compete for $250,000 in Prize Money

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Posted Friday, 11 January, 2008

Boston, Mass. -- Just 100 days remain until the 2008 U.S. Olympic Team Trials-Women's Marathon. The race is scheduled for Sunday, April 20, at 8:00 a.m., the day before the 112th Boston Marathon. On this occasion, the Boston Athletic Association and USA Track & Field have announced a $250,000 prize purse for the event.

"Excitement for these Olympic Trials has been growing in Boston for more than two years, and now with just 100 days until the event anticipation continues to grow," said Guy Morse, Executive Director of the Boston Athletic Association. "As we begin the final count-down to the starting gun, we are pleased to announce that the top 15 finishers in the Olympic Trials will be awarded $250,000, in addition to the top three earning spots on the U.S. Olympic Team."

2008 U.S. Olympic Team Trials-Women's Marathon Prize Money

1st Place $50,000
2nd Place $40,000
3rd Place $30,000
4th Place $20,000
5th Place $15,000
6th Place $12,000
7th Place $10,000
8th Place $9,000
9th Place $8,000
10th Place $7,000
11th Place $6,000
12th Place $5,000
13th Place $4,000
14th Place $2,500
15th Place $1,500

Total $220,000

Olympic Marathon Team Bonuses (Olympic Marathon participation required)

1st Place Bonus $10,000
2nd Place Bonus $10,000
3rd Place Bonus $10,000

Total Bonuses $30,000

To date, 166 women have met either the "A" (2:39:00) or "B" (2:47:00 or 33:00.00 for 10,000m on the track) qualifying standards. The 19 women who have met the "A" standard will have their travel and lodging for the Olympic Trials paid for. The top three finishers in the Olympic Trials will represent the United States at the Olympic Games in Beijing this summer. The women's Olympic marathon is scheduled for August 17.

Among the women to have qualified is 2004 U.S. Olympic Team Trials-Women's Marathon champion Colleen De Reuck, and 2004 Olympic bronze medalist Deena Kastor. Other past Olympians to have qualified are 1984 gold medalist Joan Samuelson, Marla Runyan, and Kate O'Neill.

"We look forward to an exciting time in Boston for our Olympic Trials qualifiers. With a tougher qualifying standard set for this 2008 event we are thrilled with the number of women who have set personal bests to get to the starting line in Boston," said Elizabeth Phillips, Chair of USATF Women’s Long Distance Running Committee. "The course is spectator friendly and the city will be filled with runners from around the world who will be ready to race the next day in the Boston Marathon."

The U.S. Olympic Team Trials-Women's Marathon will be held on a unique multi-loop course in Boston and Cambridge, finishing at the famed Boston Marathon finish line on Boylston Street. A detailed description of the course with a video course tour, as well as bios of all of the qualifiers, can be found at www.bostontrials2008.com.

USA Track & Field

USA Track & Field (USATF) is the National Governing Body for track and field, long-distance running and race walking in the United States. USATF encompasses the world's oldest organized sports, the most-watched events of Olympic broadcasts, the #1 high school and junior high school participatory sport and more than 30 million adult runners in the United States.

USATF is a volunteer-driven, not-for-profit organization with a staff of professional program administrators at the National Office in Indianapolis. The mission of USATF is to foster sustained competitive excellence, interest, and participation in the sports of track & field, long distance running, and race walking. For more information, visit www.usatf.org.

Boston Athletic Association

Established in 1887, the Boston Athletic Association is a non-profit organization with a mission of managing athletic events and promoting a healthy lifestyle through sports, especially running. The B.A.A.'s Boston Marathon is the world's oldest annual marathon, and the organization manages other local events, including the B.A.A. Half Marathon presented by Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and the Jimmy Fund, and supports comprehensive charity, youth, and year-round running programs. Since 1986, the principal sponsor of the Boston Marathon has been John Hancock Financial Services. The B.A.A. is the local organizing committee for the 2008 U.S. Olympic Team Trials- Women's Marathon.

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