october 15, 2023
pro & elite athletes
The IMT Des Moines Marathon invites professional & elite athletes to apply for entry into our events.
professional athlete status
The IMT Des Moines Marathon does not pay appearance fees or reimburse professional or elite athletes for travel expenses. A limited number of one-night hotel stays is available based on qualifying times.
Qualifying times are required for professional or elite athlete status, which the athlete must submit from events since 2021.
Professional Athletes can apply for a waived, seeded entry into the Marathon race division.
There are no waived, seeded, or discounted entries into the Half Marathon or 5K Road Race divisions.
marathon qualifying times
Male; Under 2:20 eligible for waived; seeded race number.
Female; Under 2:40 eligible for waived; seeded number.
elite athlete status
Elite athletes can apply for waived, seeded entry, or discounted; seeded entry in the Marathon or Half Marathon race divisions.
There are no waived, seeded, or discounted admissions in the 5K Road Race.
marathon qualifying times
Male; 2:20 – 2:39 eligible for a seeded, elite race number.
Female; 2:40 – 2:59 eligible for a seeded, elite race number.
half marathon qualifying times
Male; Under 1:09 eligible for waived; seeded elite race number.
Female; Under 1:19 eligible for waived; seeded elite race number.
Male; 1:09 – 1:20 eligible for a seeded, elite race number.
Female; 1:19 – 1:30 eligible for a seeded, elite race number.
to apply
Athletes who wish to apply and compete in the IMT Des Moines Marathon professional & elite athlete program should contact John Tope, professional athlete director, directly at 303-931-2226 or at ontherunus@comcast.net to initiate athlete requests.
Professional athletes from countries whose citizens must have a visa to enter the United States are encouraged to apply for a visa to enter the United States as soon as possible. Depending upon citizenship, the approval time may be several months. If an invitation letter is required, the IMT Des Moines Marathon will issue one upon request. For an invitation letter to be published, the athlete must provide a complete name, address, nationality, and passport number.
prize money
An athlete can be awarded prize money in only one event category. Athletes must be officially registered for the race division they competed to qualify for any awards or cash prizes.
The IMT Des Moines Marathon does not duplicate or double-dip overall and age division awards. Prize money winners cannot qualify for age division awards, offered for the top 3 men and women in each age category starting at 14 & Under and up to 80 & Over.
Prestige takes precedence if an athlete is placed in two prize money categories. (Example: If an athlete qualifies for 3rd place in the Marathon and as Top Iowan, they would be awarded 3rd place in the Marathon, and then the next Iowan to finish would receive Top Iowan.)
Cash and gift card awards are based on gun time, not chip time.
To avoid an automatic 30% IRS tax on prize money, U.S. citizens must possess a Social Security number and provide a completed W-9 form. Foreign citizens must provide a completed W-8 BEN form. Otherwise, any athlete claiming prize money must have 30% withheld for federal income tax filing purposes.
* Prize money and Scheels gift cards are not offered in the Principal 5K Road Race or Bankers Trust Marathon Relay.
marathon
The IMT Des Moines Marathon presents prize money to the top 3 male and female winners of the race; 1st place $2,500, 2nd place $1,000, 3rd place $500.
$1,000 cash bonus for the male or female winner if their finish time is under 2:20 and 2:40, respectively.
If their finish time sets a new event record, a $2,500 additional cash bonus for the male or female winner (see below).
The top 2 masters, male and female winners of the race, receive; 1st place $350, 2nd place $200.
Scheels presents Scheels gift cards to the top Iowa male and female race winners; 1st place $100 gift card.
half marathon
Scheels presents Scheels gift cards to the top 3 male and female winners of the race; 1st place $750, 2nd place $500, 3rd place $250.
Scheels presents a $100 additional gift card bonus for the male or female winner if their finish time sets a new event record (see below).
Scheels presents Scheels gift cards to the top 2 masters, male and female winners of the race; 1st place $200, 2nd place $100.
Scheels presents Scheels gift cards to the top Iowa male and female winners of the race; 1st place – $50.
event records
Event records are based on the fastest event time since the inception of the Des Moines Marathon in 2002 and when IMT Insurance became the event’s title sponsor in 2006, regardless of course changes.
marathon
Marathon Male: 2:12:19, Phillip Lagat, Kenya – 2014.
Masters Marathon Male: 2:33:20, David Tuwei, Minnesota – 2019.
Masters Marathon Female: 2:49:32, Tatyana Byelovol, Ukraine – 2011.
Marathon Male Iowa: 2:24:42, Marty Dalton, Earlham, Iowa – 2008.
Marathon Female Iowa: 2:41:32, Robyn Friedman, Newton, Iowa – 2009.
half marathon
Half Marathon Male: 1:03:20, Samuel Ndereba, Kenya – 2012.
Half Marathon Female: 1:13:48, Emma Huston, Iowa – 2022.
Masters Half Marathon Male: 1:10:55, Keith Mulhollan, Minnesota – 2011.
Masters Half Marathon Female: 1:22:48, Lisa Marshall, Granger, Iowa – 2010.
Half Marathon Female Iowa: 1:18:26, Ashley Tollakson, Des Moines, Iowa – 2011.
principal 5k road race
5K Road Race Male: 14:13, Ben Jaskowiak, Des Moines, Iowa – 2015.
5K Road Race Female: 17:11, Amy Armstrong, Colorado – 2015.
Masters 5K Road Race Male: 17:34, Stacy Garrels, Indianola, Iowa – 2019.
Masters 5K Road Race Female: 19:50, Anna Bergman, West Des Moines, Iowa – 2019.
bankers trust marathon relay
All-Male Team: 2:31:22, Dread Pirate Roberts – Iowa, 2018.
All-Female Team: 3:17:05, Five Foxes, Iowa – 2014.
Community Team: 3:08:06, Ernst & Young, Iowa – 2007.
Corporate Team*: 2:40:09, Principal, Iowa – 2008.
*All 5-team members must work for the same company/organization.
accolades
BibRave lists the IMT Des Moines Marathon as one of The Decade’s Top 20 Marathons in the United States. Read more.
RaceRaves lists the IMT Des Moines Marathon & Half Marathon as the best in Iowa and the Midwest. Read more.
Cityview Magazine lists the IMT Des Moines Marathon as the Best Local Running Event in Des Moines. Read more.
All registrants should read our terms and conditions and frequently asked questions.
