At least seven Kenyans are set for a hefty payday after commendable performances at the New York City marathon on Sunday, November 3.
The two biggest beneficiaries from the race were Sheila Chepkirui and Somali-Dutch runner Abdi Nageeye, who finished in first place in the men's and women's races respectively.
Despite failing to reciprocate her win from last year, Hellen Obiri finished her race in a respectable second, while third place was also taken up by another Kenyan - Vivian Cheruiyot.
In the men's category, Kenya's Evans Chebet narrowly lost out to Nageeye despite being the favourite to win it for large periods. He finished in second place with a time of 2:07:45 while his Kenyan counterpart Albert Korir finished in third place at 2:08:00.
New York City marathon payday: Since the New York City marathon applies a gender equality policy in its prize distribution, both the men and women are set to receive equal cheques, depending on the position they ended up in the race.
Winners of the marathon will get Ksh13 million (USD 100,000), while second-place finishers get Ksh7.7 million (USD 60,000). The second runners-up walk away with Ksh5.1 million (USD 40,000).
The podium finishers are not the only ones who will be feted with cash prizes, with the top 10 in the professional category also set to have their bank accounts credited with some money.
Notably, fourth place earns KSh 3.2 million (USD25,000); fifth, KSh 1.9 million (USD15,000); sixth, KSh 1.29 million (USD10,000; seventh, KSh 767,000 (USD7,500); eighth, KSh 645,000 (USD5,000); ninth, KSh 323,000 (USD2,500); and tenth, KSh 258,000 (USD2,000).
With this in mind, at least three Kenyans in the men's category will walk away with cash prizes, after Geoffrey Kamworor finished in fifth place while Abel Kipchumba finished eighth. The Kenyan men will bring home a combined Ksh13.4 million.
The ladies had a heftier payday for obvious reasons, as the top three podium finishers have a combined cash prize of Ksh25.8 million.
Another Kenyan, Sharon Lokedi, finished in ninth place, bringing the total cash prize for Kenyan ladies at the New York City Marathon to a whopping Ksh26.1 million.
The cash prizes will be subjected to tax once the athletes jet back to the country.
