Elite Invitational
Welcome to the 2021 Elite Invitational! Elite races are invite-only and interested runners must complete an Elite Athlete application to be considered. Total elite prize purse for 2021 is $36,000! Full details and athlete eligibility requirements below.
2021 Elite Invitational Prize Purse
Guaranteed Payout – Equal for Men & Women
1st – $5,000
2nd – $2,500
3rd – $1,500
4th – $1,000
5th – $500
World Record Bonuses
$5,000 – Men must beat 12:37*
$5,000 – Women must beat 14:11*
*Current records as of 10/6/2020
T-Mobile American Record Bonuses
$2,500 – Men must beat 13:20*
$2,500 – Women must beat 14:50*
*Current records as of 10/6/2020
All amounts are in USD ($). Athletes receiving more than $600 must furnish a W9 for tax purposes.
Eligibility Requirements
- 5K time of sub-14:00 for men and sub-17:00 for women
- Comparable times for races farther than 5K are also accepted
- Submit an Elite Invitational Athlete Application no later than August 31, 2021 or receive an invitation from race officials
- Adhere to anti-doping regulations
Results and Awards
- Prize money awards are equal for both men and women
- Prize money distribution is based upon gun time results
- All athletes are subject to USADA drug testing
- A review of the results will occur prior to the awards ceremony and prize money disbursements
- Decisions of the race referee and jury of appeal are final and cannot be contested
Accepted athletes may be asked to:
- Share acceptance to the Elite Invitational on social media
- Share training experiences leading up to the race on social media
- Take part in pre/post-race interviews over Carlsbad 5000 weekend
- Participate in the Elite Q&A with Meb on Saturday of race weekend
Travel Assistance
- Travel stipends and hotel accommodations are available for select invited athletes thanks to the support of our Official Headphones Partner, AfterShokz
- Travel dates must be between dates confirmed by race officials
Getting to Carlsbad
For best arrangements and ease of travel, flights should be booked so you will arrive in San Diego (SAN) on Friday of race weekend. Please note that Carlsbad Village is located 36 miles north of downtown San Diego and traffic increases significantly from 3pm to 7pm. Both Uber and Lyft are available onsite and will be the easiest option for most athletes. All major car rental services and bus / train options are also available. Transportation expenses are eligible for those athletes qualifying for travel reimbursement. John Wayne Airport (JWA) in Orange County and Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) are also options but will require significantly more travel time upon arrival.
Accommodations in Carlsbad
We will be able to provide limited hotel rooms for selected elite athletes on a case-by-case basis with preference given to those who contact us before August 31. All athletes who have been promised housing should arrive in Carlsbad on Friday in order to be housed. Please do not bring unexpected guests as we can NOT accommodate spouses, coaches, or friends.
Contact Our Team
We’d love to hear from you! Please feel free to contact us via email at elites@carlsbad5000.com