Credit Union Cherry Blossom 10 Mile Hosts 26th PRRO Championship

March 24, 2023

At the 50th anniversary edition, Nicholas Kosimbei and Susanna Sullivan to chase $10,000 PRRO Super Bonus

WASHINGTON, DC /ENDURANCE SPORTSWIRE/ – Nicholas Kosimbei and Susanna Sullivan could earn big paydays by defending their titles at the 50th anniversary edition of the Credit Union Cherry Blossom 10 Mile in Washington, DC on Sunday, April 2. In addition to the event’s generous guaranteed prize purse of $65,000 ($40,000 in the international division and $25,000 in the U.S. division) plus a $50,000 shared bonus for World and American records, and time bonus incentives (sub-46 men and sub-52 women), Kosimbei and Sullivan would be awarded the $10,000 PRRO Super Bonus (equal share if both win). If they finish in places 2-10, they each would take home the $1500 PRRO Event Champion’s Bonus. The pair became eligible for these PRRO bonuses by winning last year’s Credit Union Cherry Blossom, an event on the 2022-23 PRRO Circuit. If a non-eligible athlete wins the PRRO Championship, he or she will earn a $2500 bonus.

“The Credit Union Cherry Blossom 10 Mile hosts our PRRO Championship for the second time, and at the 2023 spring classic, we expect the competition to be fierce and fast among the world class American and international runners,” said PRRO President Don Kardong.

More than 16,000 are expected to run the 10 Mile through the fabled Japanese cherry trees in the nation’s capital on a flat, fast course that passes by all the major DC monuments in the annual Runner’s Rite of Spring. The 10 Mile also hosts the USATF and RRCA Championships. In addition, there are 7,000 entrants in the accompanying 5K on Saturday, April 1.

The PRRO Circuit showcases world class competition at America’s Classic Road Races, the Credit Union Cherry Blossom 10 Mile, the Lilac Bloomsday Run 12K in Spokane, WA and the Boilermaker 15K in Utica, NY. Circuit prize money totals more than $285,000 in guaranteed prize money overall, including $95,000 in U.S.-only money. The PRRO Circuit, a nationwide series of premier non-marathon road racing events, is organized and promoted by the Professional Road Running Organization (PRRO), an alliance of race directors. Due to the impacts of COVID-19, the 2019-20 and 2020-21 PRRO Circuit seasons were cancelled.

The 2022 Boilermaker 15K hosted the 25th PRRO Championship, winning titles were Jemal Yimer Mekonnen of Ethiopia and Rosemary Wanjiru of Kenya in 42:38 and 48:54, respectively.

PRRO CIRCUIT EVENTS 2022-23

Credit Union Cherry Blossom 10 Mile, April 3, 2022, Washington, DC

$71,000 in prize money ($31,000 U.S. prize money) plus performance & record bonuses

WINNERS: Nicholas Kosimbei*, Kenya, 45:15 (tied course record) and Susanna Sullivan*, USA, 52:32

Lilac Bloomsday Run 12K, May 1, 2022, Spokane, WA

$81,000 in prize money ($20,000 U.S. prize money)

WINNERS: Charles Wanjiku*, Kenya, 35:07 and Biruktayit Degefa*, ETH, 38:48

45th Boilermaker 15K, July 10, 2022, Utica, NY

$65,100 in prize money ($14,500 U.S. prize money)

WINNERS: Jemal Yimer Mekonnen*, Ethiopia, 42:38 and Rosemary Wanjiru*, Kenya, 48:54

*Qualified to compete for the $10,000 PRRO Super Bonus at the 2023 PRRO Championship.

THE 26th PRRO CHAMPIONSHIP

50th Credit Union Cherry Blossom 10 Mile, April 2, 2023, Washington, DC

$71,000 in prize money ($31,000 U.S. prize money) plus performance & record bonuses

To-date, PRRO Circuit events have produced 17 world and 17 U.S. road records, awarded more than $7.9 million in prize money and seen more than 2.5 million runners cross their finish lines. In addition, since 1996, the PRRO Championship race has paid out more than $2 million including $177,000 in PRRO Championship bonus money.

PRRO Championship and Circuit Year

The PRRO Circuit, launched in 1995, starts and finishes the Circuit Year at the same event that will also host the season-ending PRRO Championship race. The reigning titlists of the PRRO Championship and the event winners on the current Circuit are eligible to compete for the PRRO Super Bonus at the PRRO Championship.

Visit PRRO.org for more information, including its history and past champions, as well as how to join the PRRO Circuit.

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