KINGSTON, JAMAICA, April 05 — Day 2 of Grand Slam Track came on like the second day of school with the jitters of the first day forgotten. The racing settled into the simple pursuit of winning your group and claiming the money.
The first to do so was Matthew Hudson-Smith in the Men’s Long Sprint Group. After taking 2nd in the 400, the Briton came back to win the 200, posting 20.77 despite a -3.3 wind.
Coming into the stadium on Saturday was very different from Friday. Aided, no doubt, in the afternoon by a program of sprint races between some of the best Jamaican high schoolers, many spectators were in the stands, and most stayed for the ensuing evening program.
As the sun went down, and the stadium lights came up, the weather turned perfect for racing. Capacity was at least double, maybe triple, what it was the night before, and the atmosphere became, at times, electric. Spectators let it be known who their favorites were, and they occasionally got sufficiently loud to make this meet feel real. There’s obviously room to grow but this was a step forward.
All eight races featured strong fields of world-class talent, and while some athletes were clearly at the early stages of their season, others seem primed and ready to compete.
Tia Jones upset the 100H field, besting Masai Russell and Jasmine Camacho-Quinn to put up a world-leading 12.63.
And Kenny Bednarek was on fire, becoming the first to sweep a Slam, the Men’s Short Sprint Group. The Paris half-lap bronze medalist dominated the 200, full of form for April, after winning the 100 on Friday. Times of 20.07 and 10.07.
“I feel great, a hundred-K richer,” said Bednarek. “I came out here and said I wanted to dominate. That’s what I did. And I had fun.”
Winning before a sprint-oriented Jamaican crowd, Bednarek added, “means a lot. I mean, yesterday, you know, the first time being on the track, I know there’s reasons why there wasn’t that many people here, but I knew today there was gonna be a lot more and I’m happy they were here. This is the first time I’ve been here and I showed out, you know.”
Of the GST concept and the substantial winner’s purses, Bednarek said, “I mean, I got to pick up the ultimate prize. But at the end of the day, everybody’s getting paid and that’s what we need in the sport. No matter how fast or slow we are, no matter what’s the competition, all athletes should get paid because we put a lot of blood, heart, and sweat into the sport.”
Salwa Eid Naser upset Marileidy Paulino and Gabby Thomas in the long sprint 400, looking fit and powerful in a world-leading 48.67. Thomas ran 2nd in a personal best of 49.14, and Paulino broke 50 seconds but was never in it. Thomas, following on her 200 win previously, took the Women’s Long Sprint and the prize money.
The other Slam winner was Diribe Welteji after she won the 1500 in 4:04.51. It reeled off as a tactical race that saw her turn the tables on Nikki Hiltz, who had won the 800 on Friday but was 3rd this time, getting outleaned by Susan Ejore at the tape.
But all eyes were soon on the men’s 1500, the marquee event of the night. The anticipation of seeing the best milers tangle with the best half-milers was almost too good to be true. This is what many consider the most appealing feature of the new league: seeing races between the very best athletes from different events go head-to-head.
The milers allowed the race to hang around a bit and before they knew it they had Emmanuel Wanyonyi right there with a half lap to go. A mad dash to the finish displayed the superior speed of the Olympic 800 champ, and he cruised to victory as all three Paris 1500 medalists, and Neil Gourley, were left picking up scraps, half a second behind but clearly beaten. Wanyonyi’s time of 3:35.18 was nothing special, but he made a powerful statement with the result. The other 800 men were left far behind, clearly out of their depth with the added distance.
The vibe of the meet has been energetic and not panicky at all, even after a mini-tornado struck inside the stadium right before the gates were to open, sending tents and signage flying into the stands, and forcing repairs to the rail-cam.
There are non-track people in some decision-making positions of the organization, but also a lot of experienced tracksters who know how to do it. This blend has led to the occasional dust-up, but there is a willingness to learn and grow, with leadership keeping an eye on the goal of presenting top-level track to a new audience without losing the existing one.
There is fresh thinking in many ways. Some things are working, and others need adjusting. For instance, Grand Slam Track offers a setting primed for exuberant celebration and yet the athletes have no space to whoop it up or interact with fans. After a race the winner does a couple of TV interviews, passes through the media mixed zone, and then is whisked off the track.
