St. Louis Half Announces Large Purse

ST. LOUIS — GO! St. Louis, a local not-for-profit organization that specializes in providing fitness events and programs for the region on a year-round basis, has announced a substantial increase in prize money for the popular half-marathon race presented by PNC Bank, which is part of the GO! St. Louis Marathon & Family Fitness Weekend, set for April 6 & 7, 2013 in downtown St. Louis, MO. The men’s and women’s winner in the half-marathon will each receive a $10,000 prize, while second place receives $5,000 each and third place $2000.

Total prize money for one of the Midwest’s largest races was increased to $47,000, including a $1000 bonus for a new course record in the marathon race. The $10,000 half-marathon prize is one of the largest awards in the United States, only three other races (NYC Half Marathon, Garry Bjorklund Half and Aramco Houston Half) currently have awards that equal or exceed the value.

“I’m excited that in 2013 we have the opportunity to offer a new elite athlete program, including one of the top half-marathon prizes in the U.S.,” said Nancy Lieberman, GO! St. Louis president. “For many years, competitors primarily from the Midwest region have supported our race in large numbers, but our Board of Directors wanted to increase the prize money in an effort to attract more athletes from around the world to our event, while highlighting the beautiful but challenging downtown St. Louis race course.”