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The runners stand to make up to Ksh27 million if they can win and set new records in the grueling race
Kenya’s Amos Kipruto, Kelvin Kiptum, Perir Jepchirchir, and Brigid Kosgei are among the top names who are being tipped to triumph at Sunday’s London Marathon and there is up to Ksh27 million up for grabs for them.
London Marathon is not as lucrative as Boston as the winners each get $55,000 (Ksh7.3 million) but pays perhaps the highest amount when it comes to setting new records at the course.
On top of the winner’s prize, any runner in the men's race who runs a sub-2:02.00 time can get a share of $150,000 (Ksh20 million). That goes down to $100,000 (Ksh13.4 million) for under 2:03.00, $75,000 (Ksh10 million) for sub-2:04.00, and $50,000 (Ksh6.7 million) for under 2:05.
The same also goes for women who run sub 2:17.30, with $150,000 being the cash prize there. Then $100,000 for anyone under 2:18, $75,000 for sub-2:19 and $50,000 for under 2:20.
No man has ever run sub-2:02.00 in London with Kenya’s Eliud Kipchoge clocking the fastest time on the course when he managed 2:02:38 on his way to winning his fourth title in the English capital in 2019.
Kenya’s Mary Keitany holds the women’s course record after running 2:17:01 in 2017, meaning the Class of 2023 have an uphill task if they are to get their hands on the entire windfall.
Defending champion Kipruto could only manage 2:04:39 while winning last year’s race as Ethiopia’s Yalemzerf Yehualaw won the women’s race in 2:17:26, the second fastest time ever recorded in London.
However, that has not stopped the current crop from dreaming with Kiptum and Jepchirchir expressing an interest to go for the world record.
“If the weather will be favourable, I will definitely attempt to break the world record. If there will be unfavourable conditions, then I will have to wait until my next race,” Jepchirchir said of the world record of 2:14:04 set by compatriot Kosgei in Chicago in 2019. World records have been broken six times at the London Marathon.
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