Kenya's Olympic champion Faith Kipyegon celebrated her prowess in the 1,500 meters with a commanding victory at the inaugural women-only Athlos NYC meet on Thursday. This event, spearheaded by entrepreneur Alexis Ohanian, aims to elevate the profile of women's athletics, drawing enthusiastic crowds to New York's Icahn Stadium for a festive conclusion to the athletics season. The meet not only showcased elite female talent but also offered a substantial prize purse, with winners taking home $60,000—twice the amount awarded at the Diamond League finale—along with a custom Tiffany crown for their efforts.
Kipyegon, the world record holder and three-time Olympic champion, reaffirmed her dominance in the "metric mile" by finishing the race in a swift 4 minutes, 4.79 seconds. Ethiopian Diribe Welteji finished second with a time of 4:05.58, unable to keep pace with Kipyegon's final push. Kenyan Susan Ejore-Sanders secured third place, crossing the finish line at 4:06.25, underscoring the competitive nature of the event.
In a surprising turn, American sprinter Brittany Brown outpaced Paris 200 meters gold medalist Gabby Thomas, finishing just three hundredths of a second ahead of her. Brown clocked in at 22.18 seconds, showcasing the evolving landscape of women's sprinting. "I feel like this sport is really changing and growing," Brown expressed, noting her excitement to participate in such a groundbreaking event.
Other standout performances included Ivorian Marie Josee Ta Lou-Smith winning the 100 meters in 10.98 seconds, with Brown following closely behind at 11.05. Olympic 400-meter champion Marileidy Paulino continued her winning streak by finishing first in 49.59 seconds, while Puerto Rico's Jasmine Camacho-Quinn claimed victory in the 100 hurdles with a time of 12.36. After her race, Camacho-Quinn highlighted the significance of the women-only format, stating, "It's only women - we're able to put on a show," further emphasizing the event's celebratory spirit.
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