The inaugural meet of the Grand Slam Track concluded in Kingston, Jamaica on Sunday.
Top athletes from around the world competed at the Caribbean country’s National Stadium at Independence Park in an event which ran from 4-6 April.
How Much Did Jamaican Athletes Earn At Kingston Grand Slam Track
Jamaican athletes earned a combined US$475,000 ($75 million) at the event. Sprint hurdler Danielle Williams took home the biggest paycheck after winning the Women’s Short Hurdles category and pocketing US$100,000 ($15.7 million) for her efforts.
Williams, who is not contracted to feature at all four Grand Slam Track meets, ran second in the 100m Hurdles in 12.70 seconds on Saturday and returned to take the win in the flat 100m in 11.54, to tally 20 points.
“To be honest I didn’t really think about the money like that, I tried to focus on the things that I can control and that is my run, my race, but it’s a cool concept and it’s good to know that you can walk away with so much money,” said Williams.
“We deserve it, we train probably as hard and maybe even harder than any other sport, just for 12 seconds and you can’t get it back, so I am definitely pleased with that,” she added.
Roshawn Clarke was the second-highest-paid Jamaican athlete at the meet after finishing second in the Men’s Long Hurdles category, which got him a reward of US$50,000 ($7.9 million) after his second-place run in the 400m Hurdles and fourth-place finish in the 400m, which gave him 13 points.
Andrenette Knight, who featured in the Women’s Long Hurdles and Men’s Short Sprints contestant Oblique Seville and Ackera Nugent, who also competed in the Women’s Short Hurdles, all took home US$30,000 ($4.7 million) after finishing third in their respective categories.
Also Read: Grand Slam Track 2025 Kingston: Stars To Watch Ft. US Heavyweights Gabby Thomas, Quincy Hall
Nugent finished fourth in the 110m Hurdles and second in the 100m for a combined 13 points. Knight, meanwhile, was fourth in the women’s 400m Hurdles and second in the flat one-lap event, bringing her points tally to 13 as well.
Seville ran for a second finish in the 100m and had to settle for fifth in the 200m in his Short Sprints category.
The other stops in the series will take place in Miami (May 2-4), Philadelphia (May 30-June 1) and Los Angeles (June 27-29).
