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Marie-Josée Ta Lou-Smith won the 100m at the inaugural Athlos event in New York, earning $60,000 and hinting she might postpone her retirement due to the event's high rewards and positive impact on athletes.
Marie-Josee Ta Lou-Smith is excited about Alexis Ohanian’s Athlos, the women-only event that held its inaugural edition at the iconic Icahn Stadium in New York City on Friday morning, East African Time.
Africa’s fastest woman competed in the women’s 100m and claimed top honours in a time of 10.98 seconds ahead of Brittany Brown who clocked 11.05 seconds. With her win, Ta Lou-Smith will walk away with $60,000 and a crown on her head.
Ta Lou-Smith expressed contentment and noted that with such events coming up, she might be forced to postpone her retirement. She was planning to retire next year but she hinted that she would be back on the track, bigger and better.
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06:19 - 25.09.2024
The millions set aside for Faith Kipyegon, Gabby Thomas, Mary Moraa & Co in New York
Faith Kipyegon, Mary Moraa, Gabby Thomas, and Marie-Josee Ta Lou-Smith among other female stars will step on the track at the Icahn Stadium with the hope of making an impact and walk away with the hefty prize purse set aside as they end their seasons.
“I was like, ‘I want to retire’ but hey, next year will be greater than this year so maybe this is motivation again. The extra amount of money will help in training and logistics and coming from Africa, I have my family that depends on me and I have to take of them and myself, so this is great,” Marie-Josee Ta Lou-Smith.
Marie-Josee Ta Lou-Smith added that the prize money at Athlos is the highest she has ever received, and to be able to earn that in a normal meet, she will have to compete many times. For instance, before revision, winners at the normal Diamond League Meetings walk away with $10,000 with the winners in the final having to pocket $30,000.
Ta Lou-Smith pointed out that it is a great time for young sprinters with the rise of such meets and she was glad to be a part of the women who competed in the first edition of Athlos.
“This is the most I have ever made in one race…I have to do six Diamond League to win that one but here it’s only one race. You know, the crown,” she said.
“I feel like this is really great for the new generation coming and I’m grateful to be at this first meeting and I hope we can make an impact for another meeting. This is what we want to have…we want to have everything that will make us feel grateful and important and make money for our families.”
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