Right about the different committees. The men's and women's committees can pay money, not pay money, or do what they want with it. I am holding the 1996 USATF Marathon Media Guide (Shooting Star Media - thanks Larry Eder.)
For the 1996 U.S. Trials, the women were paid 20 deep, $45,000, 40,000, 35,000, 18,000 down to $1,000. Total purse: $250,000 Note: $3500 was 15th and $2500 was 16th. Below the prize list: "The ultimate prize for the first three runners is the honor of representing the United States during the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta. These three women will be the first track and field athletes to be selected for the U.S. Olympic team." The men paid out to 15th: $100,000, $40,000, 30,000, 20,000, down to $1,000 for a total purse of $250,000. The 100K was listed as the largest payday ever for first, excluding time bonuses, etc. If I recall correctly, the big hit on first and the nice purse was an attempt to get fast, hungry people out for the marathon, plus the Olympics were on American soil. Note: 10th: $4000; 11th: $3000; 12th: $2500. edndana wrote: > > BUT you failed to answer my question about fairness at least as to what > > you would say if women were the victims of the disparity instead of men. > If > > you were going to the Trials and winning money, and women who were better > > than you (i.e.proportionally closer to the world and Amerixcan records) > were > > not similary rewarded, can you seriously say you would defend such > > discrimination as fair? Geoff > > Actually, am I wrong, or is there more money at the men's trials this time > around? If not, hasn't there been a time or two where that has been the > case? Another function of two different committees, two different races. > > - Ed Parrot
