Grand Slam Track’s Kingston Slam Comes to a Close with 12 Slam Champions

$1.2 million in prize money was delivered to the 12 Slam Champions of the Inaugural Grand Slam Track Slam in Jamaica this weekend. Following the crowning of four champions on Saturday, eight more competitors cemented their names in Grand Slam Track history on Sunday, the final day of competition at National Stadium.

The thrilling afternoon of racing ended with Olympic champion and world record holder Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone of the United States doing what she does best: winning. McLaughlin-Levrone, the first Racer signed to Grand Slam Track, was the final Slam Champion crowned at the series’ first stop of the season. She swept the Women’s Long Hurdles Race Group by finishing first in the flat 400m race today and winning the 400m Hurdles on Friday night. McLaughlin-Levrone’s winning 400m time of 50.32 was nearly two seconds ahead of Andrenette Knight of Jamaica who finished second.

It looked as if the Men’s Long Distance Group was headed for an upset until American Grant Fisher moved into third place with 200m to go in the 3000m. Fisher’s third place finish in this race and his victory in Friday’s 5000m meant the 2024 double-Olympic bronze medalist became Slam Champion, winning the Race Group by just one point over Hagos Gebrhiwet of Ethiopia who won the race in 7:51.55.

Melissa Jefferson-Wooden won both races in the Women’s Short Sprints to earn the title of Slam Champion in that Race Group. Jefferson-Wooden, the Olympic 100m bronze medalist from the United States, edged past Jenna Prandini in the final meters of the 200m to win in 23.46.

In a rematch of the 2024 Olympic 800m, gold medalist Emmanuel Wanyonyi of Kenya couldn’t hold off silver medalist Marco Arop of Canada. Arop won the race in 1:45.13. But Wanyonyi’s second place finish coupled with his victory in the 1500m on Saturday was enough to make the Challenger the Slam Champion in the Men’s Short Distance Race Group.

France’s Sasha Zhoya cruised to victory in the 100m flat in 10.55, becoming the Slam Champion in the Men’s Short Hurdles Race Group. Zhoya was the runner-up in last night’s 110m hurdles.

Ejgayehu Taye was the second Ethiopian to become a Slam Champion. Taye, a Challenger, passed Kenya’s Agnes Ngetich on the final lap of the 5000m after Ngetich led the entire race. Her 14:54.88 victory completed her sweep of the Women’s Long Distance Race Group.

In the Men’s Long Hurdles Race Group, Alison dos Santos of Brazil had to come from behind to win the 400m flat to sweep the weekend’s races. The two-time Olympic bronze medalist took the victory in 45.52 with a lean at the finish, defeating Chris Robinson of the United States by just .02 seconds. Dos Santos also won the 400m Hurdles race on Friday night.

The day of competition kicked off with a big boost for the hometown crowd. With her victory in the 100m flat, Jamaica’s Danielle Williams won the Women’s Short Hurdles Race Group. In fact, Jamaican athletes took first and second in the race with Williams winning in 11.54 just .03 over Ackera Nugent. Williams was the first athlete from the host country to become a Slam Champion. She was also the first Challenger to take down the Racers in a Race Group.

All Slam Champions win $100,000. The second of four Slams this season will be held in Miami on May 2-4. The complete list of Grand Slam Track Kingston Slam Champions is below.

FULL RESULTS HERE

Women

Men