It will launch the first Athlos NYC women’s-only track invitational Thursday, with big names like American Olympic 200m champion Gabby Thomas and Kenyan 1,500m world record holder Faith Kipyegon. Founded by Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian, prize money for the competition smashes all records, at $500,000 it is ‘the biggest pool ever for a women’s track meet’.
$60,000 will be bagged by all first-place winners in the six disciplines that they will compete in: 100m, 200m, 400m, 100m hurdles, 800m, and 1500m. The Diamond League heeled at $15,000 first prize with peaks of as much as $30,000 for the last race. Ohanian targeted attention and investment raised into women’s sports. He pointed to the difference in the first prize money, promising to double the purse of what athletes win for one race compared to the Diamond League.
The development of the profile for the sport will not come to an end as World Athletics just recently declared payments for Olympic champions at the Paris Games, and just last week, Michael Johnson released a $12.6 million athletics league that’s set for 2025.
Other headliners at the meet include Olympic 400m champion Marileidy Paulino of the Dominican and Olympic hurdle champ Masai Russell of the United States. Plus prizes in prize money and crowns from Tiffany & Co.
Thomas, one of the prominent participants in the race, said Athlos NYC is unique because it is dedicated to women’s sports. “This is bigger than myself and it’s bigger than this race. It’s what we’re doing for women’s sports,” she said.
Owenian, who has invested in the still pricey women’s sport team Angel City FC most expensive in the world, added: “Women athletes. are much more compelling. I have a “Spidey sense” for where there are hyper-engaged communities of fans, and women’s sports has them in droves.”
The meet is a major step in the direction of bolstering women’s track and field, with fans and runners on their toes to see the result of the competition.