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make room, broadwayA different kind of performance is coming on the road which will definitely be a showstopper.
For one night only, the women’s long jump will be at the center of a competition held in the middle of a bustling times SquareIt’s part of the script for Athlos, the women’s only track and field series that shines the brightest light on the sport.
Act I begins on Thursday with world and Olympic champion Tara Davis-Woodhall leading a star-studded cast in a unique long jump competition held in one of New York’s trendiest tourist destinations.
Act II begins Friday when the stage moves to Icahn Stadium on Randall’s Island. There will be seven competitions – including the long jump final – and a field of athletes that includes Olympic champions Faith Kipyegon and Masai Russell, competing for more than $773,000 in prize money. Additionally, all winners are presented with a silver crown from Tiffany & Co.
Act III opens in the next season as Athlos expands with a team-based format.
“This is a roadmap,” Davis-Woodhall said, “to make track great again.”
Athlos, Round 2
This is the second event for the Athlos NYC Meet. However, this time there is more chance for planning.
Last year, the founder of Athlos alexis ohanian – of Reddit fame – and her team had five months to organize an event for women. He still assembled an all-star cast on the heels of the Paris Olympics, securing the rapper Megan Thee Stallion to perform and over three million viewers attended their stage.
Ohanian approached this season with one major idea in mind – how to take the event to the next level?
He and his team brainstormed, none of the ideas were too outlandish.
Ohanian explained, “We wanted to create something that could elevate the game’s biggest stars in a format that was not only professional, genuine and legitimate, but also brought a different kind of entertainment value.”
Hence, the Times Square long jump contest, which will take place in front of the Sephora and Disney stores. Although it has been a long season, Davis-Woodhall was not about to give up on the program established at the global center of entertainment and theatre.
Davis-Woodhall explained, “I’ve been coming to New York since I was 16 and when I first walked into Times Square, I thought, ‘I want my face on a billboard.’ “When I was a kid and dreaming of this moment, to see that full-circle moment, it’s very surreal and emotional.”
turn up the volume
On Fridays, the volume of the program increases, with more live music and more storytelling. They have a DJ blasting tunes in between the race program, which includes the 100, 200, 400, 800, mile and 100 hurdles. Some of the names in the starting blocks are the 2024 Paris Olympic champions – Kipyegon (1,500), Marilidy Paulino (400), Keely Hodgkinson (800) and Russell (100 hurdles).
Pay checks range from $60,000 for first place to $2,500 for sixth. Additionally, Athlos donates 10% of revenue to athletes.
Break the world record? That’s an additional $250K bonus. In most cases, the money will be instantly deposited into their bank account through Cash App.
Big looking for names
Some big names like sprinters Sha’Carri Richardson, Gabby Thomas and Melissa Jefferson-Wooden, who won three gold medals at the world championships in Tokyo last month, will be watching from the sidelines. It will also pay tribute to Jamaica’s legendary athlete Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, who is retiring from track.
After all the fireworks and loud times, singer Ciara will take the stage.
“We want these athletes to be front and center, building their brands, raising awareness of the sport,” said Ohanian, who is married to tennis great Serena Williams. “I’m not deluding myself into thinking that we’re the ones who will be responsible for moving (track and field). But I think we have an amazing opportunity here.”
big plans
His latest effort comes after Michael Johnson’s stalled attempt to replace track with the Grand Slam Track League. Johnson’s venture had athletes alter its 2025 schedule to compete in four of the league’s events, down from just three after the final meet in Los Angeles was canceled. Some winners did not get payment.
“We started Athlos knowing that it was a wide open space,” Ohanian said. “It didn’t mean it was our job to be the savior of the game. Not at all. It meant we had an opportunity to build together with the existing institution.
“I have so much optimism, so much confidence in what we are building here at Athlos.”
He’s looking forward to even bigger opportunities by the time the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics begin. Maybe women-only events are staged across the country or even around the world.
“There is no finish line in this race,” Ohanian said. “It’s just constant improvement and implementation.”
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