How is it that races are getting thousands of entrants and charging $30-$50 per entry and can't find $1,000 to dole out in prize money? Well a couple races in my area do and they are the ones that the local fast guys show up for. Every race should be like this. Hire 1 less rent-a-cop and you make up the difference. There would be an incentive to be in top 5k/10k shape year-round.
By the way, I'm talking about $500/$250 overall, not per gender.