Paul A. Reid, Staff ReporterWESTERN BUREAU:
HUNDREDS OF runners from all over the world are expected to descend on the resort town of Negril this Saturday at 5 a.m., to participate in the fourth annual Reggae Marathon and half marathon.
New champions will be crowned after this year's 26-mile plus marathon as both the male and female winners from last year have indicated they will not be able to take part.
Jamaican veteran road runner Linton McKenzie who became the first local male to win the marathon last year, and American Denise Knickman have both indicated to the organisers that they will not be facing the starter on Saturday due to injuries.
LAST YEAR'S WINNER
The 44-year-old McKenzie won last year's event in 2:36:46, while Knickman, a 36-year-old physical therapist from Baltimore, Maryland, was the first female to cross the line in 3:04:48, ahead of Austria's Ulrike Puchner (3:14:42) and Sweden's Anneli Sodergards (3:18:18).
The winners of this year's marathon will receive the Bob Marley and Rita Marley trophies, along with US$1,500 (J$92,000) each. Second place will take home US$1,000 (J$62,000) and third US$750 (J$46,500).
For the half marathon, the winners will pocket US$750 (J$46,000) each, second US$400 (J$24,800) and third US$200 (J$12,400).
OVERALL PRIZE
The overall Jamaican prize-sponsored by KIA Motors is as followed: First place $20,000, second $15,000 and third $10,000 and for the half marathon it's $12,000, $8,000 and $4,000.
In the Master section, winners will take home US$300 (J$18,060) each. The second and third place finishers will pocket US$200 (J$12,040) and US$100 (J$6,020). In the half marathon for Masters the prizes are US$150 (J$9,030), US$100 (J6,020) and US$50 (J$3,010).
Super Plus and H.D. Hopwood will sponsor the high school boys and girls section. The champion schools will receive $20,000 each. Second place will get $16,000, third $12,000, fourth $8,000 and fifth $4,000.
