This question certainly doesn’t pertain to me, and I don’t know if it has every been applicable to an age-grouper, but is an amateur finishes “in the money” at an IM event with a prize purse, does he or she get the money? Or does it roll down to the next pro finisher? The money is usually referred to as a “pro prize purse”. Does that man only pros are eligible, or that only pros have a shot at it?
-Colin
pretty sure it rolls down to the pro
I think it happened in NZ in 2002 where the guy who came 10th was an age grouper and the $ (500 I think) went to the 11th who was a pro.
Pretty sure it would have happened numerous other times around the world as well. An interesting stat would be the highest ever age group finish in an ironman.
must be pro to get the money.
Actually, before Matt Seeley (runner-up this year at IM-CDA)turned Pro, he won the overall title at Vineman beating Chucky V. That was a couple years back and the race director came up with equal prize money for both of them because he didnt really know what to do.
In that races rules, there wasn’t anything in writing that you had to be a Pro to collect the prize purse…but I am sure its there now. All Seeley wanted at the time was actually a Kona slot.
that was actually in between pro stints for seeley. he had raced pro in years prior and then went back after.
the situation there was also a bit different because the prize purse was less than 5k. if that is the case, age group athletes can be eligible. but for any major ironman race, it’s pretty clearly spelled out that only pros can get paid. at ironman france in 2003, i think the tenth place pro male ($500) was actually 16th overall. in that same race, i believe an age group woman finished second overall, but somebody will have to double check that.
This is a good question, but it seems like the kind of question I get from the people who ask me, after a race, “Did you win?” Or the ones who assume I mean Hawaii when I told them I’ve done Ironmans. Or who tell me, after I did a sprint or Int’l tri, “Oh, so it wasn’t a ‘real’ triathlon.”
I’m confused. I get questions like that all the time as well. How does my question compare? I was just wondering if some AG had a great day, would he take money from the pros?
-C
you are correct. Francoise Wellen-something (wim here will say the name right) was second and got $0.
Also Chris McDonald came 7th in NZ04 didn’t get money but got an AG slot for Kona, turned pro after that and requalified as a pro in France 04
wellekens, a 40 year old tiny doctor. and Brent I believe I was 16th and 10th pro in 2003 
Also in 2002 Timo Bracht came in third as age grouper
I’m confused. I get questions like that all the time as well.
Sorry, just making a random observation.
This happens at the fringes of the top 10 in many IM races outside of IMH. It I think was one of the reasons why IMNA changed the distrubution of the money at it’s events to better reflect the depth of the pro field in a particular event some races are deeper and others are not.
Let’s face it, there is not a big professional class in this sport and the pool of money is not big. There are also a group of very good age-group athletes who if they have a good day can challenge for top spots in many races.
Time was, when if you finished in the top 10 or top 5, regardless of who you where( pro or age-group) you got the top prizes or the money. What triathlon is attemping to do is to create a pro class, that can stand apart.
Fleck