The inaugural Grand Slam Track series, organised by four-time Olympic gold medallist Michael Johnson, got off to a glittering start in Kingston on Friday (4) as many of the world’s leading athletes descended on Jamaica’s capital to take part in the lucrative series.
World and Olympic champion Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone opened her season with a comfortable win in the women’s 400m hurdles, bursting the tape in a world-leading 52.76. Former world-record holder and 2016 Olympic champion Dalilah Muhammad finished a distant second in 54.59.
“There wasn’t much of a plan today, just trying to be as technical as possible and see where each stride pattern took me,” said McLaughlin-Levrone.
In the men’s equivalent, Olympic bronze medallist Alison dos Santos outclassed the field to register a world-leading 47.61.
Newly crowned world indoor champion Christopher Bailey, running from lane seven, held his form to stave off the challenge of European record-holder and Olympic silver medallist Matthew Hudson-Smith to capture the men’s 400m in a world-leading PB of 44.34. Hudson-Smith, making his season debut in the 400m, came home second in 44.65 just ahead of Vernon Norwood 44.70.
The women’s 800m produced a thrilling finish with Nikki Hilt (1:58.23) outsprinting Ethiopia’s Diribe Welteji (1:58.29). Australia’s Jessica Hull was third in a personal best of 1:58.58 in an event where six women dipped under two minutes.
At the start of the programme, Gabby Thomas powered away from the field in the women’s 200m to win in 22.62. World and Olympic 400m champion Marileidy Paulino finished strong to snatch second in a season’s best of 22.93. “I felt a lot more nervous than I thought I was going to be,” said Thomas. “This is my first time competing in Jamaica, so it meant a lot as I have 10 family members, who came to see me. I wanted to be the first winner in Grand slam Track, and I probably wanted it more than anyone.”
The men’s 100m closed the show with US sprinter Kenny Bednarek, who was making his first appearance on Jamaican soil, tasting victory in 10.07. Bednarek, running in a strong headwind (-1.3m/s), timed his run to perfection to deny hometown favourite Oblique Seville (10.08).
“I felt good,” said Bednarek. “I know a lot of people don’t call me a 100m specialist, but I felt like today I proved that I am. I stumbled in the first few steps, but I recovered enough to get the win, and that’s a lot of upside; I love this track.”
Elsewhere, Ejgayehu Taye won the women’s 3000m in 8:28.42, the fastest time ever recorded in the Caribbean. Double Olympic medallist Grant Fisher led a US sweep in the men’s 5000m, crossing the line in 14:39.14 ahead of Cooper Teare (14:39.31) and Dylan Jacobs (14:39.56).
Noel Francis for World Athletics
