A runner from San Francisco, Cal Calamia, who identifies as non-binary and trans-masculine, has recently been at odds with the organizers of the New York City Marathon after winning the non-binary race category and then finding out they would not receive the $5,000 prize money. According to KRON4, the New York Road Runners (NYRR), responsible for the marathon, cited an eligibility rule that was not met by Calamia—the requirement to compete in six NYRR races within the year leading up to the marathon.

Calamia, despite finishing first, was to learn that they were ineligible for the cash reward because the rule was posted on the marathon's website three months after they registered. "They told me that I was not eligible for the prize money because they added a new stipulation for the prize money following the registration period," Calamia told KRON4. They further explained that adhering to this rule would have required them to live in New York City, a necessity that was not feasible for the San Francisco resident.

The NYRR issued a statement countering that "Cal was not eligible for the NYRR member division, non-binary prize money as they did not complete the six fully scored races required." This clarification was found in a statement obtained by KRON4. The organization stood its ground, saying, "The prize money and eligibility requirements for the non-binary category were published on our website at the same time as all the other categories, six months before the race."

Calamia expressed their discontent with how the situation was handled by the NYRR, emphasizing a lack of adequate communication. "The one thing they said is that they empathize with me expecting something and then something else happening, but they didn’t say hey it was our mistake we should have communicated better," Calamia recounted to SFist. Despite the setback, the runner from San Francisco is setting their sights on the upcoming SF Marathon, which also includes a non-binary category, in hopes that the rules will be made clear well in advance.

The $5,000 prize money was subsequently given to the second-place runner in the non-binary category who had fulfilled the six-race requirement. As the first major marathon to offer a non-binary category with prize money, the outcome of Calamia's case holds significance for the inclusion and treatment of non-binary and trans athletes in competitive sports.