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≡ GRAND SLAM TRACK ≡
With the first Grand Slam Track event coming to Kingston, Jamaica from 4-6 April, there was little surprise in seeing six more Jamaican athletes announced Thursday as the first “Challengers.”
Leading the list are Tokyo Olympic men’s high hurdles champion Hansle Parchment and two-time women’s World 100 m hurdles winner Danielle Williams. They and the others will compete against the four seasonal “Racers” in each event group and a couple more “Challengers” in eight-athlete fields.
Here’s how the new “Challengers” and the “Racers” line up so far in the events with Challengers announced:
Men/Short Hurdles (110 m hurdles + 100 m):
● Challenger: Orlando Bennett (JAM) ~ 7th in Paris Olympic final
● Challenger: Hansle Parchment (JAM) ~ Tokyo Olympic Champion
● Racer: Devon Allen (USA) ~ 5th in Rio, 4th in Tokyo Olympic finals
● Racer: Freddie Crittenden (USA) ~ 6th in Paris Olympic final
● Racer: Daniel Roberts (USA) ~ Paris Olympic silver medalist
● Racer: Sasha Zhoya (FRA) ~ 2024 Diamond League champ
Men/Long Hurdles (400 m hurdles + 400 m):
● Challenger: Malik James-King (JAM) ~ 2024 Jamaican champion
● Racer: Roshawn Clarke (JAM) ~ National record holder at 47.34
● Racer: Caleb Dean (USA) ~ 2024 NCAA Champion
● Racer: Alison dos Santos (BRA) ~ 2022 World Champ, Paris bronze
● Racer: Clement Ducos (FRA) ~ 4th in Paris Olympic final
Women/Short Sprints (100 m + 200 m):
● Challenger: Alana Reid (JAM) ~ 2024 World Junior Champion
● Racer: Brittany Brown (USA) ~ Paris Olympic 200 m bronze
● Racer: Melissa Jefferson (USA) ~ Paris Olympic 100 m bronze
● Racer: Daryll Neita (GBR) ~ 4th in Paris Olympic 100 m final
● Racer: Gabby Thomas (USA) ~ Paris Olympic 200 m Champion
Women/Short Hurdles (100 m hurdles + 100 m):
● Challenger: Danielle Williams (JAM) ~ 2015, 2023 World Champion
● Racer: Jasmine Camacho-Quinn (PUR) ~ Tokyo Olympic Champion
● Racer: Ackera Nugent (JAM) ~ 2024 world leader (12.24)
● Racer: Masai Russell (USA) ~ Paris Olympic Champion
● Racer: Cyrena Samba-Mayela (FRA) ~ Paris Olympic silver medalist
Women/Long Hurdles (400 m hurdles + 400 m):
● Challenger: Shiann Salmon (JAM) ~ 6th in Paris Olympic final
● Racer: Rushell Clayton (JAM) ~ 5th in Paris final, two Worlds bronzes
● Racer: Jasmine Jones (USA) ~ 4th in Paris Olympic final
● Racer: Shamier Little (USA) ~ 2015, 2023 Worlds silvers
● Racer: Sydney McLaughlin (USA) ~ Tokyo, Paris Olympic champion
Each race group will have eight athletes, so more “Challengers’ will be signed for each meet and in all race groups, also including Short Distance (800-1,500 m) and Long Distance (3,000 m-5,000 m). A total of 24 events will be held over the three days of each Slam. The scoring:
“Competitors will receive points for their finishing position in each of their two races. From 1st to 8th place the points are distributed as: 10-8-6-5-4-3-2-1. The competitor who finishes with the highest total number of points after the completion of both events will be crowned Slam Champion for their event group with prize money being paid out to each corresponding place.”
Prize money will range from $100,000 for the group winner, down to $10,000.
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