A woman who was the first female to finish a weekend fun run in Queensland has complained she was unfairly treated after receiving gift vouchers - instead of $300, and vouchers, like the male winner.

Alex Blake, 25, was the first woman finisher in the five-kilometre category at this year's QUT Classic event, run on Sunday.

She placed fifth overall, with four men crossing the line ahead of her.

The winning man won $300 and some gift vouchers - but initially Blake only received the vouchers.

After the event, Blake and her father raised their concerns about the inequity, prompting organisers to restructure its prizes for this year's event - with the 25-year-old now set to receive the same prize amount as her male counterpart.

Blake says prize money was advertised for the top three places, and she assumed that the structure was for both men and women, explaining that athletics is an inclusive sport.

"They handed the men a big fancy cheque and nothing to us... thought it was a mistake," Blake told 7NEWS.com.au

Chevron Right Icon 'They handed the men a big fancy cheque and nothing to us.'

She questioned officials at the event "pretty strongly", and was told the money was for the first three across the line as opposed to first three in each category.

Blake said she was shocked and said it was an oversight on the organisers' behalf.

"We can chase the men and we'll do our best, but our genetic makeup isn't the same," Blake said.

Her dad also shared his concern on Facebook.

'Pure disgrace'

"QUT Classic 2019. No prize money or banner for women in either the 10km or 5km, with money three deep in the men's," Mark Blake wrote online.

"This is a pure disgrace and sexist in the extreme."

Prizes restructured

After Blake and her father's concerns were raised, the university agreed to restructure the prizes for this year's event.

"Our intention was to award prize money to the first three runners over the line, regardless of gender, on top of our usual prize categories," a QUT spokeperson said in a statement on Sunday.

"We apologise for this, and given QUT’s oversight we have restructured the winnings and will now be awarding cash prizes to the top three female and male runners. Race winners will be contacted. "

Alexandra Blake running at Kawana Park. Credit: Supplied

Blake says the QUT run is a great event and while the "right thing" has now been done, she explained this was never about the money.

"People need to be careful because it can be perceived as sexism," she said.

"I guess the reason I'm speaking up is because I don't want there to be such a thing."

"We need to make sure when conducting these events that we do think of acknowledging men and women and in future let's just make sure these oversights don't occur."

She also said while she appreciated that the genders run together at the event, she sees it as "as two separate races that are put together for the fun of the sport".

"The girls I run against work really hard. I don't ever want to see them put second to the men," she explained.

"It's going to be tough for us to ever beat the first male."

Blake is going to donate her $300.

She has told 7NEWS.com.au she hopes to find an up-and-coming athlete who could use it to help cover the costs of travel and competitions.