Duplantis, Russell, Ingebrigtsen among those cashing in for $150K at Ultimate Championship

Jakob Ingebrigtsen, Masai Russell, and high jumper Yaroslava Mahuchikh emerged as the biggest winners during the inaugural Ultimate Championship track meet in Budapest, Hungary. The unique event rewarded cash prizes instead of traditional medals, with a first-place finish earning competitors $150,000. Russell, who had already set a world record earlier this season, secured the top spot and took home the substantial prize.

Ingebrigtsen followed closely in second, while Mahuchikh claimed the ultimate victory at the same venue where she had previously achieved a world championship. The U.S. mixed relay team and German hammer thrower Merlin Hummel also secured victories in their respective events. In a closely contested race, Ja’Kobe Tharp edged out his American teammate Cordell Tinch by a mere .01 seconds, claiming the $150K prize.

Notably, Swedish pole vaulter Mondo Duplantis, despite winning the title, missed three attempts to better his world record by just a centimeter, opting to return the following day to perform a live rendition of the anthem he composed for the occasion titled "Gold."