11 February 2015

Credit Union Cherry Blossom Media Contact Information:
(not for publication)

Keith Peters, Credit Union Cherry Blossom Media Coordinator
307-690-6803 or [email protected]

Website: www.cherryblossom.org

February 11, 2015, Washington, DC: Looking ahead to the 43rd running of the Cherry Blossom Ten Mile Run on April 12, 2015, in Washington, D.C., event organizers have announced the event's largest prize purse ever - $80,500. In addition to equal payments to the top ten men and women finishers of all nationalities, totaling $40,000, a total of $25,000 will be paid to the top ten American men and women. Additional time incentives include a $10,000 American record bonus for the first American man and woman to break Greg Meyer's American record of 46:13, set here in 1983, and Janet Bawcom's single-sex American record of 52:12, set here last year; the $10,000 bonus will be split if two new American records are set at the 2015 "Runner's Rite of Spring." As in years past, there will be an advance start for the elite women, providing them an opportunity to compete for records that will be recognized as coming from a women's-only race.

"After hosting USA 10 Mile Championship events the past two years," said Phil Stewart, Event Director of the Credit Union Cherry Blossom 10 Mile Run, "we are pleased to continue our support of American distance runners by providing a separate American Development prize purse. While the payout to top ten American men and women will be similar to last year, the potential payout for an American record has been increased to $10,000, compared to the $2,500 record bonus Janet Bawcom earned last year."

If an American man were to win the race outright and break the American record with a sub-46:00 time, he could earn as much as $24,000. The last American man to with the race was Chris Fox in 1990. If an American woman were to win the race, and break the American record with a sub 52:00 time, she could also take home $24,000. The last American woman to win the race was Joan Nesbit in 1996. (Colleen De Reuck was competing for South Africa when she set the mixed gender record of 51:16 in 1998.)

Over 26,000 runners submitted applications to participate in the 2015 Credit Union Cherry Blossom 10 Mile and 5K Run-Walk, and the list of accepted runners represents all 50 states and 14 foreign countries. With a field limit of 15,000 established by the National Park Service and selected by lottery in December, not everyone who hoped to run will be able to participate in this year's "Runner's Rite of Spring." There are, however, still a limited number of openings for Charity Race Entrants, who need to register by February 28. Charity Race Entrants gain entry by raising a minimum of $500 for the Children's Miracle Network Hospitals. Information about becoming a Charity Race Entry participant is available at: http://www.helpmakemiracles.org/event/cucherryblossom/.

Since 2002, the Credit Union Cherry Blossom 10 Mile and 5K Run-Walk have raised over $6.5 million for the Children's Miracle Network Hospitals, and a significant portion of that sum has been raised by Charity Race entrants.

The 2015 event will mark the 14th year of title sponsorship by Credit Union Miracle Day.

About the Credit Union Cherry Blossom Ten Mile:

The Credit Union Cherry Blossom is known as "The Runner's Rite of Spring" in the Nation's Capital. The staging area for the event is on the Washington Monument Grounds and the course passes in sight of all of the major Washington, DC Memorials. The event serves as a fundraiser for the Children's Miracle Network Hospitals, a consortium of 170 premier children's hospitals across the United States. About one-third of the funds raised support Washington, DC's own Children's National Medical Center ("Children's Hospital"). The event also funds two $5,000 Road Runners Club of America "Roads Scholar" grants designed to support up-and-coming U.S. distance running talent.

Credit Union Miracle Day, Inc., a consortium of credit unions and credit union suppliers, is the title sponsor of the Credit Union Cherry Blossom Ten Mile Run and 5K Run-Walk. PSCU is the lead financial partner of Credit Union Miracle Day, Inc. Supporting sponsors include New Balance, Gatorade, Gold's Gym, Navy Federal Credit Union, Larabar, BAE Systems, E-Trade, MarathonFoto and Potomac River Running.

The event is a proud member of the PRRO Circuit (www.PRRO.org), a five-race non-marathon prize money circuit with events on Utica, NY; San Juan, PR; Washington, DC; Spokane, WA; and Atlanta, GA. The circuit is committed to a drug-free sport and engages USADA to conduct drug testing at all circuit events.