That’s a wrap Jamaica
10 of the best stories to emerge from the world’s first Grand Slam Track...
The story of the first Slam is complete. Like all good stories it came with some highs and lows, some irresistible plot twists, big characters and surprising heroes. Out of the 12 Slam winners, nine were Racers but three Challengers also conquered their Goliaths with Danielle Williams (JAM), Ejgayehu Taye (ETH) and Emmanuel Wanyonyi (KEN) emerging victorious.
Slam winners came from across the globe, including five Americans, two Ethiopians, one Brit, one home hero for Jamaica, one Brazilian, one French and one Kenyan.
The new Grand Slam Track format provided a blank page for some new track narratives from Hiltz to Wanyonyi over 800m to Dylan Beard and Tia Jones over the Short Hurdles.
Five of the Slam winners stole victories in both of their races. USA legend Sydney McLaughlin (Women Long Hurdles), her teammate Melissa Jefferson Wooden (Women Short Sprints), Ethiopia’s Ejgayehu Taye (Women Long Distance), Team USA’s Kenny Bednarek (Men Short Sprints) and Brazilian Alison dos Santos (Men Long Hurdles) all took the double, showing that specialists can also show versatility. These results in Jamaica signaled huge potential for Grand Slam Track’s dual event approach.
As the track partner that witnessed history in the making up close, we bring you ten of the best moments run on Rekortan from Jamaica:
Salwa Eid Naser. © 2025 Grand Slam Track.
1. Women 400m Long Sprints: Naser wins with a stunning fast time with Thomas battling Paulino for second place to take the Slam
This race was spectacular. It was the fastest Women’s 400m run in the month of April in the history of track and field. Bahrain’s Olympic Silver medalist, Salwa Eid Naser, took the victory in 48.67 – an outrageously good mark for this early in the season.
Gabby Thomas was second in a brilliant battle with Marileidy Paulino in the final stretch. Thomas pulled a massive 400m PR out of the bag (49.14) to overcome Paulino who was unbeatable last season over 400m.
The top three finishers in this race ran faster than the three finishers of the last World Championship in Budapest and Long Sprint Slam Winner, Gabby Thomas, who won the 200m on the Friday, ran so fast and so competitively over the 400m that we could see her doubling more often now. Watch this space.
2. Men 1,500m Short Distance: Wanyonyi beats the 1,500m specialists
This was the Grand Slam Track concept at its very best. The titans of the 800m beat the titans of the 1,500m in both races. Kenya’s Emmanuel Wanyonyi beat the formidable trio of Hocker, Nuguse and Kerr over "their" distance and claimed second in the 800m race behind the Canadian Marco Arop to take the Slam and leave Jamaica much bigger than he entered. This epic race and major upset couldn’t have been witnessed anywhere other than Grand Slam Track and we can expect to see Wanyonyi racing the 1,500m more often in the future.
Emmanuel Wanyonyi. © 2025 Grand Slam Track.
“This race was spectacular. It was the fastest Women’s 400m ever run in the month of April in the history of track and field. Bahrain’s Olympic Silver medalist, Salwa Eid Naser, took the victory in 48.67 – an outrageously good mark for this early in the season.”
Tia Jones. © 2025 Grand Slam Track.
3. Women 100m hurdles: last-minute Challenger, Tia Jones, upsets the Olympic Champions
She was technically not even supposed to be here, but America’s Tia Jones captured the spirit of a Challenger when she came in last minute as a replacement and stole the 100m hurdles. Her 12.63 mark won not just any race, but a head-to-head with the last two Olympic Champions and the current World Champion over 100m Hurdles, Danielle Williams (JAM). To the delight of the home crowd, Williams took the Short Hurdles Slam adding a win over 100m to her second place in the Hurdles, but what a story from the American underdog.
4. Men 400m Long Sprints, Chris Bailey consolidates as one of the greats in a WL time
Team USA Challenger, Christopher Bailey, confirmed his place as one of the great 400m runners of his generation with a 44.34 win - another lightening time for this early in the season. Although Brit Racer, Matthew Hudson-Smith took the overall Long Sprint Slam winning the 200m with a strong headwind, Michael Johnson’s signature 400m event for both men and women were fast and fueled with surprise.
5. Men 110m hurdles: Part-time worker at Walmart, Dylan Beard upsets the favorites for the win
The Challenger narrative struck again in the Long Hurdles with US underdog, Dylan Beard swapping Walmart shelves for the Grand Slam of tracks. His win in the 110m hurdles upset the field in an unscripted victory, again showing the disruptive appeal of the Grand Slam Track concept. In the end, the Frenchman, Sasha Zhoya was visibly delighted to take the Long Hurdles Slam crown. The track also stole a win for the US Challenger:
"This is a great track...it is brand new, and it feels real good. I love it, I like the color, I like that it represents the country (Jamaica) - a great, great track" – Dylan Beard, USA
Dylan Beard. © 2025 Grand Slam Track.
Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone. © 2025 Grand Slam Track.
6. Women 400m Hurdles: Sydney makes the feat sound too easy setting a WL time to win by a big margin
Despite the anticipated clash between the former and current World Record holders and three strong Jamaican athletes, Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone had no rivals and won her signature 400m Hurdles event with a fast WL (52.76). The G.O.A.T won both races with close to two seconds’ margin to her next rival to take the Slam.
“This is a great track... it is brand new, and it feels real good. I love it, I like the color, I like that it represents the country (Jamaica) - a great, great track ”
7. Men's 400m Hurdles: Brazilian Alison dos Santos wins with a WL time
The story in the men’s 400m Hurdles followed a similar plot line with favorite, Alison dos Santos, clinching a win in a WL time of 47.61. As well as consolidating his spot at the top of the 400m Hurdles rankings, the charismatic Brazilian also won the 400m flat race with a final charge on the home straight.
Alison dos Santos. © 2025 Devereaux Concepts LLC.
Nikki Hiltz. © 2025 Grand Slam Track.
8. Women 800m: American Nikki Hiltz sets a WL and proves her strength over 800m
A known talent in the 1,500m, Nikki Hiltz’s win over the 800m was also a WL, a PB and a win for the Grand Slam Track format. The American, known for their killer instincts over 1,500m beat the current 800m World Champion, Mary Moraa (KEN) at her own race. The WCH 1,500m silver medalist, Diribe Welteji, took the Short Distance Slam but what a result for Hiltz, the fans and the new home of global track competition.
9. Men's 200m: Kenny Bednarek defeats Fred Kerley and the Jamaicans once again
It was Kenny Bednarek all the way. The American won both the 100m and 200m in emphatic style leaving no doubt as to who’s the fastest man in Kingston over the Short Sprints. The 200m wasn’t even close and Bednarek claims #1 and most dominant athlete in the Grand Slam Track rankings across all Race Groups after the first Slam. A great athlete, in great shape at the start of the season. He will be one to watch over the Miami, Philly and LA Slams.
Kenny Bednarek. © 2025 Grand Slam Track.
Grant Fisher. © 2025 Grand Slam Track.
10. Men's 5,000m: Grant Fisher takes the win in a tactical race
Team USA’s Grant Fisher continued his indoor form on the Grand Slam Track with a 5,000m win (14:39.14). In a tactical race he proved to have the best kick over African rivals Hagos Gebrhiwet (ETH) and Ronald Kwemoi (KEN) and did just enough in the 3,000m race to take the Long Distance Slam.