Track stars racing for $150K at Ultimate Championship is sign of progress and work yet to be done

BUDAPEST, Hungary (AP) — Track and field stars such as Sha Carri Richardson, Gabby Thomas, and Mondo Duplantis will compete for $150,000 in prize money at the Ultimate Championships, a new event that aims to address the sport's lack of lucrative financial opportunities. The three-day meet, scheduled to begin Friday, features 28 events, including runners like Jacory Patterson, a 400-meter sprinter from South Carolina who recently won a race on the Grand Slam Track circuit and now has a Nike sponsorship.

Patterson's win has allowed him to train near home, which has helped him achieve a fourth-fastest 400-meter time of the year. While $150,000 may seem like a significant sum in track and field, it pales in comparison to the substantial prize pools offered in other professional sports. For instance, golf's PGA Tour awarded $19.654 to the player who tied for 54th place at the Wyndham Championship.

World Athletics plans to distribute a total of $50 million in prize money between 2024 and 2028, with the Ultimate Championship serving as a vital step towards improving the financial standing of track athletes.