The Jamaican capital joins Los Angeles as one of two locations on the Grand Slam Track
Jamaica will host some of the world’s best athletes next year, with Kingston set to host the inaugural Grand Slam Track meet.
Kingston, which joins Los Angeles as a confirmed venue, kicks off the first-ever Grand Slam Track season with the event at the National Stadium in Independence Park (April 4, 5 and 6, 2025).
The other two destinations will be confirmed later this week.
The match in Kingston also comes a few weeks before next season’s first Diamond League, which takes place in Xiamen on April 26.
“We are excited to bring the Grand Slam to Kingston,” said League Founder and Commissioner Michael Johnson. “Jamaica has such a strong history in the sport. The talent and love of the sport here makes it a perfect fit for what we are building.”
“It’s going to be an incredible event and we’re proud that Kingston will be one of our four Slams in our inaugural season to kick it all off.”
Racers Grand Prix (Getty)
Jamaica’s National Stadium has a track record of hosting incredible events, from the Racers Grand Prix and Jamaican National Championships to the ISSA Grace Kennedy Boys and Girls Championships (better known as the ‘Champs’).
“We are proud and excited that Kingston has been selected to host the inaugural Grand Slam,” said Jamaica Athletics Administrative Association (JAAA) President Garth Gale.
“As the local governing body of the sport, we see this as a testament to our past and present athletes whose achievements and legacies have established Jamaica as a capital of the world.
“This event is also an important event for the development of our future athletes, who will benefit from the opportunity to see the world’s biggest running stars up close and personal on the local calendar.”
Check out this post on Instagram
A total of 32 athletes registered for the Grand Slam track: Akera Nugent, Roshon Clark, Sydney McLaughlin-Levron, Melissa Jefferson, Masai Russell, Quincy Hall, Fred Curley, Kenny Bednarek, Cole Hawker, Jared Nuguz, Grant Fisher, Josh Kerr, Matthew Hudson-Smith, Nikki Hiltz, Sirena Samba-Wisdom, Jasmine Camacho-Quinn, Alison dos Santos, Ronald Kwemoy, Muzala Samukonga, Clement Dukos, Jess Hull, Daniel Roberts, Shamier Little, Marco Arop, Devon Allen, Jasmine Jones, Jeremy Richards, Luis Grijalva, Rushelle Clayton, Agnesel Ngesi.
All of these athletes will be Racers, meaning they compete in all four Slams and receive an annual base compensation for competing in each, as well as being eligible for full prize money.
Each season in Grand Slam Track, there will be 48 racers. They will compete in one of the following categories and all will compete in two events during each Slam: Short Sprint (100m/200m), Short Hurdles (100m Hurdles or 110m Hurdles/100m), Long Sprint (200m/ 400m), long hurdles (400m hurdle/400m), short distance (800m/1500m) or long distance (3000m/5000m).
» Subscribe to AW Magazine herecheck out our new podcast! here or subscribe to our digital archive of back issues from 1945 to the present day here
The post Kingston was chosen as the inaugural Grand Slam Track meet appeared first AW:.
