MERRIE MILE OFFERS BUMPED-UP PRIZE MONEY & NEW RECORD BONUSES

HONOLULU (04-Dec) — Already one of the crucial prestigious street mile races in america, the Kalakaua Merrie Mile is now probably the most profitable. Race organizers introduced Tuesday that the winner of the December 7 occasion will obtain $7,500, the very best first-place prize for any American street mile.That caps a complete prize pool of $18,000 –up from $10,000 in 2023– for the distinctive mixed-sex pursuit race, showcasing 11 Olympians. The skilled girls’s subject could have a 32-second head begin over the lads, and prize cash is awarded based mostly on the general order of end for the highest 5. The runner-up receives $5,000, adopted by $3,000 for third, 1,500 for fourth, and $1,000 for fifth. (A girl has but to win the occasion, however that would change with this yr’s head begin being the longest but.)

Along with the general prize cash, the race presents bonuses of $10,000 for a world report and $5,000 for a USA report. The present world information are 3:51.3 by Nice Britain’’ Elliot Giles, set this previous September, and 4:20.98 by Ethiopia’s Diribe Welteji whereas successful the 2023 World Athletics Street Working title. Yared Nuguse (3:51.9) and Nikki Hiltz (4:28.0) maintain the U.S. information.

“The rise in prize cash within the Kalakaua Merrie Mile acknowledges the unbelievable contributions that world-class athletes have made to this unbelievable occasion,” stated Dr. Jim Barahal, president of the Honolulu Marathon Affiliation, which places on the race. “As we start a brand new period of this occasion with a worldwide streaming broadcast, we need to reward and proceed to work with the highest athletes on this planet for a few years to come back.”

The race was first held in 2016 together with the Honolulu Marathon and has rapidly develop into a preferred occasion, attracting Olympians and worldwide stars from world wide. 9 months after successful final yr’s race, Nuguse gained the bronze medal within the 1500-meter Olympic competitors in Paris.

“I actually love bringing athletes right down to Honolulu for the KMM; it’s the easiest way to finish our yr and have a good time a profitable yr,” stated coach and agent Stephen Haas, representing 5 athletes racing this yr. “The Honolulu Marathon staff actually has helped my athletes develop within the sport by offering them an important alternative to race a number of the finest athletes on this planet down right here yearly. We’re enthusiastic about this yr’s race and have been wanting ahead to placing on a very good present for everybody popping out to observe.”

The race encompasses a World Athletics-certified out-and-back course alongside Kalakaua Avenue in Waikiki. Along with the skilled subject, about 2,500 citizen runners will take part. A dwell stream will start at 7:30 a.m. native time on Saturday (12:30 pm Jap time) on the Honolulu Marathon’s YouTube channel (12:30 p.m. EST).

Hiltz –the reigning USA Monitor & Subject indoor and outside champion within the 1500 meters– will line up at this yr’s Merrie Mile after ending fifth general final yr. The ladies’s subject additionally contains Susan Ejore-Sanders of Kenya, who positioned sixth within the 1500m on the Paris Olympics (one spot forward of Hiltz), in addition to American Olympians Emily Mackay, Heather MacLean and Weini Kelati; Irish Olympian Sophie O’Sullivan, and Japanese Olympian Nozomi Tanaka. Rounding out the sector is Sinclaire Johnson, the 2022 U.S. champion within the 1500, who completed fourth on the 2024 U.S. Olympic Trials.

Chasing them within the males’s subject are a number of Olympians, together with People Hobbs Kessler (the 2023 World Athletics street mile champion), Bryce Hoppel and Nico Younger; Australian Oliver Hoare; and Neil Gourley of Nice Britain, the 2022 Merrie Mile winner. Additionally within the combine shall be Australia’s Jack Anstey, Kenya’s Festus Lagat, and final yr’s runner-up, Vince Ciattei, who completed fourth within the U.S. Olympic Trials in June.

“The Kalakaua Merrie Mile is one in every of my favourite occasions of the yr. There isn’t any higher athlete expertise anyplace,” stated Ciattei. “For the occasion organizers to extend the prize cash on prime of every thing else they do for us on race week is an incredible funding within the sport. Final yr, I seemed ahead to my first likelihood on the Merrie Mile all fall, and coming again and competing for larger prize cash this yr was much more motivating.”