This thread:
http://www.letsrun.com/forum/flat_read.php?thread=2710864&page=5#2711053
says the ex-Louisville star Wesley Korir didn't start with the pros and still ran a 2:13 to finish 4th. Does anyone have confirmation of this?
Chicago this year for some reason went to a pro start 5 minutes before the masses. When I saw it on the TV immediately I thought, "this is a bad idea".
Part of the marathons appeal is you're in theory in the same race with the top runners in the world. Not if you start 5 minutes behind them.
Chicago now has an interesting case on its hands. Korir ran 2:13 and finished 4th. Now Chicago really seems to have slashed prize money this year (looking at the numbers below it looks like it came down $60k on each the men's and women's side.) So Korir would stand to pick up $15k. His time even with 5 minutes added would put him in the top 10 but there is no money for 6-10.
1st this year $100,000 last year $125k
2nd last year 65k this year 55k
3rd last year 40 this year 30k
4th last year 25k this year 15k
5th last year 15k this year 10k
I bet Chicago won't give him the money but I can't believe a guy with his credentials wouldn't start up front.