Purse includes $125,000 to Top Finishers and $80,000 to Top Americans

CHICAGO (February 5, 2004)---The LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon will increase its guaranteed prize purse for the 2004 race to $650,000, which will include a $125,000 payout to the top male and female finisher. This is the highest guaranteed first place payout in the history of the sport. The 2004 prize purse also includes an increase in the American athlete bonus pool to $80,000.

The LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon has added more than $150,000 to the guaranteed purse the past two years. Nearly $1 million, which included the guaranteed purse, special time bonuses, and the American incentive pool, was paid out to the top performers in the 2003 LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon.

Although the LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon continues to reward top performing athletes through its handsome prize purse, it has never swayed from its commitment to developing American athletes in the sport. Keeping with this tradition, the event's American Development Bonus purse increases to $80,000 this year and will reward the top 5 male and female finishers. Last year's purse totaled $55,000 and rewarded only the top 3 male and female finishers. The top American male and female finisher will receive $10,000 each. The payout then descends by $1,000 for the second, third, fourth, and fifth place, with the fifth place finisher receiving $6,000.

"The LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon is pleased to continue its tradition of rewarding top performing athletes and we are confident that this year's purse will once again attract world-class athletes," remarked Executive Race Director Carey Pinkowski. "We have always had a strong commitment to supporting and developing American athletes. We are building off the success of past bonus programs and are pleased to further our commitment to American athletes by providing more breadth and depth to the American Development pool this year. Chicago has been and will continue to be the foundation for many U.S. athletes for years to come."

In 2003, more than $120,000 was paid out to 42 American athletes who met the U.S. Olympic qualifying standard time at the LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon. The race announced a special bonus pool shortly before last year's event designed to help fund the cost of competing in the U.S. Olympic Trials (which take place this weekend) to American athletes who met either the A-standard or B-standard qualifying times in Chicago. Seventy American athletes who met the qualifying standards and who will compete in the Olympic trials achieved the qualifying standard time in Chicago.

More impressively, 7 of the top 15 eligible American men competing in the trials qualified for them in Chicago, including Alan Culpepper with a time of 2:09:41 at the 2002 race and Meb Keflezighi with a time of 2:09:41 at the 2003 race. Similarly, 2 of 3 top American women qualified in Chicago at the 2003 race: Colleen De Reuck with a time of 2:28:01 and Deeja Youngquist with a time of 2:29:01.

Other notable American performances in Chicago include Khalid Khannouchi's American Record of 2:05:56 set in 2002 and Joan Benoit-Samuelson's former American Record holding win of 2:20:21 set in 1985.

"There is a very talented pool of American athletes that will be competing in the U.S. Olympic Trials and I'm very proud that some of them have participated in the LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon," said Pinkowski. "It is important for our event and the sport to provide opportunities for and support to American athletes to help them achieve their full athletic potential. By continually furthering our commitment to both the American and open divisions, the LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon will draw the best American and international athletes in the sport."

The 2004 LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon takes place Sunday, October 10 starting and finishing in Chicago's Grant Park. The race will be broadcast live on CBS 2 CHICAGO and ESPN 1000. Last year's race attracted the maximum 40,000 participants.

Runners may register online at www.chicagomarathon.com until September 2, 2004, or when the participation capacity has been reached (whichever comes first). Race weekend entries will not be accepted. Printed entry forms for mail-in registration will be available in the spring of this year.

The entrance fee for the Marathon is $80 for U.S. runners and $90 for international runners; the registration fee for the International Fun Run 5K, held during race weekend, is $15 for both U.S. and international participants. Senior citizens, ages 60 and older, receive a $5 discount. In addition, a $5 discount will be offered to participants who register using their MasterCard credit card or pre-paid card.

Runners interested in securing Competitive or Preferred Starting Positions must have completed a marathon or half-marathon since January 1, 2002 in a time faster than 3:15:00 for a Competitive Start (marathon qualifying time) and 3:45:00 (marathon qualifying time) for a Preferred Start. A half-marathon time of 1:30:00 is needed for a Competitive Start and a half-marathon time of 1:45:00 is needed for a Preferred Start. Proof of qualifying times must be submitted to The LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon office. Instructions will be provided to online entrants. Competitive and Preferred Starting Positions are limited and not guaranteed.