Contact:   Sue Smith 508-540-7000 

Falmouth, Mass. – The New Balance Falmouth Road Race, to be held on Sunday, Aug. 14, will celebrate its 39^th running with an elite athlete prize purse of $116,400, an increase of $14,900 from 2010.   

The American prize prize purse is the largest outside a national championship with the male and female prize totals of $22,350 each.  This total will equal the Open Male and Female prize purse with double-dipping allowed.  In the event an American is the Overall Champion, he or she will take home the $10,000 first-place Overall award and $10,000 first-place American award for a $20,000 payday.  “We are pleased to be able to offer this prize money opportunity to our American athletes.  It follows Falmouth’s tradition of being the first race, in 1996, to guarantee American prize money awards and coincides with the first year of the ten-year title sponsorship of New Balance,” said President, Board of Directors, Christine Frazier. 

In addition, the New Balance Falmouth Road Race male and female Wheelchair prize purse has been increased to $4,250 each from $2,500.  Frazier also noted, “The increase in our Wheelchair prize purse is due in part to our continued partnership with our Wheelchair Division sponsor, Rockland Trust.  Our race was one of the first events to support wheelchair competition.”  The first male wheelchair athlete pioneer, Bob Hall, completed the course in 1977, the first of six straight wins.  He was soon followed by the first female, Natalie Bacon, in 1979, who outdid him with an eight-race winning streak. 

The Falmouth Mile, to be held at the Falmouth High School Kalperis Track on Saturday, Aug. 13, will feature a prize purse of $3,750 each for the male and female divisions.  In addition, there are incentives of $500 if the men’s winner breaks four minutes and the women’s winner cracks 4:33.  

The 7-mile summertime Cape Cod classic will begin in Woods Hole and wind its way to the finish along the beach in Falmouth Heights.  The wheelchair division will start at 9:40 a.m. and the open 10 a.m.  Past male winners include Gebre Gebremariam (2010) and Tilahun Regassa (2009), from Ethiopia, and the female winners include Wude Ayalew (2010) and Mamitu Daska (2009), also both from Ethiopia.  The recent male wheelchair winners include Craig Blanchette (2010) and Krige Schabort (2009).  Jessica Galli (2010, 2009) has dominated the female wheelchair field. 

About Falmouth Road Race 
   The New Balance Falmouth Road Race was established in 1973 and has become one of the premier running events of the summer season.  Each year the race draws an international field of Olympians, elite athletes and recreational runners out to enjoy the scenic 7-mile seaside course.  The non-profit Falmouth Road Race organization is dedicated to promoting health and fitness for all in its community.  Proceeds from the race each year support youth athletic programs in the town of Falmouth and other nonprofit community groups.

Open – Male & Female

Course Record Bonus:  $2,500 

Current Male Record:  31:08 (Gilbert Okari 2004)

Current Female Record:  35:02 (Lornah Kiplagat 2000)

Masters – Male & Female

Over 50 – Male & Female

Wheelchair – Male & Female

Mile – Male & Female

Incentive:  $1000

Male winner under:  4:00.00

Female winner under:  4:33.00

Incentive:  $500

Male finishers under:  4:00.00

Female finishers under:  4:33.00