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Many of the world’s top women’s track athletes are set to compete for record prizes when the inaugural Athlos NYC gets under way on Thursday.<\/b><\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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 (\u00a3374,000) prize pool, external<\/span><\/a> for a women’s track meet.<\/p>\n Winners across six disciplines will receive $60,000 (\u00a344,900).<\/p>\n The Diamond League, in comparison, offers a $15,000 (\u00a311,200) first prize across its 15 series meetings, rising to $30,000 (\u00a322,400) for the final. <\/p>\n “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. <\/p>\n “And I said, ‘Great, I’m going to double it for one single race’.”<\/p>\n There are two Brits in action with Daryll Neita racing in the 100m and Katie Snowden competing in the 1500m.<\/p>\n 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.<\/a><\/p>\n In June, American legend Michael Johnson announced the launch of a lucrative new athletics league starting in April 2025<\/a> called Grand Slam track, with a total of $12.6m (\u00a39.9m) in prize money.<\/p>\n And last week, the Diamond League said it would raise its prize money for the 2025 season.<\/p>\n “It’s a great sign when there are other people seeing what you’re doing and racing to be a part of it too,” said Ohanian.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n