National Records Highlight Day 1 of Grand Slam Track’s Miami Slam, by Jay Holder for Grand Slam Track

“I wasn’t expecting that. I always tell y’all when it’s time for me to run fast, I love to run fast,” said Russell, the reigning Olympic gold medalist. “I know if I had the wind to my back, I’m very competitive against anybody in the world.”

Russell leads the Women’s Short Hurdles Race Group, which will compete in the flat 100m on Saturday.

The Men’s Long Sprints also saw a national record fall, and it produced the fastest time in the world this year. Jereem Richards of Trinidad and Tobago stormed through the line to win a photo finish over Alexander Ogando of the Dominican Republic. Both were credited with a time of 19.86. Ogando now holds the Dominican national record. It was Richards’ first time breaking 20 seconds since 2022 and a new world lead.

“This is a fast track. It might be the fastest track in the world right now,” said Richards, who said he got sick just before last month’s Slam in Kingston. “Come back tomorrow, $100k on the line, and I look forward to it.”

Ogando wasn’t the only Dominican athlete who saw success tonight. Marileidy Paulino won the 400m in a thrilling battle with Bahrain’s Salwa Eid Naser in the Women’s Long Sprints race group. Paulino’s winning time of 49.21 is a season’s best performance. They’ll race again in the 200m on Sunday.

Brazilian Alison dos Santos made it three-for-three in the Men’s Long Hurdles Race Group this season. Dos Santos ran 47.97 to finish nearly a second ahead of American Chris Robinson in the 400 m H. They’ll face off on Sunday in the flat 400m, an event in which Robinson currently holds the world lead.

Only a tailwind of +2.4 could spoil Melissa Jefferson-Wooden’s celebration after winning the 100m in the Women’s Short Sprints Race Group. The American ran a wind-aided 10.75 to beat fellow American Tamari Davis. They’ll race the 200m on Saturday.

In the distance races, Great Britain’s Josh Kerr showed fans why he was the first male athlete signed to Grand Slam Track. After letting the 800m specialists run away with the Men’s Long Distance Race Group in Kingston, Kerr reclaimed the event for his discipline and captured victory in 3:34.51.

“I executed exactly what I wanted today, but I’m surrounded by amazing racers,” said Kerr, who battled injury throughout the indoor track season. “A lot of emotion came out at the end there, and it’s mostly due to not having the best winter, being a little bit behind, but knowing that I’m back now.”

Behind Kerr, the Paris Olympic podium was reshuffled. Yared Nuguse and Cole Hocker of the United States finished second and third, respectively. The 800m takes place on Saturday.

The 3000m in the Men’s Long Distance Race Group saw perhaps the evening’s biggest upset. Following a pedestrian-paced 2200m, the race quickened with two laps to go. Defending Slam Champion Grant Fisher was in a sprint finish with Ireland’s Andrew Coscoran. Coscoran edged Fisher at 8:17.56, winning by four one-hundredths of a second. Fisher said he expects to fare better in Sunday’s 5000m, where he’ll look to defend his Race Group title from Kingston.

Six days after setting the world record in the 10 km road race, Agnes Ngetich set a world-leading time in the 5000m. The Kenyan led nearly the entire race despite twice asking Ethiopia’s Medina Eisa to share some pacing duties.

“I knew she would move at either 100 meters or 200 meters, so I tried to accelerate with 200 meters to go,” said Ngetich, whose winning time of 14:25.80 is a personal best. “I got the world record just a few days ago. It gave me motivation to come and push here.”

Full results from Grand Slam Track’s Miami Slam can be found here. Flash quotes from the athletes can be found here. Four Slam champions will be crowned on day two of the Miami Slam, which kicks off Saturday at 5:42 p.m. EST.