Jasmine Camacho-Quinn slams track & field event organisers for paying athletes ‘peanuts’

Olympics 100m hurdles bronze medalist has weighed in on the cash rewards paid to track and field stars across various competitions.

Track and field is among the lowest paying sporting events in the world with runners earning between $70,000 and $10,000 for winning an event at the World Championships and Diamond League, figures athletes have complained over given what they put in.

It is for this reason that feels something need to change, pointing to the newly-launched NYC and league, whose winners will pocket $60,000 and $100,000 respectively, as examples of events that are taking athletes seriously.

Puerto Rico sprinter Jasmine Camacho-Quinn has revealed the perks that athletes have access to at the women’s-only Athlos event compared to other track meets around the world.

“It is great and it’s about time,” Jasmine Camacho-Quinn who will be among the starts at Athlos on Thursday told of the newly-launched women’s-only meet.

“There is inflation happening and our money is not increasing at all and I was like we are coming all the way overseas to run for like [little money], you all see the prize money, come on, and that is the winner,” she said.

The Puerto Rican sprinter further explained how athletes are suffering from the low pay which they still have to share with those in their camps.

Olympic 100m hurdles champion Masai Russell is excited to compete in Athlos and the Grand Slam Track league, highlighting the key motivations behind her thrill.

“And the winner doesn’t even get all that, you pay the agent, pay the coach,” she added.

“Overall, this [Athlos] is good and I just see it continuing in the future and it would be something great for us women and Grand Slam league was announced, I am excited about it, more money in that too, so more opportunities for us.”

The has been among events cited for paying athletes low amounts with winners of each discipline rewarded with $10,000 at series meetings while $30,000 is reserved for those who claim Diamond League titles at the end of the season.

American sprint queen Gabby Thomas has shared her excitement at being part of the Athlos NYC event which she hopes will help break more barriers for women in track and field.

However, the seem to have heard the cries and recently announced a 30 per cent increase in prize money from next season where winners of each discipline will earn between $30,000 to $50,000 at the series meetings while $60,000 to $100,000 goes to champions at the final.

The gold medalists at last year’s event were earning $70,000 while at the Olympics, track and field became the first sport to reward gold medalists with prize money, $50,000 going to each of the winners.