MILWAUKEE, WI -- Milwaukee's Lakefront Marathon will offer prize money to top finishers this year. The 26.2-mile run from Grafton to Veterans Park, adjacent to the Milwaukee Art Museum, is at 8 a.m. on Sunday, Oct. 5.

"We are very excited to offer $2000 in prize money as an incentive to increase competition and excitement in this terrific running event," race director Kristine Hinrichs said. "We decided to offer prize money to attract a faster field of competitors and add a new element of interest for the spectators who will line the course on Oct. 5."

Prize money will be awarded in four categories: the top three finishers in the male and female categories ($500 for first place, $300 for second place and $100 for third place), and $100 each to the top finisher in the male and female masters category (40 years or older).

"Our marathon is considered a smaller event with roughly 2,000 runners," Hinrichs said. "This is attractive to participants who want to avoid crowded marathons like Chicago (35,000-plus runners) or Twin Cities (7,000-plus runners). With the addition of prize money, we hope to raise the bar for the competitors and provide a greater incentive for some of the faster regional runners to come to Milwaukee."

In addition to prize money for top finishers, Milwaukee's Lakefront Marathon awards a finisher's medal to each individual and relay member who completes the 26.2-mile distance, as well as non-monetary awards to division winners. Non-monetary awards will go to the top finishers in each age group category as well as the top finishers in the Clydesdale and Athena categories.

Milwaukee's Lakefront Marathon is considered to be a flat and fast course, and the fall weather can also help runners enjoy the event. But despite a flat course and perfect day, it will take fast runners to break records which have stood for more than 20 years. The course record for men is 2:14:09 - Steve Benson, Bloomington, MN (1981); and the female course record is 2:39:15 - Nancy Mieszczak, Buffalo, NY (1983).

More than just an event for individuals, Milwaukee1s Lakefront Marathon offers the unique opportunity for five-person relay teams to compete in this event.

"The relay is a terrific way to experience a portion of the marathon and share some of the excitement," Hinrichs said. "In fact, it is not uncommon for relay participants to return the following year to complete their first full marathon distance event. I should know; that1s how I got started."

People interested in registering for the marathon can visit the Lakefront Marathon web site www.badgerlandstriders.org/lakefront, call the Lakefront Hot Line 414-291-2647 or e-mail: lfm@execpc.com.