Comrades Marathon 2025: Prize purse surges to over R7.6 million

Karen Singh|Published 3 months ago

Three runners embrace side by side The 98th Comrades Marathon will be a Down Run on Sunday, 8 June 2025, starting at the Pietermaritzburg City Hall at 05h30 and finishing 12 hours later at Durban’s People’s Park, with a race distance of approximately 89km. This will be the 49th Comrades Down Run. Picture: Supplied.

THE COMRADES Marathon Association (CMA) announced on Monday that the prize purse for the Comrades Marathon 2025 Down Run has increased significantly from just over R4 million this year to more than R7.6 million.

The 98th Comrades Marathon will be a Down Run on Sunday, June 8, 2025, starting at the Pietermaritzburg City Hall and finishing at Durban’s People’s Park.

The CMA said this record prize purse underscores the association’s commitment to recognising the extraordinary efforts and achievements of its participants.

The association stated that the total prize purse for the 2025 Comrades Marathon has been increased to just over R7.6 million and will benefit top finishers in both the men’s and women’s categories, as well as age group winners and other special categories.

At the recent race launch, acting Race and Operations Manager, Alain Dalais, confirmed that prize money for the 2025 Comrades Marathon has been increased by 10% across the board.

The CMA said this means that the winners in both the Men’s and Women’s races will take home R874,000, which includes a ‘top up’, thanks to major sponsor Cell C.

“Cell C will also be sponsoring a cash prize of R500,000 for the Best Pace in both the Men’s and Women’s races, as well as a R50,000 Hotspot prize,” said the association.

The prize purse also includes a cash payment of R550,000 should the winners break the Best Time previously recorded for the Down Run in both the Men’s and Women’s races, said the CMA.

“In conjunction with the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Sport, Arts and Culture, the race will incentivise the First, Second, and Third KwaZulu-Natal Men and Women home with a cash prize. There will also be prizes for the First South African Man and Woman,” said the association.

The total prize purse for Comrades Marathon 2025 is just over R7.6 million.

CMA chairperson Jeff Minnaar said the association is thrilled to offer a larger prize purse for the 98th Comrades Marathon.

“This increase is a testament to our dedication to supporting and rewarding the incredible athletes who take on this challenging race. We look forward to seeing the heightened competition and outstanding performances that this will inspire,” said Minnaar.

THE MERCURY