Best v Best. The rivalries to watch at the world’s first Slam – DAY ONE

Get the inside track on the biggest head-to-head clashes to come to Kingston

Grand Slam Track is built on rivalries. The gladiatorial combat-style racing at its heart is what sets it apart from the (traditional) pack. Through it, the new league aims to create a storytelling platform for some of the most exciting athletes in the world. Rekortan, the rival track, is back in town to provide the canvas for these stories.

As we head into day one of the first Slam in Jamaica’s National Stadium, we have taken a deep dive into the head-to-head history of every single Racer and Challenger to bring you the ones to watch in order of appearance.

How will historical rivalries play out on the first day in the future of track?

1. Long Sprints, Women – Gabrielle Thomas (USA) v Marileidy Paulino (DOM)

In one of the most anticipated duels in Kingston, Olympic 200m Champion Gabby Thomas will face Marileidy Paulino who broke the 400m Olympic record in Paris 2024 to claim gold in a nearly perfect season. They will face fierce competition including 6x World Championship medalist Dina-Asher Smith (GBR), 4x400m Olympic and World Champ Alexis Holmes (USA) and 400m World Champion and Olympic Silver Medalist Salwa Naser (BRN).

Marileidy Paulino finished ahead of her Grand Slam Track rivals in 24 of the 25 races they competed against each other. The only loss was to Dina Asher-Smith over 200m. But...she has never faced Gabby Thomas before. Grand Slam Track will offer that opportunity twice.

2. Long Sprints, Men - Muzala Samukonga (ZAM) v Matthew Hudson Smith (GBR)

Olympic Silver and Bronze Medalists Matthew Hudson Smith and Muzala Samukonga are two of the best 400m runners of present times. They will be challenged by 4x400m relay legends Christopher Bailey (USA, current Olympic and WCH Gold), Jereem Richards (TTO, WCH Gold in London 2017), Busang Kebinatshipi (BOT, Olympic Silver in Paris 2024), and Vernon Norwood (USA, multiple Olympic and World Champion over relays). The field is completed by two rising stars from Jamaica, Deandre Watkin and Zandrion Barnes.

History says Samukonga is the best rival. The Paris 2024 400m Bronze medalist finished ahead of his competitors in 19 out of 22 races (including beating Matthew Hudson Smith in three out of five races). Watch this space.

3. Long Distance, Women – Road v track v cross country

What happens when some of the world’s best road, track and cross-country runners compete against each other over 3,000m and 5,000m?

We will find out. Agnes Ngetich (10km World Record holder on the road) takes on rival Ejgayehu Taye (10,000m World Championship medalist, track) in a classic Kenya x Ethiopia clash. History says Ejgayehu Taye is the strongest rival with 28 out of 31 races ahead of her rivals (an impressive 90%) but the future may show otherwise when Ngetich swaps the road for the track. Japanese Nozomi Tanaka, Americans Elise Cranny and Whittni Morgan, and Ethiopian Tsige Gebreselama are all Olympic finalists; Emily Infeld (USA) is a WCH Bronze Medalist (Beijing 2015). Kenyan Hellen Ekalale is a world cross country junior medalist. A very interesting 3,000m / 5,000m double with some specialists at roads, track and cross country clashing against each other.

4. Short Distance, Women - A classic KEN v ETH combat and threats from a home favorite

Mary Moraa of Kenya, the current 800m World Champion, Olympic Silver medalist meets Diribe Welteji (ETH) a WCH 1,500 silver medalist for a classic African head-to-head.

But Jamaica doesn't only live in sprinting. Home Racer, Natoya Goule-Toppin is an Olympic and World Championship finalist in the 800m and is the fastest of the field with a PR of 1:55.96 who will put the African duo under pressure.

Aussie star, Jessica Hull, a 1,500m Olympic silver medalist (Paris 2024) who set a 2,000m World Best in 2024 could also spice things up.

According to history, Moraa is the strongest 800m rival (finishing ahead of her competitors in 22 of 27 races) but Welteji is the strongest in the 1,500m beating her competition in 30 out of 39 historical clashes and finishing ahead of Hull in 9 out of 11 races. But in a departure from history as the 800m and 1500m specialists compete in each other’s distances for the Short Distance Duo crown, the potential for surprises makes this an even more compelling clash.

“The men’s Long Sprints were Michael Johnson’s events and could be the most exciting showdown of the first Slam.”

5. Long Hurdles, Men – Alison dos Santos (BRA) v Clément Ducos (FRA) v Roshawn Clarke (JAM)

Brazilian Alison dos Santos, one of the three titans of the event, will be challenged by an impressive field of athletes, led by young and rising stars Roshawn Clarke (JAM) and Clément Ducos (FRA).

As the 2022 World Champ and twice Olympic medalist, dos Santos is ranked #1 in the world. He has a strong record of finishing ahead his Grand Slam Track competitors in 29 out of 36 races (81%). However, he lost 3 out of 4 races to Clément Ducos. At just 20 years of age, Roshawn Clarke is the future of Jamaica in the event and holds the U20 World Record (47.34) and could shake things up.

6. Long Hurdles, Women - Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone (USA) v Dalilah Muhammad (USA)

This is a clash between the former and the current World Record holder with three Jamaican athletes trying to spoil the American party.

Multiple World Record-holder, multiple Olympic and WCH gold medalist and unbeaten in 2024, Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone is one of track’s biggest names. But before Sydney, there was Dalilah Muhammad and for a few seasons she had the edge, beating her counterpart in Doha 2019 and setting a World Record.

Dalilah and McLaughlin have an impressively close record against each other. In 13 races, Sydney finished ahead in seven. Anything is possible when Grand Slam Track brings them back together.

7. Long Distance, Men - Grant Fisher (USA) v Hagos Gebrhiwet (ETH) v Ronald Kwemoi (KEN)

Double Olympic medalist Grant Fisher is on fire this season. In February he set the 3,000m and 5,000m Indoor WRs. But in Kingston, he will face Ethiopian, Hagos Gebrhiwet (#1 ranked at 5,000m) and Kenyan, Ronald Kwemoi (who beat Fisher and Gebrhiwet to claim Silver in Paris). Fisher and Gebrhiwet have only raced each other once (Fisher won) but now, at Grand Slam Track, they will face each other twice. The showdown will be fascinating.

8. Short Sprints, Men - Fred Kerley (USA) v Kenny Bednarek (USA) v Jamaica

While six competitors ranked among the top ten at 100m and 200m will head against each other at these events, eyes will be focused on the clash between USA titans Kenny Bednarek and Fred Kerley. Bednarek has the best 200m record against his Grand Slam competitors finishing ahead 39 out of the 50 times he faced one of his seven rivals (78%). However, over 100m, history has Fred Kerley as the favorite with 16 out of 21 wins.

The Americans will be challenged by Jamaicans Oblique Seville and Ackeem Blake in another US x Jamaica clash.