Her set closed outAthlos NYC, the womens-only track meet boasting the highest prize purse in the sport.
Most track meets dont end with a performance from a Grammy Awardwinning artist.
But Athlos isnt your typical track meet.
Olympic gold medalist Gabby Thomas takes a selfie with fans.
Pink and magenta lights flashed around the perimeter of the track.
And that was the point.
Normally, track meets are all about track.
Alaysha Johnson (100mh) hugs a young fan.
Theyre all about sitting in your seat and watching a race.
The concept is simpleshowcase women athletes.
Thirty-six of the fastest women (with 30 Olympic medals among them).
Alexis Holmes (400m) greets a group of fans.
Custom mini bibs that fit the womens torsos rather than the typical oversized ones.
Six races (ranging from 100m to 1500m).
Big prize money and revenue-sharing opportunities.
The meet is the brainchild of Reddit cofounder Alexis Ohanian (husband to Serena Williams).
After talking to a number of runners, including Thomas, he saw untapped potential and undervalued athletes.
But you miss out on a ton of other storytelling because youre not getting to the why.
Youre not getting into more depth about the athletes, the humans themselves.
Alaysha Johnson (100mh) hugs a young fan.
Online culture is culture, he said.
And the younger fans were in attendance.
Alexis Holmes (400m) greets a group of fans.
Track has always been very serious.
Tonea Marshall (100mh) and Brittany Brown (200m).
We tagged along as the Olympic champ got ready for Athlos last week.
Tonea Marshall (100mh) and Brittany Brown (200m).
We never really have this opportunity.
This is really good for us.
Were able to just get out of work mode, in a sense, and still enjoy the time.
Jasmine Camacho-Quinn wins the 100m hurdles.
Nia Akins (800m)
Brittany Brown wins the 200m.
After also placing second in the 100m, she took home $85,000 in prize money.
Kenyan runner Faith Kipyegon wins the 1500m.
Candace Hill (100m)
Ethiopian runner Tsige Duguma wins the 800m.
This is bigger than myself.
Its bigger than this race.
Alaysha Johnson (100mh)
Its really about what were doing for womens sport, Thomas said.
We love competing and its what we do.
Were going to share that with the world and hopefully push the sport further.
Masai Russell (100mh)
Brittany Brown (left) and Gabby Thomas (middle) compete in the 200m.
Alexis Holmes (400m)
Jasmine Camacho-Quinn wins the 100m hurdles.
Brittany Brown wins the 200m. After also placing second in the 100m, she took home $85,000 in prize money.
Kenyan runner Faith Kipyegon wins the 1500m.
Ethiopian runner Tsige Duguma wins the 800m.
Brittany Brown (left) and Gabby Thomas (middle) compete in the 200m.
