• Loading stock data...
Thursday, July 10, 2025

At Athlos, Speed Cost More Than $84,000 per Minute

  • Sprinter Brittany Brown won $85K in two races Thursday.
  • The meet marked the debut track event for Reddit cofounder Alexis Ohanian.
Kenyan runner Faith Kipyegon
Athlos

NEW YORK — Speed kills. But it doesn’t come cheap.

At least not at Alexis Ohanian’s Athlos, the first big-money women’s track meet from the Reddit cofounder. The venture capitalist and serial women’s sports investor plunked down top dollar to draw some of the world’s best runners to New York City weeks after they would have normally ended their seasons.

The six races on Randall’s Island on Thursday night featured a total prize purse of $663,000. They also took just seven minutes, 49 seconds in total, meaning Ohanian spent more than $84,000 per minute that runners were on the track. 

In fact, Ohanian’s Seven Seven Six probably spent a bit more than that. It had to time and operate the meet, cover travel and lodging for the 36 women who came to New York, and likely cover the production costs for the meet broadcast, which was simulcast on YouTube, X, DAZN, and ESPN+. It also had agreed to pay back 10% of revenue—not profit—to the 36 athletes who competed. Spokespeople for Athlos and Seven Seven Six would not say how much the meet ultimately cost, but any reasonable estimate easily runs into the single-digit millions. 

And that’s without accounting for the fees for Megan Thee Stallion and D-Nice. The charismatic rapper performed a 30-minute set after the final race, while the DJ spun in the 20-minute intervals between races.

Whatever it cost, though, Ohanian said he was ready to keep plowing money into the sport.

“We’re absolutely doing this again next year,” he told assembled media before the racing kicked off Thursday night.

Hurdler Jasmine Camacho-Quinn
Hurdler Jasmine Camacho-Quinn (Athlos)

The women competing were pleased with the event, and understandably. Winners Faith Kipyegon (1,500 meters), Brittany Brown (200m), Marie-Josée Ta Lou-Smith (100m), Marileidy Paulino (400m, cheered on by a significant Dominican contingent), Tsige Duguma (800m), and Jasmine Camacho-Quinn (100m hurdles) each earned $60,000 for their wins Thursday. Brown added a runner-up finish in the 100 to pull down a cool $85,000—more than 10% of all the prize money awarded Thursday night.

But most runners interviewed said they enjoyed more than just the paychecks.

U.S. 1,500-meter runner Cory McGee, who finished fifth in her race and therefore earned $5,000, said she was impressed with the whole operation. 

“I’ve raced in nearly every Diamond League that there is,” she said, referring to track’s longstanding premium circuit. “And sure, people get picked up at the airport, and it’s super detailed and meticulous. But not as detailed and meticulous. They really thought about everything.” Several athletes said a Wednesday event with Serena Williams’s beauty company was a major highlight. (Williams and Ohanian are married.)

Track meet promoters are notorious for taking weeks or months to pay athletes their expenses and winnings. McGee said that Athlos covered those costs up front, handing every athlete vouchers for spending and transportation.

Sprinter Brittany Brown
Sprinter Brittany Brown (Athlos)

There were lumps. It took at least half of the meet for the in-house DJ and announcers to stop drowning each other out. An interview with Shonda Rhimes was largely inaudible in the stadium. (Rhimes was among several celebrities at the event, including soccer player Ashtyn Harris and actress Lupita Nyong’o.) And hurdler Masai Russell was irate after a fumbling start in the 100 hurdles. “I want to protest because as anyone can see, there was a lot of flinching going on at the starting line,” she said.

It’s the money, though, that ultimately will attract the best athletes, and therefore track fans in what organizers hope is greater numbers than the sport has been able to reach outside of the Olympics. About 90% of seats of the 5,000-capacity Icahn Stadium were filled, according to organizers.

Several athletes, including Alaysha Johnson and U.S. sprinter Alexis Holmes, said it was the most they had ever earned in a single night of racing. 

Johnson and Holmes both finished second in their races and won $25,000. Johnson said she would save the money, while Holmes said she would spend it on a trip. Holmes ran the 400 in 49.99 seconds and joked that “one lap around the track for $25K” was “everyone’s dream.”

Johnson was pleased to see the blue-chip sponsors that Athlos reeled in, including Toyota and Tiffany & Co., which produced crowns for each of the six winners. “To me, that’s what’s most important—bringing in companies that we wouldn’t normally be a part of, that wouldn’t normally be a part of track and field, and exposing them to something this amazing.”

