Kingston, Jamaica – Roars of triumph echoed throughout the Nationwide Stadium because the inaugural three-day Grand Slam Observe Collection reached its pulsating climax on Sunday.
With a complete of 12 elite athletes topped as Slam Champions, the environment was nothing in need of electrifying.
Athletes from Jamaica, Brazil, France, Ethiopia, Kenya, america, and past converged for a fierce showdown that left little doubt: the Grand Slam Observe Collection is the following nice chapter within the story of world athletics.
Danielle Williams delivers on house soil
Two-time world champion Danielle Williams ignited Sunday’s program with a efficiency as explosive because it was emotional. Clocking 11.54 seconds, Williams edged out fellow Jamaican Ackera Nugent (11.57s) and Olympic champion Jasmine Camacho-Quinn (11.73s) of Puerto Rico in a fiery flat 100m dash that showcased uncooked grit and homegrown excellence.
Having positioned second within the 100m hurdles only a day prior, Williams earned sufficient cumulative factors (20 in whole) to rise above the sector and seize the title of Slam Champion.
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“Large cash, huge cash!” she beamed.
“To be sincere I don’t take into consideration the cash like that. I attempted to give attention to the issues that I can management and that’s that I run my race… We practice as exhausting as some other, most likely more durable than each different sport, only for 12 seconds and you’ll’t actually get it again.”
The hometown crowd was her driving power.
“It’s fantastic. I’m completely happy that they got here out. Completely happy I may pull it out for them. Hopefully, it begins a cycle and extra come after me.”
Flawless 4
A particular accolade was reserved for 4 athletes who dominated each races of their respective classes, incomes a clear sweep and leaving no room for doubt:
- Alison Dos Santos – 400m Lengthy Hurdles winner in a scorching 45.52s.
- Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone – Triumphant within the 400m Lengthy Sprints with 50.32s.
- Melissa Jefferson-Wood – Seized the 200m Quick Dash in 23.46s.
- Ejgayehu Taye – Commanded the 5000m Lengthy Distance, clocking 14:54.88.
McLaughlin-Levrone was thrilled by the revolutionary format:
“It was wonderful, nice alternative. Simply so enthusiastic about the place this will go for athletes, for monitor and area. It was only a actually enjoyable first meet… It’s simply enjoyable to change from the hurdle mindset to the flat mindset and general, it simply makes you a greater athlete.”
Dos Santos, visibly elated, in contrast the Grand Slam to the top of competitors:
“I’m feeling wonderful. I do know I’ve extra money in my pocket, however I’m feeling gentle proper now… The distinction is that this seems like a championship greater than a meet.”
New names, new legends
Elsewhere, athletes rose to the second, delivering top-tier performances that echoed throughout the stadium:
- Sasha Zhoya powered to victory within the 100m flat Quick Hurdles, stopping the clock at 10.55s.
- Hagos Gebrhiwet gained the 3000m Lengthy Distance in 7:51.55.
- Marco Arop captured the 800m Quick Distance in 1:45.13.
They joined the Day 2 champions — Matthew Hudson-Smith (GBR), Diribe Welteji (ETH), Gabby Thomas (USA), and Kenny Bednarek (USA) — to finish the elite dozen Slam Champions of the sequence’ first chapter.
The highway forward for the Grand Slam Observe Collection
With the Kingston debut now etched in reminiscence, the Grand Slam Observe Collection marches ahead with momentum. The subsequent installment will unfold on the Ansin Sports activities Complicated in Miami (Could 2–4), adopted by Franklin Subject, Philadelphia (Could 30–June 1), and the season finale at Drake Stadium, Los Angeles (June 27–29).
This groundbreaking format pits 48 elite Racers in opposition to 48 fierce Challengers in six classes for each women and men: Quick Sprints, Quick Hurdles, Quick Distance, Lengthy Sprints, Lengthy Hurdles, and Lengthy Distance. Every athlete competes twice per Slam, with cumulative factors deciding the Slam Champion per race group.
Large stakes, greater desires
A complete prize pool of US$12.6 million is at stake, with first-place finishers taking house US$100,000 and even the eighth-place incomes US$10,000. Racers are additionally assured an annual look charge—a game-changing shift within the economics {of professional} monitor and area.
The Grand Slam Observe Collection has not solely raised the aggressive bar—it has redefined what it means to be knowledgeable monitor athlete within the trendy period.
