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

By Rich Sands, @thatrichsands.bsky.social
(c) 2024 Race Results Weekly, all rights reserved, used with permission. 

HONOLULU (04-Dec) — Already one of the most prestigious road mile races in the United States, the Kalakaua Merrie Mile is now the most lucrative. Race organizers announced Tuesday that the winner of the December 7 event will receive $7,500, the highest first-place prize for any American road mile.That caps a total prize pool of $18,000 –up from $10,000 in 2023– for the unique mixed-sex pursuit race, showcasing 11 Olympians. The professional women’s field will have a 32-second head start over the men, and prize money is awarded based on the overall order of finish for the top 5. The runner-up receives $5,000, followed by $3,000 for third, 1,500 for fourth, and $1,000 for fifth. (A woman has yet to win the event, but that could change with this year’s head start being the longest yet.)

In addition to the overall prize money, the race offers bonuses of $10,000 for a world record and $5,000 for a USA record. The current world records are 3:51.3 by Great Britain’’ Elliot Giles, set this past September, and 4:20.98 by Ethiopia’s Diribe Welteji while winning the 2023 World Athletics Road Running title. Yared Nuguse (3:51.9) and Nikki Hiltz (4:28.0) hold the U.S. records.

“The increase in prize money in the Kalakaua Merrie Mile recognizes the incredible contributions that world-class athletes have made to this incredible event,” said Dr. Jim Barahal, president of the Honolulu Marathon Association, which puts on the race. “As we begin a new era of this event with a worldwide streaming broadcast, we want to reward and continue to work with the top athletes in the world for many years to come.”

The race was first held in 2016 in conjunction with the Honolulu Marathon and has quickly become a popular event, attracting Olympians and international stars from around the world. Nine months after winning last year’s race, Nuguse won the bronze medal in the 1500-meter Olympic competition in Paris.

“I really love bringing athletes down to Honolulu for the KMM; it’s the best way to end our year and celebrate a successful year,” said coach and agent Stephen Haas, representing five athletes racing this year. “The Honolulu Marathon team really has helped my athletes grow in the sport by providing them a great opportunity to race some of the best athletes in the world down here every year. We are excited about this year’s race and have been looking forward to putting on a good show for everyone coming out to watch.”

The race features a World Athletics-certified out-and-back course along Kalakaua Avenue in Waikiki. In addition to the professional field, about 2,500 citizen runners will participate. A live stream will begin at 7:30 a.m. local time on Saturday (12:30 pm Eastern time) on the Honolulu Marathon’s YouTube channel (12:30 p.m. EST).

Hiltz –the reigning USA Track & Field indoor and outdoor champion in the 1500 meters– will line up at this year’s Merrie Mile after finishing fifth overall last year. The women’s field also includes Susan Ejore-Sanders of Kenya, who placed sixth in the 1500m at the Paris Olympics (one spot ahead of Hiltz), as well as American Olympians Emily Mackay, Heather MacLean and Weini Kelati; Irish Olympian Sophie O’Sullivan, and Japanese Olympian Nozomi Tanaka. Rounding out the field is Sinclaire Johnson, the 2022 U.S. champion in the 1500, who finished fourth at the 2024 U.S. Olympic Trials.

Chasing them in the men’s field are several Olympians, including Americans Hobbs Kessler (the 2023 World Athletics road mile champion), Bryce Hoppel and Nico Young; Australian Oliver Hoare; and Neil Gourley of Great Britain, the 2022 Merrie Mile winner. Also in the mix will be Australia’s Jack Anstey, Kenya’s Festus Lagat, and last year’s runner-up, Vince Ciattei, who finished fourth in the U.S. Olympic Trials in June.

“The Kalakaua Merrie Mile is one of my favorite events of the year. There is no better athlete experience anywhere,” said Ciattei. “For the event organizers to increase the prize money on top of everything else they do for us on race week is an amazing investment in the sport. Last year, I looked forward to my first chance at the Merrie Mile all fall, and coming back and competing for higher prize money this year was even more motivating.”