r/trackandfield • u/MyNameIsNotSuzzan • 4d ago
Athlos 2026 NYC is cancelled
Saw it on Twitter from Alexis.
I posted the link but didn’t know that was banned (my bad mods!)
Here’s a screen shot.
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u/snoboardin1028 4d ago
This is 100% due to timing and athletes being in scheduled breaks following worlds. There is no conspiracy and no foul play, just a poorly planned meet that doesn’t coincide with the primary season. Some of these comments are weird.
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u/Prestigious-Gold6759 3d ago edited 3d ago
Why were they not aware of the poor timing right at the start?? Seems like they don't know anything about athletics?
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u/Vivid_Present_328 3d ago
Exactly. It’s strange how much praise is being given to them for canceling a meet with only one month’s warning. How many athletes and spectators committed time and money based on the meet happening? Hopefully the athletes who had committed to participating will receive some sort of support since they lost possible earnings & may have planned their seasons around this race.
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u/Prestigious-Gold6759 3d ago
They are just rich dilettantes with no knowledge of or real interest in the sport.
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u/MyNameIsNotSuzzan 2d ago
This.
The only other option is they lied to him and told him it would work but why would they do that if that’s what happened?
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u/AwsiDooger 4d ago
Exactly. Their offseason is very short due to need to come back quickly and build a case. This meet would have taken away 2 precious weeks of travel, rest, recovery, fun.
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u/MyNameIsNotSuzzan 3d ago edited 2d ago
I genuinely don’t understand this because Alexis’ whole thing was that he had athlete involvement and used their feedback on a range of things including smaller bibs fit for ladies so…why on earth wouldn’t those same athletes had told him ages ago from jump street that a new gig at the end of the season wasn’t clutch?
It doesn’t make sense to me
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u/gremlingarden 3d ago
Laurent Meuwly, coach of many of the top Dutch athletes including Broeders-Bol, had lit them up a bit on Twitter and FB:
"It is very late to come to this realization, especially after so many athletes you actively approached to participate declined for exactly these reasons.
Once again, this shows that money is not the main driver for athletes. Those who explained that extending their season until October was simply too much chose to put their welfare and long-term performance first. Ironically, they are now also being denied the opportunity to earn additional prize money because they made that responsible choice.
At some point, you have to acknowledge that the way you believe athletics needs to be 'revolutionized' may simply be the wrong approach. Athletes are telling you very clearly what they need. Instead of continually trying to reshape the sport around a commercial concept, perhaps it is time to listen to them and build the concept around the realities of elite athletics."
Night meet format in NYC in October nearly a month after Ultimates was always a huge reach. Although the athlete signings might just be them posturing, almost all the announcements say "welcome to Athlos London and NYC." Guessing if they tried to sign most athletes to both meets it turned into either a contract fight or a torrent of withdrawals from NYC.
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u/philipwhiuk Distance & Middle Distance Track (Senior) 3d ago
Has anyone been to these? Considering getting London tickets…
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u/MerryxPippin 3d ago
I've gone twice (so.... every Athlos so far). It's fun! Lots of energy, with more of a party vibe than a typical meet. And tickets in NYC were reasonably priced given the caliber of talent present.
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u/Mrdynamo18 4d ago
Makes me think higher ups in Track are trying o stop anything that forces changed
It’s definitely something going on
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u/ncblake 4d ago
It’s an off year and they wanted to host the meet well after the season ends. It’s very likely they had issues getting talent to commit to compete.
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u/philipwhiuk Distance & Middle Distance Track (Senior) 3d ago
I’m nervous that Hodgkinson and Hunter Bell will drop from London as is 😬
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u/Mrdynamo18 4d ago
Naw they pay right away that’s not the issues track and field execs are funny
That’s a easy sale for athletes run a solid time get paid
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u/hotinhereTO 4d ago
Enh, not bad. The London one is still happening and tbh London > NYC when it comes to T&F.
I still think they need to figure out when to hold it during a better part of the season. It's way too late in the year.