Quad-City Times Bix 7 Hosts Third PRRO Circuit 2023-24 Stop

July 27, 2023

Midwest summer classic offers $50,000 U.S. prize money for national championship race

DAVENPORT, IA /ENDURANCE SPORTSWIRE/ – As the third stop on the PRRO Circuit 2023-24, the Quad-City Times Bix 7 will encourage participants to “Run with the Best” on Saturday morning, July 29. The 49th edition of the Midwest summer tradition is again the host of the USATF Men & Women’s 7 Mile Championships, offering $50,000 in national championship money with $12,500 for each USA champion.

“The Quad-City Times Bix 7 is thrilled to be the third stop on the current PRRO Circuit, showcasing America’s Classic Road Races. Together with the USATF Championships, our 49th running truly will be extra special,” said Michelle Juehring, race director.

The deep U.S. fields expected at Bix 7 include:

• MEN: three-time race champion Leonard Korir (2013, ’15 & ’21), Sam Chelanga (2017 USATF champion at Bix), Biya Simbassa (2022 USATF 25K champion), Futsum Zienasellassie (2019 USATF 10 Mile & 2022 USATF Marathon champion), Clayton Young (2023 USATF 8K champion), John Dressel (2023 USATF 25K champion), Frank Lara (2020 USATF 15K champion & ’21 race runner-up) and Reid Buchanan
• WOMEN: Aliphine Tuliamuk (2017 USATF Champion at Bix & 2020 Tokyo Olympian, marathon), Edna Kurgat (2023 USATF 6K champion), Nell Rojas (2021 USATF 10 Mile champion at Cherry Blossom), Kellyn Taylor (2014 USATF 25K champion), Caroline Rotich (2011 Bix champion & 2012, ’18 & ’22 runner-up) and Annie Frisbie

“The Bix 7, a true American classic road race, has drawn a top U.S. contingent to vie for the $50,000 prize purse and national crowns, with the winners also earning start line spots at the 2024 PRRO Championship next May at the Lilac Bloomsday Run 12K,” said Don Kardong, PRRO President and Bloomsday founder.

More than 10,500 runners and walkers are expected on the streets of Davenport this weekend, with 7,800 in the 7 mile, 1,200 in the Prairie Farms Quick Bix 2 Mile on Saturday, July 29 and 1,500 in the Arconic Jr. Bix on Friday, July 28.

For the non-pros in the 7 mile race, an additional $17,500 in prize money will be up for grabs through the Caesars Sportsbook Teams Competition (5 runners with the fastest 4 runners scoring), Buick GMC Dealer’s High School Challenge (first IA or IL male & female high school finishers; grant money to the school) and the Russell Beat the Elite (two runners with handicap head start).

The PRRO Circuit showcases world class competition at four of America’s Classic Road Races™, the Credit Union Cherry Blossom 10 Mile in Washington, DC, the Lilac Bloomsday Run 12K in Spokane, WA, the Boilermaker 15K in Utica, NY and the Quad-City Times Bix 7 in Davenport, IA. Current Circuit prize money totals more than $340,000 in guaranteed prize money overall, including $135,500 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.

Because the PRRO Super Bonus went unclaimed at the recent PRRO Championship hosted by the Credit Union Cherry Blossom 10 Mile on April 2, it increased to $15,000 for the 27th PRRO Championship presented by Bloomsday on May 5, 2024.

PRRO CIRCUIT EVENTS 2023-24

Lilac Bloomsday Run 12K, May 7, 2023, Spokane, WA

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

WINNERS: Jemal Yimer*, Ethiopia, 33:58 and Yeshi Kalayu*, Ethiopia, 38:49

Boilermaker 15K, July 9, 2023, Utica, NY

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

WINNERS: Jemal Yimer*, Ethiopia, 42:06 and Jesca Chelangat*, Kenya, 47:33, course records

Quad-City Times Bix 7, July 29, 2023, Davenport, IA

$50,000 in USA Championship prize money

Credit Union Cherry Blossom 10 Mile, April 7, 2024, Washington, DC

$71,000 in prize money ($31,000 USA Championship and RRCA prize money) plus performance bonuses

THE 27th PRRO CHAMPIONSHIP

Lilac Bloomsday Run 12K, May 5, 2024, Spokane, WA

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

*Qualified to compete for the $15,000 PRRO Super Bonus at the 2024 PRRO Championship.

To-date, PRRO Circuit events have produced 17 world and 18 U.S. road records, awarded more than $8.2 million in prize money and seen more than 2.6 million runners cross their finish lines. In addition, since 1996, the PRRO Championship race has paid out more than $2.1 million including $183,500 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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