The Montréal 21K offers a high-performance platform for Elite athletes. In 2026, the event is part of the Coupe Québec Route circuit sanctioned by Athlétisme Québec and hosts the Quebec 21.1 km Championship, in an environment designed for performance.

Athletes from Quebec and from outside the province who meet the required performance standards may be granted Elite status, subject to bib availability.

Eligibility Criteria

Meet the required performance standards (see table below), achieved after January 1, 2024, at sanctioned events, on certified courses, with publicly available results. Equivalent performances may be accepted at the discretion of Athlétisme Québec.
Quebec athletes: must be members of Athlétisme Québec or Viens Courir.
Athletes outside Quebec: must be members of their provincial and/or national athletics federation.
Elite bibs are limited and assigned on a first-come, first-served basis.

Elite status includes free race registration and access to a designated Elite area on race day.

Prize Money

In collaboration with the Coupe Québec Route, the Montréal 21K offers a total prize purse of $8,500 for the 21K event, with up to $2,000 in additional bonuses for new records.

Prize Breakdown – 21.1 km

Position Quebec Athletes Open Ranking

1st $700 $700

2nd $400 $500

3rd $250 $400

4th $100 $300

5th $50 $250

6th — $200

7th — $150

*Prize money is identical for women and men and is awarded based on gun time.

Prize Money – Quebec Athletes

Awarded to the top 5 Quebec athletes.

Reserved for members of Athlétisme Québec. Please refer to the Coupe Québec Route website for eligibility criteria.

View eligibility criteria

Prize Money – Open Ranking

Awarded to the top 7 finishers, regardless of origin.
Added to the prize money awarded to the top 5 Quebec athletes.
Prize money is cumulative.

Special Bonus

Intermediate 5 km

A $250 bonus is awarded to the fastest woman and the fastest man over the 5 km segment between the 5 km and 10 km marks, provided they complete the race, provided they finish the race within the qualification time +10% (equivalent to under 1:36:31 for women and under 1:17:47 for men). Strategy will matter.

Bonus – Records

21K Course Record – $500

Distance Men Women

21,1 km 1:03:45 – Samuel Ndereba (KEN), 2008 1:12:09 – Tara Quinn Smith (CAN), 2009

Quebec Half-Marathon Record – $500

Distance Men Women

21,1 km 1:02:17 – Thomas Fafard (novembre 2024) 1:11:30 – Anne-Marie Comeau (mars 2023)

Performance Standards

Senior Elite (34 and under)

Distance Women Men

Mile 5:18.77 4:24.50

5 km 18:28 15:05

10 km 39:05 31:58

15 km 1:00:33 49:10

Half-Marathon 1:27:44 1:10:42

Marathon 3:07:35 2:30:10

Standards correspond to an Elite performance level, based on World Athletics reference tables (795 points).

* These standards apply to all Senior Elite athletes, regardless of origin.

Masters Elite (35 and over)

Masters Elite standards are based on Senior Elite performances and adjusted according to the World Masters Athletics age-grading system.

View standards

Join the Elite at the Starting Line

QUEBEC
ATHLETES

Invitations and communications are managed by Athlétisme Québec. To submit an Elite invitation request, please complete the Federation’s form.

Questions: info@vienscourir.com

Submit an application

ATHLETES
OUTSIDE QUEBEC

Invitations and communications are handled by the Montréal 21K team. To apply for Elite status, please complete the Montréal 21K Elite application form.

Questions: elite@couronsmtl.com

Submit an application

Need More Information?

Our team supports athletes from the starting line to the finish. Have a question or need clarification? Get in touch.

Quebec athletes: info@vienscourir.com
Athletes outside Quebec: elite@couronsmtl.com

Elite