Alex Ohanion had a dream.
Alex Ohanion, the founder of Reddit, threw his support behind the all-women competition, which focused on six events, using professional entertainment and sports practices and elevating the sport.
Ohanion did it.
Thirty-six athletes, thirty of them Olympic medalists, competed at Icahn Stadium on Randall’s Island on September 26, 2024.
This is David Monty’s account of the encounter.
We use Race Results Weekly stories with permission from the editors.
WOMEN COLLECTED BIG PRIZES AT THE FIRST ATLAS MEETING IN NEW YORK.
By David Monti, @d9monti
(c) 2024 Race Results Weekly, all rights reserved, used with permission.
NEW YORK (Sept. 26) — Fifty-two years after the world’s first all-women auto race was held in this city, Icahn Stadium hosted the first all-women meet in professional athletics tonight. Athlos NYC, the World Athletics Continental Tour Silver Label meet, featured 35 athletes running six two-hour races and a purse of $663,000. The meeting ended with a concert by rapper Megan T. Stallion.
“I love what they’re doing here,” said Zoe Hobbs of New Zealand, who finished fifth in the 100 meters and earned $5,000. “It’s good for track and field, bringing some vibrancy and energy. We need the atmosphere.”
Kenya’s Faith Kipyego, three-time Olympic champion in the 1500m, certainly liked the atmosphere. He started his international season late in July at the Diamond League in Paris and said he still felt fresh for tonight’s race. After pacemaker Emily Richards pulled off the track after 800 meters, Kipyegon took the lead and ran 65.5 seconds for the penultimate lap. She was closely shadowed by Ethiopian stars Diribe Velteji and Gudaf Tsegai and Kenya’s Suzanne Ejore-Sanders. Kipyegon saved his legs for the final lap, blasting through the final 150 meters to close in 58.45 seconds. His time of 4:04.79 was his slowest 1,500 of the season, but tonight’s race was his most profitable. He earned $60,000.
“To be honest, I wasn’t tired,” Kipyegon told a group of reporters, wearing a silver Tiffany & Co. the crown that was presented to each winner. “It was nice to enjoy what is happening today. It was a really special race with some amazing ladies.” He continued. “My plan was to finish the season in a good way.”
Velteji was second in 4:05.58 and Ejore-Sanders was third in 4:06.25. Ejor-Sanders, who ran for the University of Oregon during her NCAA career, also finished third in the New Balance Fifth Avenue Mile on Sept. 8 here.
“It was the same as the last 150 meters,” said a smiling Ejor-Sanders, who won $10,000. “It’s unbelievable. I’m so happy with my performance today.”
The 800 meters was a much faster race, despite the lack of a pacemaker. Ethiopia’s Tsige Duguma, the reigning world indoor 800m champion, clocked 58.13 for the first 400m. Kenya’s Mary Mora, Jamaica’s Natoya Gul-Topin and USA’s Eddie Wiley stayed close. Duguma held the lead with 600 meters to go and pushed the inside lane off the final bend. 2023 world champion Moraa tried to catch Duguma with a home run, but missed. Duguma won in a stadium record 1:57.43. Mora was second (1:58.05), Goul-Toppin third (1:58.63) and Wiley fourth (1:58.93).
“It’s great. I am very happy,” Duguma told reporters with the help of a translator. He was especially jazzed about the $60,000 salary. “It’s unexpected,” he said. He continued. “It’s a lot of money for me, for my family and for the sport. I can use it.”
In the four sprint events, Puerto Rico’s Jasmine Camacho-Quinn won the 100m hurdles (12.36), Ivory Coast’s Marie-José Ta Lui won the 100m (10.98), Dominican Republic’s Marilady Brown (49050) and Braylady Brown (49050). won 200 m (22.18). Brown was the only athlete to double up on the night and take home $85,000 in total prize money, $60,000 for winning the 200m and $25,000 for finishing second in the 100m.
Athletes across the board praised the meet’s organizers, led by tech entrepreneur Alexis Ohanian, who funded the meet.
“It’s amazing,” said Britain’s Katie Snowden, sixth in the 1500m. “I mean, the way they put it all together, coming up with the music and the intros was really fun. Especially the end of the season, it was a really great way to end it.”
