© Copyright – 2024 – Athletics Illustrated

The women’s-only Athlos NYC track meeting at Icahn Stadium on Randall’s Island was well received by the athletes. The question is, how did the spectators react and were the races entertaining?

None of the races were particularly fast or that competitive.

The competition

In the 100-metre sprint, the top runner was Marie-Josee Ta Lou-Smith from the Ivory Coast. She finished in the time of 10.98, no one else broke 11 seconds. The race was not competitive in comparison to the Diamond League or global championships. The 200m had a little star power in comparison with multi-Olympic gold medallist Gabby Thomas racing against Brittany Brown. Thomas finished second in 22.21. Fellow American Brown won in the time of 22.18. Thomas’s best is 21.60 from 2023.

Mary Moraa of Kenya finished second in a mediocre-for-her 1:58.05. Again, not a competitive race as she was trounced by Tsige Duguma of Ethiopia who clocked 1:57.43. The race needed a fit Athing Mu and Olympic gold medallist Keely Hodgkinson.

Faith Kiyegon of Kenya, a celebrated athlete, ran 15 or so seconds slower than her personal best of 3:49.05, with a 4:04.79 performance.

Is the track slow> Or is the emphasis on being in great form softened by being a post-Olympic and post-Diamond League meet? Also, was the star treatment just too relaxed?

Athlete-centric approach

The prize money was $110,500 per race. First place earned $60,000 and there was $25,000 for second. That should be a large enough gap to make the athletes want to give their respective races a good go. Thomas played a part in launching and promoting the meet.

However, it was Reddit owner Alexis Ohanian who funded the event. There was a DJ, as well as a concert by Meghan Thee Stallion and flashy lighting.

Brown earned $85,000 on the evening for finishing second to Ta Lou-Smith in the 100m and then defeating Thomas in the 200m.

Small bibs for women were created to fit over jog bras. The athletes felt that the treatment was athlete-centred and that there was an open line of communication with the organizers.

So, the athletes enjoyed themselves, being pampered with the princess treatment. For the sport of athletics, perhaps Ohanian and co., are setting a benchmark for more traditional meets to support the athletes more.

Are the fans sold?

In terms of fan engagement, fans were loud and involved. However, the stadium appeared to have sold 4000 of 5000 possible tickets. There is every chance that the first Athlos NYC meet lost money. However, Ohanian fully expects to run a second edition in 2025.

He listened to the athletes, now he will have to listen to the fans. Timing of the event should happen closer to the Diamond League Finale, or World Athletics Championships in Sept. 2025, while athletes are still at their peak and the sport is being reported on in the major media.

Ohanian will also need to recruit deeper fields so that the races are more competitive. Having a women’s-only meet is fairly novel. Perhaps the entrepreneur has something to build on. The focus can be on the top women because there are no men to overshadow their performances.

Will enough women (and men) want to watch the event over stream services or in the stadium to make the meet pay for itself?

Only time will tell.

Results

100m Women Wind: 0.1 m/s

POSNAMENATMARK
1Marie-Josee Ta Lou-SmithCIV10.98
2Brittany BrownUSA11.05 SB
3Candace HillUSA11.14
4Daryll NeitaGBR11.29
5Zoe HobbsNZL11.38
6Celera BarnesUSA11.41

200m Women Wind: 0.7 m/s

POSNAMENATMARK
1Brittany BrownUSA22.18
2Gabby ThomasUSA22.21
3Anavia BattleUSA22.34
4Jenna PrandiniUSA22.62
5Tamara ClarkUSA22.83
6Torrie LewisAUS23.53

400m Women

POSNAMENATMARK
1Marileidy PaulinoDOM49.59
2Alexis HolmesUSA49.99
3Salwa Eid NaserBRN50.40
4 Shamier LittleUSA51.28
5Lieke KlaverNED51.82
6Lynna Irby-JacksonUSA51.83

800m Women

POSNAMENATMARK
1Tsige DugumaETH1:57.43
2Mary MoraaKEN1:58.05
3Natoya Goule-ToppinJAM1:58.63
4Addy WileyUSA1:58.93
5Halimah NakaayiUGA1:59.62
6 Nia AkinsUSA2:01.32

1500m Women

POSNAMENATMARK
1Faith KipyegonKEN4:04.79
2Diribe WeltejiETH4:05.58
3Susan Ejore-SandersKEN4:06.25
4Gudaf TsegayETH4:06.81
5Cory McGeeUSA4:07.09
6Katie SnowdenGBR4:07.57
DNFEmily RichardsUSA 

100m Hurdles Women Wind: 0.6 m/s

POSNAMENATMARK
1Jasmine Camacho-QuinnPUR12.36
2Alaysha JohnsonUSA12.43
3Masai RussellUSA12.44
4Tonea MarshallUSA12.51
5Danielle WilliamsJAM12.56
6Charisma TaylorBAH13.58