Many of the world’s top women’s track athletes are set to compete for record prizes when the inaugural Athlos NYC gets underway on Thursday.
American Olympic 200m champion Gabby Thomas and Kenyan 1,500m world record holder Faith Kipyegon are among the stars in action at the women’s –only track invitational.
Alexis Ohanian – Reddit co-founder and husband of 23-time Grand Slam tennis champion Serena Williams – has launched the event which boasts a record $500,000 (£374,000) prize pool, external for a women’s track meet.
The Diamond League, in comparison, offers a $15,000 (£11,200) first prize across its 15 series meetings, rising to $30,000 (£22,400) for the final.
“I asked these women, I was like, ‘Hey, so what is your top prize at the end of a season for winning?’ And they said $30,000,” Ohanian told Reuters.
“And I said, ‘Great, I’m going to double it for one single race’.”
There are two Brits in action with Daryll Neita racing in the 100m and Katie Snowden competing in the 1500m.
The Athlos meeting continues wider investment in the sport and its athletes, with World Athletics paying Olympic champions for the first time at the Paris Games this year.
In June, American legend Michael Johnson announced the launch of a lucrative new athletics league starting in April 2025 called Grand Slam Track, with a total of $12.6m (£9.9m) in prize money.
And last week, the Diamond League said it would raise its prize money for the 2025 season.
“It’s a great sign when other people are seeing what you’re doing and racing to be a part of it too,” said Ohanian.
Bigger than myself and the race – Thomas
Athlos NYC sees 36 athletes competing at the Icahn Stadium across the 100m, 200m, 400m, 100m hurdles, 800m, and 1500m.
In addition to prize money, victors will also receive a crown from New York jewellers Tiffany & Co.
Alongside Thomas and Kipyegon will be Dominican 400m Olympic champion Marileidy Paulino and American Masai Russell, who won the 100m hurdles in Paris.
“This is bigger than me and it’s bigger than this race,” said Thomas, who added 4x100m and 4x400m relay golds to her 200m win in Paris.
“It’s about what we’re doing for women’s sports and what this event, in particular, means for women’s sport and track and field.”
Ohanian founded Athlos NYC following his investment in Los Angeles-based NWSL side Angel City FC last year when the club became the most expensive women’s sports team in the world.
“You just look at the follower counts, you look at the engagement. Women athletes – and in this example, with track – just are way more compelling,” said Ohanian.
“I have a ‘Spidey sense’ for where there are hyper-engaged communities of fans and women’s sports has them in droves.”
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