RunThrough has created a new £60,000 ‘Top Flight’ elite running race series, which spans multiple locations across the UK. The Top Flight series encompasses 12 events in 2024, all of which offer prize purses as well as points counting towards athletes’ ‘Top Flight ranking’.
At the end of the season each athlete’s Top Flight ranking will determine the series champion.
RunThrough’s intention in creating this new race series is to support elite athletics in the UK by providing new high level platforms for competition. The Top Flight series will also create racing for fans to watch and support, helping to generate storylines throughout the season as the athletes battle to claim the inaugural Top Flight crown.
The 12 races that will make up the Top Flight series will be existing RunThrough races held across the UK but with newly added Top Flight status. There will be a minimum standard required for athletes to earn prize money and be included in the Top Flight rankings.
The season finalé will be held at the Ribble Valley 10k in December 2024 where the male and female Top Flight Champions will be crowned.
Each Top Flight race will carry a maximum prize purse of £4,000 (including time bonuses), split equally between male and female athletes. Prize money will be paid to male and female athletes that finish 1st-8th in each Top Flight race, providing they run under a pre-published qualifying time.
There will also be individual bonus payments available for any athlete, male or female, who breaks the course record, sets a UK leading time or breaks a RunThrough race record.
In addition to the prize money available at each event, there will be Top Flight rankings points. Each athlete’s three best results will count towards their series total to decide the first ever male and female Top Flight Champions.
RunThrough notes that… ‘The structure of the series will ensure that consistent high level performances are rewarded as well as creating drama and season long narratives for fans, both existing and new, to engage with.’
Matt Wood, RunThrough Co-Founder, said “When Ben Green and I started RunThrough back in 2013 our knowledge and background was in elite athletics, with both of us competing internationally.
“We always dreamed that one day we would be able to invest back into the top end of the sport we love so much. Over the years we have had Olympic and world champions compete at RunThrough races as well as the best distance athletes in the UK. The creation of the Top Flight series by RunThrough is a great first step in formalising a new elite series.”
Chris Parr, Top Flight series Director, added “RunThrough’s Top Flight series is providing a super competitive new performance platform for the top runners in the UK and beyond. We have included some of our fastest and flattest courses at our biggest events of the year to make the racing as exciting as possible; with events spread across the UK.
“The monthly series will feature talented athletes from across the middle and long distance running spectrum, with a balanced points system, meaning that the series finalé will be sure to create a gripping showdown of the best 5km, 10km and half marathon runners.”
www.topflightraces.com
www.runthrough.co.uk
