Anthony Foster, Freelance Writer

A NEW-look Foska Oats/ Jamdammers Grand Prix Road Race Series is set to run off from September 30.

Several changes have been made to this year's series, the seventh since Jamdammers Running Club started its long and middle-distance races in 2000.

At yesterday's launch, Foska Oats announced a 45 per cent increase in sponsorship for the series, which will see changes in the age categories, points system and number of races.

The overall champions - male and female - will receive $40,000 each, up from $20,000, while second and third-place finishers will take home $20,000 and $15,000 each, up from $15,000 and $10,000 respectively. The Feature Champion category, which was previously for Under-19 athletes, has now been lowered to cater for athletes 17 years and younger. The winners in this category, male and female, will receive $20,000 (up from $15,000) while second and third will collect $10,000 and $5,000 respectively.

The Master's category also sees a change in the age limit as this section will now cater for Over-35 athletes and not the previous Under-40.

In this category, the winners (male and female) will take home $10,000 (up from $6,000), while second and third place will walk away with $5,000 and $3,000. The school champions will also cash in as the top three male and female schools will run away with $20,000, $15,000 and $10,000.