Kingston, Jamaica – Roars of triumph echoed across the National Stadium as the inaugural three-day Grand Slam Track Series reached its pulsating climax on Sunday.
With a total of 12 elite athletes crowned as Slam Champions, the atmosphere was nothing short of electrifying.
Athletes from Jamaica, Brazil, France, Ethiopia, Kenya, the United States, and beyond converged for a fierce showdown that left no doubt: the Grand Slam Track Series is the next great chapter in the story of global athletics.
Danielle Williams delivers on home soil
Two-time world champion Danielle Williams ignited Sunday’s program with a performance as explosive as 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 sprint that showcased raw grit and homegrown excellence.
Having placed second in the 100m hurdles just a day prior, Williams earned enough cumulative points (20 in total) to rise above the field and seize the title of Slam Champion.
“Big money, big money!” she beamed.
“To be honest I don’t think about the money like that. I tried to focus on the things that I can control and that is that I run my race… We train as hard as any other, probably harder than every other sport, just for 12 seconds and you can’t really get it back.”
The hometown crowd was her driving force.
“It’s wonderful. I’m happy that they came out. Happy I could pull it out for them. Hopefully, it starts a cycle and more come after me.”
Flawless four
A special accolade was reserved for four athletes who dominated both races in their respective categories, earning a clean sweep and leaving no room for doubt:
- Alison Dos Santos – 400m Long Hurdles winner in a sizzling 45.52s.
- Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone – Triumphant in the 400m Long Sprints with 50.32s.
- Melissa Jefferson-Wooden – Seized the 200m Short Sprint in 23.46s.
- Ejgayehu Taye – Commanded the 5000m Long Distance, clocking 14:54.88.
McLaughlin-Levrone was thrilled by the innovative format:
“It was amazing, great opportunity. Just so excited about where this can go for athletes, for track and field. It was just a really fun first meet… It’s just fun to switch from the hurdle mindset to the flat mindset and overall, it just makes you a better athlete.”
Dos Santos, visibly elated, compared the Grand Slam to the pinnacle of competition:
“I’m feeling amazing. I know I have more money in my pocket, but I’m feeling light right now… The difference is that this feels like a championship more than a meet.”
New names, new legends
Elsewhere, athletes rose to the moment, delivering top-tier performances that echoed across the stadium:
- Sasha Zhoya powered to victory in the 100m flat Short Hurdles, stopping the clock at 10.55s.
- Hagos Gebrhiwet won the 3000m Long Distance in 7:51.55.
- Marco Arop captured the 800m Short 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 complete the elite dozen Slam Champions of the series’ first chapter.
The road ahead for the Grand Slam Track Series
With the Kingston debut now etched in memory, the Grand Slam Track Series marches forward with momentum. The next installment will unfold at the Ansin Sports Complex in Miami (May 2–4), followed by Franklin Field, Philadelphia (May 30–June 1), and the season finale at Drake Stadium, Los Angeles (June 27–29).
This groundbreaking format pits 48 elite Racers against 48 fierce Challengers in six categories for both men and women: Short Sprints, Short Hurdles, Short Distance, Long Sprints, Long Hurdles, and Long Distance. Each athlete competes twice per Slam, with cumulative points deciding the Slam Champion per race group.
Big stakes, bigger dreams
A total prize pool of US$12.6 million is at stake, with first-place finishers taking home US$100,000 and even the eighth-place earning US$10,000. Racers are also guaranteed an annual appearance fee—a game-changing shift in the economics of professional track and field.
The Grand Slam Track Series has not only raised the competitive bar—it has redefined what it means to be a professional track athlete in the modern era.
