KINGSTON, Jamaica, CMC – The American quartet of Kenneth Bednarek, Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, Gabby Thomas, and Christopher Bailey all won their respective events when the inaugural Grand Slam Track Series got underway on Friday at the National Stadium in Kingston.
Bednarek, known mainly as a 200-meter runner, crossed the finish line first in the marquee event, the men’s 100 meters, in a time of 10.07 seconds, just ahead of Jamaica’s Oblique Seville (10.08) and Zarnel Hughes of Great Britain in 10.13 seconds, the same time as hometown boy Ackeem Blake who was fourth.
McLaughlin-Levrone was a comfortable winner in the women’s 400-meter hurdles, with her time of 52.76 seconds well ahead of her teammate Dalilah Muhammad in 54.59, with Jamaica’s duo of Russell Clayton (55.02) and Andrenette Knight (55.06), third and fourth respectively.
Meanwhile, Thomas won in the women’s 200 meters in 22.62 seconds. Marileidy Paulino of the Dominican Republic was second in 22.93 seconds, and Dina Asher-Smith of Great Britain third in 22.96.
Bailey was dominant in the men’s 400 meters, crossing the finish line first in 44.34 seconds, with Great Britain’s Matthew Hudson-Smith (44.65) and Vernon Norwood of the USA (44.70), placing second and third, respectively.
The USA also earned a 1-2-3 in the men’s 5000 meters thanks to Grant Fisher (14:39.14), Cooper Teare (14:39.31), and Dylan Jacobs (14:39.56).
Brazil’s Alison Don Santos ran away with the men’s 400-meter hurdles in 47.61, ahead of Jamaica’s Roshawn Clarke in 48.20 and Caleb Deane of the USA in 48.58.
Nikki Hiltz of the USA won the women’s 800 meters (1:58.23), while Ejgayehu Taye of Ethiopia captured the women’s 3000 meters in 8:28.42.
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