Some of the world’s top athletes will take part in this year’s first ever Plusnet Yorkshire Marathon. They will be vying to take home the impressive £12,000 inaugural prize pot – the biggest of any UK marathon outside of London. Carry on reading to find out who Plusnet think is in with a chance ...
The runners
Among the athletes making their way to York this October will be John Mutai of Kenya, 25, who holds a marathon personal best of 2:11:08. The winner of this year’s Lake Annecy Marathon in France, he was also first home at the 2012 Edinburgh Marathon. 
Other male athletes looking for first place include Edwin Kiprop Korir, who will celebrate his 25th birthday on the day of the marathon. Edwin, from Kenya, finished 2nd in this year’s Zurich Marathon. Home-grown talent includes Paul Marchant from Leeds who was the first Yorkshireman home in this year’s London Marathon with a time of 2:27. Paul, 40, runs for Rothwell Harriers. The women’s title will be hotly contested by Helen Cherono Koskei, 29, from Kenya, who has a PB of 2:29:33. She was second in the 2013 Belfast Marathon and took the silver medal at the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne, Australia. The Plusnet Yorkshire Marathon will be the first UK race for rising star Tigist Sheni from Ethiopia. Tigist, 27, ran her 2:32:34 PB at this year’s Zurich Marathon, finishing in third – the same position she claimed in 2012. Tigist comes from the small town of Bekoji, Ethiopia, as do the Dibaba sisters, Bekele brothers and the Olympic Gold medallist Tiki Gelana. The town was part of the feature film Town of Runners. British athlete Jocelyn Payne is another ‘one to watch’ having been placed third in the 2013 Greater Manchester Marathon with a time of 2:45:58. Jocelyn, 23, from Doncaster, Yorkshire, is currently the fastest U23 female marathon runner in the UK – and has been since 2011. Having made great progress this year, she is hoping to finish the Plusnet Yorkshire Marathon in a time of around 2:40.
The prize money
The 2013 prizes comprise:
- 1st placed male and female - £2,500 each
- 2nd placed male and female £1,250 each
- 3rd placed male and female £750 each
- 4th placed male and female £375 each
- 5th placed male and female £125 each
A bonus of £500 each is available to both the top male and female British finishers. In addition, there is a £500 bonus for the fastest male finisher under 2:16 and female under 2:35. Plusnet Yorkshire Marathon event lead Lisa Ashcroft said:
“Introducing such an impressive prize structure in our first year reinforces our ambitions to be among the UK’s best marathons. That coupled with an exceptionally flat and fast course, has led to much interest from elite athletes from Britain and across the world. “We’re looking forward to seeing some fast times on race day.”
Running places for 2014
Runners hoping to snare a place in next year’s Plusnet Yorkshire Marathon can register NOW for access to an exclusive priority pre-sale. This year’s event sold out in just three days when general entries opened in January, regrettably leaving many runners disappointed. The Priority Pre-sale will take place on Friday 3rd January when those who register in advance will have a chance to secure a sought-after early place. To join the pre-sale register, all people need to do is visit The Plusnet Yorkshire Marathon website – www.theyorkshiremarathon.com – and click to add their details. Will you be running in 2014? Perhaps you're one of the lucky ones who managed to secure a place this year? Let us know your thoughts by leaving a comment below ...