With the primary Slam in Jamaica getting nearer (April 4-6) here’s what we all know thus far about who’s difficult the Racers
As the thrill builds for the primary Grand Slam Observe meet in Kingston, Jamaica, with 48 Racers set to compete, the Challengers for the development are starting to get introduced.
Those athletes, who will problem the Racers, are an very important a part of the brand new observe league, every filling some of the 4 spots within the race groupings towards the Racers.
To recap, every Slam’s race crew is composed of 4 Racers who’re signed to the league’s 4 Slams in Kingston, Miami, Philadelphia and Los Angeles. Challengers are paid an look rate and will compete for complete prize cash. Their spots are selected in response to contemporary performances, rivalries and the possibility of thrilling matchups.
The primary six Challengers introduced for Kingston are all Jamaican stars, and they’re positive to obtain an enthusiastic reception from the Independence Park crowd.
Hansle Parchment (left) wins gold (Getty)
Main the rate within the males’s Quick Hurdles (100m/110m hurdles) is Hansle Parchment, the Olympic gold medallist from Tokyo who triumphed over Grant Holloway and Ronald Levy in 2021.
With a non-public absolute best of 12.93 within the 110m hurdles, he’ll face off towards Racers Devon Allen, Daniel Roberts, Freddie Crittenden and Sasha Zhoya.
Becoming a member of Parchment within the Quick Hurdles crew is Orlando Bennett, a Paris Olympic finalist with a non-public absolute best of 13.09 within the 110m hurdles and 10.54 within the 100m.
Within the girls’s Quick Hurdles, Danielle Williams, the reigning global champion within the 100m hurdles from Budapest, will take her position as a Challenger.
With a non-public absolute best of 12.32 within the hurdles and 11.24 within the 100m, Williams will compete towards Ackera Nugent, Jasmine Camacho-Quinn, Masai Russell and Cyréna Samba-Mayela.
Danielle Williams (Getty)
The ladies’s Lengthy Hurdles (400m/400m hurdles) will function Shiann Salmon, an Olympic finalist for Jamaica. Salmon, who has bests of 52.97 within the 400m and 51.22 within the 400m hurdles, will problem Racers Rushell Clayton, Shamier Little, Jasmine Jones and the Olympic champion and global document holder Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone.
Within the males’s Lengthy Hurdles, Malik James-King will really feel at house as he competes as a Challenger on the stadium the place he claimed the nationwide identify. He boasts non-public bests of 47.42 within the 400m hurdles and 45.22 within the 400m flat.
He’s going to race towards fellow Jamaican Roshawn Clarke, in addition to Clement Ducos and Alison dos Santos.
Alana Reid [centre] (Oscar Munoz Badilla)
The Grand Slam Observe league may even show off emerging stars like Alana Reid, the 20-year-old global under-20 champion within the 100m and 4x100m relay. Reid had a leap forward season in 2024, posting non-public bests of 10.92 within the 100m and 22.95 within the 200m.
She additionally made her Olympic debut in Paris as a part of Jamaica’s 4x100m relay group, which completed 5th. Reid will compete within the Quick Sprints (100m/200m) towards Racers Melissa Jefferson, Daryll Neita, Gabby Thomas and Brittany Brown.
Including to the thrill, 400m athlete Vernon Norwood struck a take care of Grand Slam Observe on X. They agreed he would signal as a Challenger if he won 400 retweets on his put up, a function he effectively met.
400, that honest? 🤝 https://t.co/dNTDiOISED
Norwood will race within the Lengthy Sprints (200m/400m) on the Kingston Slam, bringing his non-public bests of 20.30 within the 200m and 44.10 within the 400m. He’s now the 7th Challenger showed for the development.
Extra bulletins of Challengers are anticipated within the lead-up to the Kingston Slam.
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