Boilermaker Increases Prize Money For 2017 Race

The Boilermaker Road Race is introducing some major overhauls to its prize money structure for this year's race.

The Boilermaker will now be offering over $100,000 in potential prize money to elite athletes.

The American runner's division will see a major increase in prize money. The purse has increased to $14,500, with $7,250 going to the male and female open division winners.

Officials hope the increase will attract more of America's elite distance runners to the race.

"We believe the new structure will go a long way in attracting upper-echelon American runners to our race," said Race Director, Jim Stasaitis. "As one of the country's premier road races, the Boilermaker takes very seriously its obligation to support American distance running."

The Boilermaker has not seen an American winner since Ed Eyestone took the top spot in 1991.

Meanwhile, prize money for the wheelchair division has more than doubled to $37,600.

The 40th running of the Boilermaker takes place on Sunday, July 9th.