Stars set for lucrative meet organised by Serena Williams' husband

Many of nan world's apical women's way athletes are group to compete for grounds prizes erstwhile nan inaugural Athlos NYC gets nether measurement connected Thursday.

American Olympic 200m champion Gabby Thomas and Kenyan 1,500m world grounds holder Faith Kipyegon are among nan stars successful action astatine nan women's-only way invitational.

Alexis Ohanian - Reddit co-founder and hubby of 23-time Grand Slam tennis champion Serena Williams - has launched nan arena which boasts a grounds $500,000 (£374,000) prize pool, external for a women's way meet.

Winners crossed six disciplines will person $60,000 (£44,900).

The Diamond League, successful comparison, offers a $15,000 (£11,200) first prize crossed its 15 bid meetings, rising to $30,000 (£22,400) for nan final.

"I asked these women, I was like, 'Hey, truthful what is your apical prize astatine nan extremity of a play for winning?' And they said $30,000," Ohanian told Reuters.

"And I said, 'Great, I'm going to double it for 1 azygous race'."

There are 2 Brits successful action pinch Daryll Neita racing successful nan 100m and Katie Snowden competing successful nan 1500m.

The Athlos gathering continues wider finance successful nan athletics and its athletes, pinch World Athletics paying Olympic champions for nan first clip astatine nan Paris Games this year.

In June, American fable Michael Johnson announced nan launch of a lucrative caller athletics convention starting successful April 2025 called Grand Slam track, pinch a full of $12.6m (£9.9m) successful prize money.

And past week, nan Diamond League said it would raise its prize money for nan 2025 season.

"It's a awesome motion erstwhile location are different group seeing what you're doing and racing to beryllium a portion of it too," said Ohanian.

Athlos NYC sees 36 athletes competing astatine nan Icahn Stadium crossed nan 100m, 200m, 400m, 100m hurdles, 800m, and 1500m.

In summation to prize money, victors will besides person a crown by New York jewellers Tiffany & Co.

Alongside Thomas and Kipyegon will beryllium Dominican 400m Olympic champion Marileidy Paulino and American Masai Russell, who won nan 100m hurdles successful Paris.

"This is bigger than myself and it's bigger than this race," said Thomas, who added 4x100m and 4x400m relay golds to her 200m triumph successful Paris.

"It's astir what we're doing for women's sports and what this event, successful particular, intends for women's athletics and for way and field."

Ohanian founded Athlos NYC pursuing his finance successful Los Angeles-based NWSL broadside Angel City FC past year, erstwhile nan nine became nan most costly women's sports squad successful nan world.

"You conscionable look astatine nan follower counts, you look astatine nan engagement. Women athletes - and successful this example, pinch way - conscionable are measurement much compelling," said Ohanian.

"I person a 'Spidey sense' for wherever location are hyper-engaged communities of fans and women's sports has them successful droves."