The most accomplished athlete at the meet, and possibly the one who needed the $60,000 the least, was Kenya’s Faith Kipyegon. The 30-year-old has three Olympic gold medals and world records in the women’s 1,500 meters and mile. Kipyegon—in an interview briefly delayed while she privately met with Megan Thee Stallion—said that she was drawn to New York by the opportunity to compete in an all-women’s meet.

“I was running for the money,” she added, laughing and making it clear she was joking. But it didn’t hurt, either. “That $60,000 was just amazing,” she said. “Being awarded so much money is just incredible. I think it was my first-ever event to be awarded a lot of money like that.” 

Kipyegon has likely earned more from contract bonuses for her world records, but the point stands. The Diamond League, for example, has paid $25,000 for first place in recent years, which is increasing to $30,000 to $50,000 next year. “At other events, we are normally getting less than that,” she said. “To be running a women’s-only race and get $60,000 is just huge.” All told, the event marked a major victory for Ohanian and Gabby Thomas, who was clearly surprised and disappointed after her upset loss to Brown in the 200. The Olympic gold medalist closely collaborated with Ohanian in the creation and development of the event. 

She had neatly summed up the pre-2024 state of money in track and field in a tweet last year. “In track & field if you lose a meet,” she wrote, “you go home with debt.” She may have lost Thursday night, but she still went home with $25,000.

Linkedin
Whatsapp
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

The Florida State Seminoles hosted the Florida Gators at Doak Campbell Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024.

Athletic Departments Express Renewed Interest in PE in Wake of House Settlement

Schools now have more expenses—and are looking for creative solutions.
Caster Semenya

Caster Semenya’s Legal Win Could Reopen Fight Against Testosterone Limits

The Olympian champion’s appeal against gender eligibility rules continues.
Gareth Bale
exclusive

Gareth Bale Group Makes New Offer for Cardiff City 

Bale tells Front Office Sports his group has made another bid.
Hall of Fame Open at the International Tennis Hall of Fame, Newport.

Andy Roddick Slams Billionaire Bill Ackman’s Pro Tennis Gambit

“This was the biggest joke I’ve ever watched in professional tennis.”

Featured Today

Jun 28, 2025; Arlington, Texas, USA; Seattle Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh (29) bats during the game between the Texas Rangers and the Seattle Mariners at Globe Life Field.

The Torpedo Bat Business Is Still Going Strong: ‘Here to Stay’

Demand for the oddly shaped bats has stayed strong across the sport.
July 6, 2025

American Celebs Want to Be Sports Owners. Soccer Is Where They Start

As U.S. team prices climb, investors set their sights abroad.
July 5, 2025

Baseball’s Celebrity Row: Behind MLB’s First-Pitch Ritual

Often planned, sometimes spontaneous, the ritual throw is baseball’s celebrity row.
July 4, 2025

3,000 Hot Dogs, $20K in Prizes: Behind the Nathan’s Eating Contest

Nathan’s serves up thousands of hot dogs and $20,000 in prize money.

Jalen Williams Signs Max Deal As Thunder Commit $822M to 3 Stars

Oklahoma City also extended Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Chet Holmgren.
Jul 10, 2025; Wimbledon, United Kingdom; Amanda Anisimova of the United States celebrates winning her match against Aryna Sabalenka on day 11 at All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club.
July 10, 2025

Amanda Anisimova Stuns Sabalenka to Reach Wimbledon Final, Clinches $2M

The American’s Wimbledon run will continue with her first major final.
July 10, 2025

Suns All In on Booker, Who Signs Record Extension Amidst Chaos

The Suns changed their head coach for the fourth time in four years.
Sponsored

Game On: Portfolio Players Stories, Brought to You by E*TRADE from Morgan Stanley

Dealmaker Jeffrey Kaplan maps the evolution of sports as an asset class
Apr 9, 2025; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Chicago Bulls guard Josh Giddey (3) defends Miami Heat guard Davion Mitchell (45) during the second half at United Center.
July 9, 2025

Why Are the NBA’s Biggest Restricted Free Agents Still Unsigned?

Draymond Green said the new CBA is responsible for ending free agency.
July 9, 2025

Jokić Declined a Contract Extension, but the Nuggets Shouldn’t Panic

Jokić still has three years remaining on his current contract.
Jul 1, 2025; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Paul Skenes (30) pitches against the St. Louis Cardinals during the third inning at PNC Park.
July 8, 2025

MLB ASG Missing Many Highly Paid Stars, Clearing Path for Youth

Many of MLB’s top earners are not part of the Midsummer Classic.
Jonas
July 8, 2025

Jonas Valančiūnas Is Cryptic About Nuggets Standoff in Lithuania

The Nuggets expect Valančiūnas to honor his NBA contract.