From Gabby Thomas' shocking loss in Athlos NYC to Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone's final appearance at Brussels Diamond League- September Track Highlights

Paris Olympics gold medalists Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, Gabby Thomas, Letsile Tebogo, Femke Bol, Julien Alfred, and Emmanuel Wanyonyi made their final track appearance of the 2024 season in September. This month featured two major track events, the Zürich Diamond League, the Brussels Diamond League Finals, and the inaugural edition of Alexis Ohanian's Athlos NYC.

Several top athletes like Noah Lyles and Kishane Thompson concluded their season right after the Paris Olympics but Tebogo, Fred Kerley, and Kenny Bedanrek among several other athletes kept the track fever going as they participated in the Diamond League Series.

Moreover, Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone and Gabby Thomas made their maiden track appearance after the Paris Olympics before wrapping up their season.

Athletes marched into the Zürich Diamond League in the first week of September with some great performances that included a similar line-up to the Paris Olympics. Sha'Carri Richardson went head to head against Julien Alfred and emerged victorious with a performance of 10.84s.

The men's 1500m featured the top four finishers of the Paris Olympics, and Yared Nuguse of the USA registered a shocking upset and defeated Olympic gold medalists, Cole Hocker and Jakob Ingebrigtsen with a performance of 3:29.21.

Letsile Tebogo continued his unbeaten streak in the men's 200m to defeat Kenny Bednarek and win the title.

Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone at the Brussels Diamond League Finals

Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone at the Wanda Diamond League 2024 Final - Allianz Memorial Van Damme Brussels - Source: Getty

Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone was set to make her first appearance after the Paris Olympics at the Brussels Diamond League finals in the women's 200 and 400m. However, it was later revealed by the authorities that she was ineligible to compete in the Diamond League finals as she did not compete in any Diamond League event this year.

McLaughlin-Levrone made an appearance in Brussels as a part of an invitational event and competed in the 200m and the 400m. She clocked 49.11s in the 400m to clinch the title and registered a comfortable win in the 200m finals with a performance of 22.40s.

Brussels Diamond League featured McLaughlin-Levrone's competitor, Femke Bol in the athlete's pet event, the 400m hurdles. Bol won the title with a performance of 52.45s. Brittany Brown of the USA dominated the 200m and Paris Olympics bronze medalist Jasmine Camacho-Quinn clinched the title in the women's 100m hurdles.

In the men's discipline, Kenny Bednarek ended Letsile Tebogo's unbeaten streak in the 200m after the Paris Olympics with a performance of 19.67s. Emmanuel Wanyonyi of Kenya put forward a stunning performance to win the gold medal in the men's 800m with a performance of 1:42.70. Alison Dos Santos of Brazil won the title in the men's 400m hurdles with a performance of 47.93s.

Gabby Thomas' shocking defeat at Athlos NYC

Athlos NYC - Source: Getty

After the Brussels Diamond League finals, athletes marched on to compete in the inaugural edition of Athlos NYC, an all-woman meet aiming to bring about a change in the track and field as well as women's sports with lucrative prize money for athletes as well as incredible show for the audience.

USA's Brittany Brown stunned Gabby Thomas in her first race after the Paris Olympics in the 200m. Brown clocked 22.18s to defeat Gabby Thomas who finished second with a performance of 22.21s. Brown also won the silver medal in the 100m finishing behind Marie-Josee Ta Lou-Smith and took home a prize purse of $85,000 making her the highest-paid athlete of the track meet.

Camacho-Quinn defeated Paris Olympics gold medalist Masai Russell to win the 100m hurdles with a performance of 12.36s. Marileidy Paulino of the Dominican Republic won the gold medal in the 400m and Olympic gold medalist Faith Kipyegon won the title in the 1500m after clocking 4:04.79.

Athlos NYC marked the end of major track events of the 2024 season with athletes returning to their bases to recover and prepare for the upcoming season.