World Marathon Majors launch series for wheelchair racers

America's Tatyana McFadden will be expected to be one of the main contenders in the AWMM Wheelchair Series X ©YouTube

A new series for wheelchair athletes has been launched by the Abbott World Marathon Majors (AWMM), it was announced today.

For the first time, a male and female winner will be determined over a 12-month period based on scoring earned via results from six iconic global races, and each will be awarded $50,000 (£33,000/€46,000) for the championships.

The new series is set to begin at the April 2016 Boston Marathon next Monday (April 20).

Boston had been the first major race in the United States in 1975 to recognise wheelchair participation.

Including each of the World Marathon Majors qualifying races in Tokyo, Boston, London, Berlin, Chicago and New York City, AWMM Wheelchair Series X will begin at this year's Boston Marathon and conclude at the 2017 edition of the race.

Each subsequent series will begin and end at the next AWMM race on the calendar.

“These athletes compete at the highest levels, and it’s time for us to formally recognize the achievements of wheelchair athletes,” said Tim Hadzima, AWMM general manager.

“Our objective, and that of our title sponsor, Abbott, is to elevate marathoning across the globe by advancing and promoting all aspects of our great sport.”

Paralympic Games and International Paralympic Committee (IPC) Athletics World Championships races, when scheduled, will also count as part of the series.

This year's IPC World Championship marathon races are being held as part of the Virgin London Marathon on April 26 after they were switched from Doha.

The Virgin London Marathon will be part of the new Abbott World Marathon Majors series for wheelchair racers ©Getty Images

In a Series without World Championships or Paralympic Games it will be the best four of seven races to score.

In years with either of those events, it will be the best five of eight races to score.

“This is a key milestone for all athletes and for the global sport,” said Tatyana McFadden, an 11-time Paralympic medalist, who completed the grand slam of Chicago, New York, London and Boston Marathons in 2013 and 2014.

“It’s thrilling to be able to race on the best courses across the world, and a formalised AWMM series adds more honour and weight to any finish.”

IPC Athletics rules and regulations will govern the races and all athletes must be registered or licensed with IPC Athletics.

“This is another major milestone in the global development and promotion of Para-athletics,” said Ryan Montgomery, head of IPC Athletics.

“Wheelchair marathon races are amongst the most exciting and competitive in the world and on behalf of the athletes I would like to thank AWMM for their support in making this become a reality.”