As anticipation builds for the 2025 USATF Outdoor Championships in Eugene, fans are buzzing about.t the stacked lineup—Noah Lyles, Sha’Carri Richardson, and Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone all headlining. But amid the excitement, a sobering figure has deflated the mood: the prize money. The USA Track & Field governing body recently unveiled the payouts—$8,800 for first place, $6,600 for second, $4,400 for third. By the time you reach fifth, it’s a modest $2,200.
Prize money breakdown for the 2025 USATF Outdoor Championships. #USATFOutdoors pic.twitter.com/m67aF7FbJI
— Travis Miller (@travismillerx13) July 30, 2025
With athletes bearing their own travel and accommodation expenses, fans are sounding the alarm. One fan vented, “USATF should be ashamed of themselves. Depending on the athlete, 4/5th place is the cost of room and board to and from Eugene.”
This has sparked deeper questions. Is this disparity unique to the U.S.? And perhaps more importantly, has this payout structure always been this stagnant, or are we witnessing a longstanding issue finally coming to light?
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