Big payday for Kenya’s Benson Kipruto, John Korir and Joyciline Jepkosgei despite failing to win at Chicago Marathon

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ATHLETICS Big payday for Kenya’s Benson Kipruto, John Korir and Joyciline Jepkosgei despite failing to win at Chicago Marathon

Joel Omotto 09:00 - 09.10.2023

Kenya runners Benson Kipruto, John Korir and Joyciline Jepkosgei still pocketed millions despite failing to claim victory at Sunday’s Chicago Marathon

Kenyan runners Benson Kipruto, John Korir and Joyciline Jepkosgei may not have hogged the limelight in Chicago on Sunday but they walked away with handsome rewards courtesy of a lucrative Chicago Marathon reward scheme.

All focus and talk were on Kelvin Kiptum who smashed Eliud Kipchoge’s world record by 35 seconds when he ran an astonishing 2:001:35 to leave defending champion Benson Kipruto fighting for second place in the men’s race.

Kipruto ultimately failed to catch up with the dominant Kiptum to finish second and miss out on back-to-back wins in Chicago but still walked away with $75,000 (Ksh11 million) for his efforts.

The Chicago Marathon is one of the highest paying major marathons with cash rewards of $100,000 (Ksh14.7 million) for its winners, $75,000 (Ksh11 million) for second place while third place finishers earn $50,000 (Ksh7.3 million).

The rewards go up to fifth place where fourth place attracts $30,000 (Ksh4.4 million) while no.5 fetches $25,000 (Ksh3.6 million).

It means Kipruto, who clocked 2:04:02, will still smile to the bank despite not being able to defend his crown in Chicago while compatriot Jonh Korir, who was fourth, will take home $30,000 (Ksh4.4 million) for his efforts.

It is the same $75,000 (Ksh11 million) amount Kenya’s Ruth Chepng’tich, who also failed to defend her title, will make after clocking 2:15:37 to finish second behind Dutchwoman Sifan Hassan.

Another Kenyan runner Joyciline Jepkosgei was fourth after stopping the clock at 2:17:23 and will take home $30,000 (Ksh4.4 million).

Additionally, athletes who run sub 2:06:00 in the men’s category bag an extra Ksh5,946,000 while the women who run sub 2:20:00 pocket the same amount and with all Kenyan runners within this time, it will be a big payday for them.