New event added to Sunderland City Runs weekend in bid to attract big names

Organisers of the 2020 Sunderland City Runs have announced details of the Saucony Spire 5K, which will be held alongside the mass participation 5K on the evening of Saturday 9 May and is offering generous cash prizes to attract some of the best male and female athletes in the country.

Steve Cram, founder of the Sunderland City Runs, said: “I think that the Saucony Spire 5K will be a very keenly contested race. There aren’t many opportunities in the North East for the very fastest runners to win decent prize money at that distance on the road and we’ve been keen to attract an elite field to Sunderland for a while.

“We had already changed the course of the Sunderland City 5K slightly to make it even flatter and faster than last year, so it’s set up very well for some quick times. We’re grateful to Saucony for making this new race possible and hope to see some of the country’s best runners on the start line in May.”

Organised by Events of the North in partnership with Sunderland City Council, the 10th anniversary Sunderland City Runs will be held on 9 and 10 May, and will also include the Sunderland City Half Marathon, 10K and 5K, and the Active Sunderland BIG 3K.

Hundreds of runners are expected to take part in the events over the weekend, but it remains uncertain if the runs will go ahead due to the coronavirus outbreak.

A number of large running events, including the London Marathon, have been postponed until later in the year and there are expectations the Government may ban mass gatherings in the coming weeks.

Sunderland City Runs organisers are monitoring the situation but so far no announcement has been made to postpone any of the events.

Invitations are being extended to enter the Saucony Spire 5K to male athletes with a verified road 5K time of 16 minutes or under, and women with a time of 18 minutes or under. All those who enter who have personal bests of under 15 minutes and 17 minutes respectively will receive £25 towards travel expenses.

Major incentives for elite grass roots athletes are some generous cash prizes for a regional 5K - £500 for the winner of each race, £300 for second place, £200 for third, £100 for fourth and £75 for fifth. Bonus prizes will be awarded - £50 for any man who finishes in 14:30 or below, and any woman who finishes in 16:30 or below (gun times). There will also be Saucony product prizes up for grabs, including kit for the first three North East runners in both races.

Full details of the Saucony Spire 5K can be found at http://sunderlandcity10k.com/saucony-spire-5k.

Places on all of the 2020 Sunderland City Runs are available now at www.sunderlandcity10k.com.