On a positive note, this must be the first time I’ve seen social media handles printed onto competitor’s pin-less bibs. Clearly this is a direct way to support the league’s stated objective to boost every athlete’s ability to market and promote themselves, and their sponsors, giving them a stage to add value to their individual brands. It’s a complete about-face from the conventional Olympic ethos of purity from all things commercial. After all, the money is why everyone is here.
GST DAY 2 MEN’S RESULTS
(*=Slam winners who earned $100,000 prize)
Short Sprinters 200(0.2): 1. *Kenny Bednarek (US) 20.07; 2. Zharnel Hughes (GB) 20.37; 3. Fred Kerley (US) 20.39; 4. Joe Fahnbulleh (Lbr) 20.42; 5. Oblique Seville (Jam) 20.43; 6. Courtney Lindsey (US) 20.62; 7. Ackeem Blake (Jam) 20.68; 8. Terrence Jones (Bah) 20.79.
Long Sprinters 200(-3.3) 1. *Matthew Hudson-Smith (GB) 20.77; 2. Jereem Richards (Tri) 20.81; 3. Deandre Watkin (Jam) 20.91; 4. Vernon Norwood (US) 20.92; 5. Chris Bailey (US) 20.93 PR; 6. Collen Kebinatshipi (Bot) 21.08; 7. Muzala Samukonga (Zam) 21.24; 8. Zandrion Barnes (Jam) 21.59.
1500: 1. Emmanuel Wanyonyi (Ken) 3:35.18 PR; 2. Yared Nuguse (US) 3:35.36; 3. Cole Hocker (US) 3:35.52; 4. Neil Gourley (GB) 3:35.60; 5. Josh Kerr (GB) 3:35.61; 6. Marco Arop (Can) 3:39.65; 7. Bryce Hoppel (US) 3:39.78 PR; 8. Mohamed Attaoui (Spa) 3:39.78.
110H(-0.5): 1. Dylan Beard (US) 13.29; 2. Sasha Zhoya (Fra) 13.34; 3. Freddie Crittenden (US) 13.35; 4. Daniel Roberts (US) 13.36; 5. Cordell Tinch (US) 13.38; 6. Omar McLeod (Jam) 13.38; 7. Eric Edwards (US) 13.42; 8. Orlando Bennett (Jam) 13.61.
GST DAY 2 WOMEN’S RESULTS
(*=Slam winners who earned $100,000 prize)
100(-0.6): 1. Melissa Jefferson (US) 11.11; 2. Jenna Prandini (US) 11.23; 3. Jacious Sears (US) 11.25; 4. Daryll Neita (GB) 11.33; 5. Kemba Nelson (Jam) 11.37; 6. Alana Reid (Jam) 11.47; 7. Tamara Clark (US) 11.58; 8. Jodean Williams (Jam) 11.68.
Long Sprinters 400: 1. Salwa Eid Naser (Bhr) 48.67 (WL); 2. *Gabby Thomas (US) 49.14 PR; 3. Marileidy Paulino (DR) 49.35; 4. Alexis Holmes (US) 50.12; 5. Stacey-Ann Williams (Jam) 50.37; 6. Nickisha Pryce (Jam) 50.92; 7. Talitha Diggs (US) 52.05; 8. Dina Asher-Smith (GB) 52.15 PR.
1500: 1. *Diribe Welteji (Eth) 4:04.51; 2. Susan Ejore-Sanders (Ken) 4:05.10; 3. Nikki Hiltz (US) 4:05.39; 4. Jessica Hull (Aus) 4:05.48; 5. Heather MacLean (US) 4:07.11; 6. Sage Hurta-Klecker (US) 4:10.16; 7. Natoya Goule-Toppin (Jam) 4:20.73.
100H(-1.4): 1. Tia Jones (US) 12.63 (WL); 2. Danielle Williams (Jam) 12.70; 3. Jasmine Camacho-Quinn (PR) 12.70; 4. Ackera Nugent (Jam) 12.75; 5. Masai Russell (US) 12.78; 6. Denisha Cartwright (Bah) 12.96; 7. Amber Hughes (US) 13.39.
