Kingston, Jamaica — An electrical environment, fierce battles on the observe, and life-changing victories marked Day Two of the Grand Slam Track Collection.
From sprints to distance showdowns, the Nationwide Stadium roared with the vitality of elite athleticism and historical past within the making.
4 inaugural Grand Slam Monitor Champions
Because the solar dipped over Kingston on Saturday, 4 athletes etched their names into Grand Slam lore. Matthew Hudson-Smith, Diribe Welteji, Kenny Bednarek, and Gabby Thomas emerged because the first-ever Slam Champions, strolling away with glory, legacy—and US$100,000 every.
In a nail-biting finale, Matthew Hudson-Smith of Nice Britain claimed the collection’ first-ever Slam Champion title, edging out Trinidad & Tobago’s Jereem Richards with a time of 20.77 seconds. The dash was tight, with Richards clocking 20.81 and Jamaica’s personal Deandre Watkins ending third in 20.91.
Hudson-Smith’s consistency throughout each days—second in Friday’s 400m, then victorious within the 200m—secured him 20 factors, forward of American Christopher Bailey (16 factors). Richards and Vernon Norwood tied for third general with 11 factors.
– Commercial –
“Clearly, you’re racing the most effective on the planet and to return again on prime, it’s a fantastic feeling,” Hudson-Smith shared. “I got here in probably not realizing what to anticipate, but it surely’s wonderful. Truthfully, I encourage all athletes on the market to strive it.”
Diribe Welteji clinches title in distance duel
Within the girls’s 1500m, Ethiopia’s Diribe Welteji stormed to victory with a strong surge, clocking 4:04.51 minutes, capturing the crown with 20 factors. Her runner-up end within the 800m on Friday set her up completely for Saturday’s shut.
American Nikki Hiltz completed third within the 1500m however claimed second general (18 factors), whereas Kenya’s Susan Lokayo Ejore earned 12 factors together with her spectacular second-place efficiency in 4:05.10.
Bednarek dominates the sprints and the collection
Kenny Bednarek stood alone as the one competitor to say back-to-back victories, successful each the 100m and 200m sprints. After his upset on Friday, Bednarek confidently silenced the sector once more on Saturday, coasting to a 20.07-second end within the 200m.
His dominance earned him the utmost 24 factors, an ideal sweep—and a six-figure payday.
“I stated I wished to dominate and that’s what I did,” Bednarek beamed. “I got here out and made 100K. It is a life-changing second. Let’s maintain rolling.”
Behind him, Nice Britain’s Zharnel Hughes positioned second within the 200m (20.37s) to safe second general with 14 factors. Jamaica’s Indirect Seville, second in Friday’s 100m, ended third with 12 factors after inserting fifth within the 200m.
Gabby Thomas fights tooth and nail to victory
Gabby Thomas, a beacon of energy and resilience, delivered two standout performances within the girls’s 400m sprints. Although ending second on Saturday behind Bahrain’s Salwa Eid Naser (a blazing 48.67, season’s greatest), Thomas’s private greatest 49.14 secured her 20 complete factors—and the championship.
“This was a very vital meet for me,” stated Thomas. “I heard the announcer your complete approach that the 100k was on the road, so I actually needed to battle tooth and nail for that.”
Naser (17 factors) and Dominican Republic’s Marileidy Paulino (14 factors) rounded out the highest three.
Different victors mild up the observe
Saturday wasn’t simply concerning the Slam Champions. A number of different athletes left their mark on Kingston:
- Dylan Beard edged out France’s Sasha Zhoya and Freddie Crittenden in a razor-thin 110m hurdles end: 13.29 seconds.
- Tia Jones led a U.S. 1-2 within the girls’s 100m hurdles with 12.63 seconds, simply forward of Jamaica’s Danielle Williams.
- Melissa Jefferson blazed to 11.11 seconds within the girls’s 100m, main an American podium sweep.
- Emmanuel Wanyonyi of Kenya showcased tactical brilliance within the males’s 1500m, successful in 3:35.18 minutes.
Eight extra Champions, $800K on the road
With Saturday within the books, Sunday guarantees a blockbuster finale. Eight extra athletes might be topped Grand Slam Monitor Champions, every racing for US$100,000 in what’s set to be a fierce battle for supremacy.
The day kicks off with highschool 4x100m and 4x400m relay pleasure, adopted by a Meet & Greet with the professionals at 1:15 PM. Followers can even get pleasure from reside performances from Vanessa Bling, Teejay, and DJ Skribble, including Jamaican taste to the observe hearth.
The elite race slate options stars like Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, Ejgayehu Taye, Grant Fisher, and Dylan Beard, with the Slam Champions Celebration Ceremony scheduled for 4:30 PM.
