Media Contact: Sharon Gallagher
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Philadelphia Marathon Weekend Adds Equal Prize Money
Across Three Gender Categories in Open Division
PHILADELPHIA, PA Aug 22, 2024 – The City of Philadelphia and Philadelphia Marathon Weekend organizers are excited to announce that for the 2024 Full Marathon, Half Marathon, and 8K races there will now be prize money and awards for the top finishers in the Open Division across three gender categories (Men’s, Women’s and Nonbinary). This will be the first year that non-professional athletes can compete to win prize money as top finishers. In the past, the first Philadelphian and first Masters (runners over 40 years of age) received prize money; this change expands opportunities for local and non-professional athletes to receive cash awards.
“This will be the first time I am Mayor during the Philadelphia Marathon and I’m proud we are continuing to make the Marathon an inclusive experience for all participants, reflecting this Administration’s goal and commitment to be One Philly – a United City,” said Mayor Cherelle L. Parker.
“This addition speaks to our team’s and the City’s commitment to continuous improvement, which helps to ensure our participants feel that Philadelphia hosts one of the top races in the country in terms of a quality experience and inclusiveness,” said David G. Wilson, Deputy Managing Director for General Services, City of Philadelphia. “This commitment to ongoing improvement is evident since the Dietz & Watson Philadelphia Half Marathon was named #3 in USA Today’s 10 Best Half Marathon’s list for 2024 and all races that comprise the Philadelphia Marathon Weekend are on pace to sell out this year.”
In addition to expanding prize money into the Open Division generally, this policy change will allow nonbinary individuals to run as their authentic selves and receive prize money as top finishers. Race organizers have been implementing inclusionary practices in the Philadelphia Marathon Weekend experience for over two years now. “We’ve had nonbinary categories in all of our races since 2022. This year we wanted to create a space within our races where runners who identify as nonbinary can compete for prize money,” said Kathleen Titus, Philadelphia Marathon Weekend Race Director.
The Marathon organizers will take a face-value approach to monitoring all gender categories within the Open Division. This means that within the Open Division, individuals will be able to select the gender that aligns with their identity and no additional supporting evidence will be required.
“I’m pleased that the Marathon is taking this approach to awarding prize money across all three genders in the Open Division and the face-value approach to monitoring is crucial in ensuring equity within this space” Celena Morrison-McLean, Executive Director, Office of LGBT Affairs.
The races that comprise the Philadelphia Marathon Weekend are on pace to sell out this year, so if you or someone you know is planning to run, register today!
Philadelphia Marathon Weekend organizers will continue to post updates on the Philadelphia Marathon Weekend website: https://www.philadelphiamarathon.com
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