For those thumbing through the Richmond Marathon pre-race information, there was this snippet:

“No prize money will be awarded in 2021.”

Ninety percent of the 14,000 or so entrants weren’t likely to have noticed this and wouldn’t care if they had. They tend to be recreational runners racing for fitness and camaraderie.

However, the no prize money decision made by the organiz- ing Sports Backers led to a hard-to-miss difference at the finish line for the marathon run last Saturday.

Instead of the usual contingent of elite Kenyan and Ethiopian runners at the head of the pack, the winners were mostly local or regional athletes.

“They (the elite runners) come for one reason — to race for the prize money,” said Thom Suddeth, who has served as the Richmond Marathon’s lead coordinator for elite athletes for some 20 years.

Previously, the champions in each of the marathon’s three races — the full marathon, the half marathon and the 8K—won up to $2,500, with additional incentives to set course records.

So no money, no elite African runners for 2021.

Pete Woody, public relations and communications manager for Sports Backers, explained the change like this:

“Sports Backers has taken a significant financial hit in 2020 and 2021 since we’ve had to operate many events at reduced capacities due to COVID-19. When assessing the budget for this year’s marathon, the decision was made to remove the prize money line item (roughly $25,000), among other items, in order to still be able to put on the event in 2021. It wasn’t an easy decision but ultimately we think it was necessary to help ensure a positive event experience for the 14,000+ participants who took part this year. We did offer physical awards to the top five male and female finishers in each race, as well as the top five male and female finishers in each age group.”

The Marathon was held virtually in 2020.

No decision regarding prize money has been made about next year’s race.

Suddeth had mixed emotions about the policy change. While he said he admires the talents of the elite runners, he added, “This is basically a home-grown event.”

Previously, the elite runners had travel accommodations covered by Sports Backers. Plus, the prize money added up.

“That’s a big part of the debt,” Suddeth said of the overall organizing expenses.

“Another problem is that Richmonders don’t know them, can’t pronounce their names and they’re hard to interview,” Suddeth said.

As a result of no cash reward, the winning times were a bit slower, especially for the men’s full marathon winner—Ryan Mills, 39, of Raleigh, N.C., in 2:28.49. That is the slowest time since 2000, when Michael Harrison, from Virginia Beach, won in 2:31.

The record 2:13.45 was set in 2011 by Kenyan Kennedy Kemei.

On the women’s side, this year’s champion was Caroline Hentzen, 27, of Charlottesville in 2:45.20. That is the slowest women’s winning time since 2011. The record is 2:31.45.