Double Olympic gold medalist Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone brought the curtain down on the inaugural Grand Slam Track meet in Kingston, Jamaica, with a commanding performance in the 400m, clinching the overall title in the long hurdles category and walking away with the $100,000 (£77,610) top prize.
The 25-year-old American sensation followed up her impressive victory in the 400m hurdles on Friday — an event in which she holds the world record — with another strong showing in the flat 400m on the final day of competition. Her combined efforts in both races secured her the title in her category, highlighting her versatility and dominance in long sprint and hurdle events.
McLaughlin-Levrone’s performance capped an exciting weekend of elite track and field action as part of a brand-new competition format aimed at revolutionizing the sport. The Grand Slam Track, brainchild of former sprinting legend Michael Johnson, is designed to draw the world’s top athletes into a dynamic series of events across the globe, providing fans with compelling matchups and athletes with significant financial incentives.
The innovative format consists of four three-day meets each year, where competitors are grouped into specific event categories. Each athlete competes in two events over the three days, with their combined performance determining the overall winner of their group. The stakes are high, with a $100,000 prize awarded to the top performer in each category.
The categories include:
- Short Sprints: 100m and 200m
- Short Hurdles: 100m hurdles for women, 110m hurdles for men, plus 100m flat
- Long Sprints: 200m and 400m
- Long Hurdles: 400m hurdles and 400m
- Short Distance: 800m and 1500m
- Long Distance: 3000m and 5000m
Each of the hurdles categories features one flat race, testing athletes’ all-around ability and versatility in closely related disciplines.
Johnson, a four-time Olympic champion himself, launched the Grand Slam Track with the vision of re-energizing the global interest in track and field. By combining a consistent format with high stakes and top-tier athletic talent, the series aims to deliver thrilling head-to-head competition that keeps fans engaged throughout the season.
Kingston’s meet marked a powerful start for the series, showcasing some of the sport’s biggest names and brightest talents. McLaughlin-Levrone’s victory not only demonstrated her continued dominance in the long hurdles domain but also underscored the appeal of the new format, which encourages athletes to double up in similar but distinct events — something not typically seen in traditional championship settings.
With three more Grand Slam Track events to come this season, anticipation is already building. If the opening meet is anything to go by, fans are in for an electrifying journey — and athletes like McLaughlin-Levrone are setting the bar sky-high.