Posted: September 28, 2004

Athletics: $5.6 Million In Prize Money Awarded In September

By Bob Ramsak, Track Profile

(c) 2004 Track Profile all rights reserved TrackProfile.com

LJUBLJANA, SLO -- More than US$ 5.6 million in prize money was awarded in international track & field competition in September, The TRACK PROFILE Report's ongoing prize money tally showed.

Based upon winnings reported from the Brussels and Berlin Golden League meets, the Rieti, Italy Grand Prix, the season-capping World Athletics Final in Monaco, and the IAAF's Multi-Event Challenge, at least $5,664,044 in prize money and bonuses were awarded this month.

The big winners were Olympic triple jump champion Christian Olsson of Sweden and Bahamian Tonique Williams-Darling, the Olympic 400 meter champion, who each claimed half of the one million dollar TDK Golden League Jackpot after winning their respective events at each of the six Golden League competitions. Olsson's winnings this month totalled $548,300, while those of Williams-Darling reached $513,150.

Others turning in hefty post-Olympic earning efforts were Olympic pole vault champion Yelena Isinbayeva of Russia ($96,490) and steeplechase specialist Saif Saaeed Shaheen of Qatar ($91,000). Each earned a bonus of 50,000 euros ($61,000) for their world records at the Van Damme Memorial in Brussels on September 3. Jamaican sprinter Asafa Powell, who won the sprint double at the World Athletics Final, was next for the men, with $74,150 in winnings. Olympic high jump champion Yelena Slesarenko of Russia was third this month for the women, earning $66,600.

Earnings figures were compiled from event organizers and athlete representatives, and do not reflect confidentially negotiated appearance fees or performance bonus payments, if any. Figures do include prize money won in road racing events.

At least 50 athletes earned more than $30,000, while 427 athletes from 65 countries claimed prize money in September.

TPR's exclusive year-end survey, the third annual, will be released in December.

Top-10 Prize Money Earners for the month of September [figures in USD; prizes awarded in other currencies were converted at the prevailing exchange rate]:

MEN -
 1. Christian Olsson, SWE, jumps         $548,300
 2. Saif Saaeed Shaheen, QAT, distance     91,000 *
 3. Asafa Powell, JAM, sprints             74,150 *
 4. Youssef Saad Kamel, BRN, distance      58,900
 5. Alex Kipchirchir, KEN, distance        49,400
 6. Ivan Heshko, UKR, distance             47,690
 7. Mario Pestano, ESP, throws             44,640
 8. Kemel Thompson, JAM, hurdles           44,280
 9. Bershawn Jackson, USA, hurldes         43,180
10. Bayano Kamani, PAN, hurdles            41,600

WOMEN - 
 1. Tonique Williams-Darling, BAH, sprints   $513,150
 2. Yelena Isinbayeva, RUS, jumps              96,490
 3. Yelena Slesarenko, RUS, jumps              66,600
 4. Aleen Bailey, JAM, sprints                 62,060
 5. Veronica Campbell, JAM, sprints            60,000
 6. Tatyana Tomashova, RUS, distance           56,600
 7. Debbie Ferguson, BAH, sprints              49,600
 8. Yelena Zadorozhnaya, RUS, distance         47,860
 9. Tatyana Lebedeva, RUS, jumps               45,490
=10. Ana Guevara, MEX, sprints                 44,640
=10. Kelly Holmes, GBR, distance               44,640

* Prize money for men's 100 meters and steeplechase at the Van Damme Memorial in Brussels was not reported.