B.A.A. Announces Expanded Para Athletics Divisions & Enhanced Prize Money Awards for 2024 Events
Boston Marathon Para Athletics Divisions expand to provide greater accessibility and opportunities across seven impairment divisions; prize awards surpass $1 million.
BOSTON – The Boston
Athletic Association (B.A.A.) today announced plans for an enhanced prize money
structure across B.A.A. events in 2024, as well as the introduction of two new
Para Athletics Divisions for athletes competing with coordination impairments
(T35-T38) and intellectual impairments (T20) as well as more inclusive upper
and lower limb impairment divisions. The changes will provide greater financial
rewards for athletes across multiple divisions and expanded opportunities for
athletes within the Para Athletics Divisions and Wheelchair Divisions. 
Susannah Scaroni 2023 Boston Marathon
courtesy B.A.A.,PhotoRun
“We are always looking
at ways to celebrate and reward athletic excellence,” said Jack Fleming,
B.A.A. President and CEO. “With these changes, we are recognizing top
finishers and aspiring athletes in our Wheelchair and Para Athletics Divisions,
while also expanding opportunities for new groups of athletes to be recognized
and included in our B.A.A. events.” 
Marko Cheseto Lemtukei 2023 Boston Marathon
courtesy B.A.A.,MarathonFoto
He continued, “Boston is
a running city, and we’ve made it our goal to elevate Para athletes as they
train and compete for the podium at our events, from the 5K through to the
marathon.”
“This creates an
enormous positive impact for Para athletes and shows how the B.A.A. is leading
the way towards greater inclusivity in sports,” said John Jordan, head of
The Academy and executive co-sponsor of the Disability Action Network, Bank of
America. “As we look across our involvement in sports around the world,
we’re committed to help broaden the possibilities available to athletes
competing at all levels.”
New prize structures
highlights:
· The Boston Marathon
presented by Bank of America will now feature a cumulative prize fund of more
than $1 million.
· Wheelchair champions
[T53/54/34] at the Boston Marathon presented by Bank of America will now
receive a first-place prize of $40,000 (increased from $25,000), and places
2-10 will also receive increases in awards compared to recent years. Wheelchair
athletes with T51-T52 classifications will receive awards for places 1-3.
· The total wheelchair
prize for 2024 will be $313,500 for men and women (previously $125,000). This
includes $50,000 each for a course record (equal to the Open course record
award)
· The top three finishers
in all seven Para Athletics Divisions at the Marathon will receive prize money
of $2,500; $1,500; $1,000, respectively.
· Additional increases in
the Wheelchair Division and Para Athletic Division prize money will be offered
for the B.A.A. 5K, B.A.A. 10K, and B.A.A. Half Marathon. The B.A.A. Half
Marathon will also feature increased open division prize money for podium finishers.
· Para and Wheelchair
prize money divisions at the Boston Marathon adhere to World Athletics and
World Para Athletics rules of competition. Athletes competing in the Para and
Wheelchair divisions must be nationally or internationally classified to be
eligible.
· Click HERE to view prize fund
breakdowns for all divisions in the Boston Marathon.
· Click HERE to view prize fund
breakdowns for other B.A.A. events.
Overview of new Para
Athletic divisions:
· Seven Para Athletics
Divisions will now be offered at the Boston Marathon presented by Bank of
America, with newly established divisions for athletes with coordination
impairments [T35-T38 and intellectual impairments [T20].
· Additionally, the T61/63
lower limb impairment will now add the T43 classification, and the T62/64 lower
limb impairment division will now add T42/T44 classifications.
· The seven divisions are
an increase from five divisions offered in 2023 (vision [T11/T12, T13],
upper-limb [T45/T46], and lower-limb impairments [T61/T63, T62/T64]).
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