Kenya’s Faith Kipyegon and Mary Moraa will compete in October’s women-only Athlos Invitational Meet in New York City, organisers of the most electrifying women’s event in track competing for record-breaking prizes in the city that never sleeps, have confirmed.
Alexis Ohanian, the co-founder of Reddit and husband of former American tennis icon Serena Williams, is the primary investor behind Athlos NYC via his Seven Seven Six venture capital firm.
Athlos NYC will have only six track events: 100m, 200m, 400m, 800m, and 1500m races, plus the 100-meter hurdles. There will be no field events, no long-distance events, and no relay. Athlos states that those disciplines will be considered in the future as the event grows further.
Kipyegon, the Olympic champion and world record holder, will take part in the 1500 metres, where the three-time Olympic champion and world record holder, will lock horns with Ethiopian star Gudaf Tsegay, who is the former world record holder in the 5,000 metres, and also the third-fastest 1500 runner in history behind Faith Kipyegon.
Mary Moraa will take part in the 800 metres category and will face off with British Olympic champion Keely Hodgkinson and fellow Olympian Nia Atkins from the US among others.
Other top names in the six-race thriller include a 36-athlete roster including Gabby Thomas, who won gold for America in the 200 meters at the Paris Olympics, followed by two more golds in the 4×100-meter relay and the 4×400-meter relay. She’ll be joined in the 200m by Olympic bronze medalist Brittany Brown and two-time Olympian Jenna Prandini.
The winner’s prize is the largest-ever for a track meet: $60,000 for first place, $25,000 for second, $10,000 for third, $8,000 for fourth, $5,000 for fifth, and $2,500 for sixth in each of the six events. That amounts to an impressive total prize purse of $552,500.
The winner’s payout is more than what was paid at the Paris Olympics ($50,000) and twice what the Diamond League Finals paid its winners ($30,000). Plus, each event champion will receive a specially crafted Tiffany & Company crown, and 10% of all Athlos revenue, including ticket sales, will be redistributed to participating athletes.
