Sport Industry Group

Two Oceans prize money up to R1.5m- 19 Apr 2011 00:00:00

A huge increase in prize money at this year's Old Mutual Two Oceans Marathon to R1.5m has enticed a number of top local and international athletes to compete in the race.

The increase in prize money by close to 50% will mean that the top male and female runners in the 56km ultra event each take home R250,000 for their efforts.

The new prize money schedule makes it one of the highest paying ultra events in the country and offers top runners a real incentive to focus on winning the event this year.

Eight of last year's top 10 men have entered the marathon, taking place this Saturday 23rd April, including last year's winner Mabhutile Lebopo, runner-up Moeketsi Mosuhli and third placed Teboho Sello all coming from Lesotho.

In the women's ultra event, seven of last year's top 10 have confirmed their entries, including the Nurgalieva twins who will have some tough competition this year in the form of previous winners Simone Staicu who won in 2003 and Madina Biktagirova who was the oldest winner of the event in 2007 at age 42.

‘The increase in prize money will hopefully provide the top runners with the incentive to focus on winning the ultra, as well as encouraging them to have a serious attempt at the respective course records, which were set over 20 years ago,’ added Rowyn James, race director.

James added that while the prize money has always been considered generous, they wanted to take it to the next level in order to attract some of road running's top names.

The second and third place male and female runners will each receive R125,000 and R65,000 respectively while total prize money on offer for the event is just under R1.5m. Last year's first prize winners received R150,000, second place R75,000 and third R50,000. 

A record field of close to 23,000 runners are expected to line up on Saturday, with just over 14,000 taking part in the half marathon - the biggest field in the event's history.  The ultra marathon has also attracted a large field of just under 9,000, not a record field but certainly one of the biggest fields in the ultra.