Courtesy: hp houston marathon

The hp houston marathon will once again be a payday for its top finishers, with prize money making a return appearance at the 2003 edition of the event. The addition of an $18,000-prize purse provides further incentive for the area's elite runners.

"We have made significant strides in the past two years to enhance several aspects of the event, from extending the time limit for the marathon to adding a half-marathon to encourage more participation," said race director Brant Kotch. "Offering prize money will allow us to attract the most talented runners from around Houston and the state to elevate the overall competitiveness of the field in both the marathon and half- marathon."

The top finishers in the hp houston marathon and ep 13.1 miler will be competing for their share of the prize money, with $13,500 being offered in the marathon and $4,500 up for the taking in the half-marathon.

Unlike previous years, when the race sought out world-class runners by offering a prize structure of more than $100,000, the prize purse for the 2003 event is designed as an inducement for elite runners on the local and regional level.

"Rewarding this amount of prize money is consistent with our number-one objective of making this the best community event in the country," said Kotch. "Our races are open to all runners, but unlike in years past when we offered prize money, we won't be recruiting world-class athletes. Local and regional runners comprise the majority of our marathon and half-marathon fields, and we don't envision that changing by awarding prize money."

The 2003 race is scheduled for Sunday, Jan. 19 - the marathon's 31st consecutive running. The hp houston marathon and the ep 13.1 miler will begin at 7 a.m., with the course closing at 1 p.m. Both races, and the companion four-mile fun run, the 24 hour fitness 4 miler, will start and finish at the George R. Brown Convention Center. The routes will follow the new courses used last year.

Prize structure for 2003 event

hp houston marathon

First             $3,500

Second            $1,500

Third             $750

Masters           $500

Wheelchair        $500
ep 13.1 miler

First             $1,000

Second            $500

Third             $250

Masters           $250

Wheelchair        $250