McLaughlin-Levrone, Dos Santos, and Fisher Among $100K Grand Slam Winners in Windy Showdown
Kingston, Jamaica – Olympic champions and rising stars braved tough, windy conditions to cap off a high-stakes Grand Slam athletics series, with several athletes claiming $100,000 prizes across sprint, hurdle, and distance events. Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone headlined the meet by doubling up in the 400m hurdles and flat 400m, while names like Grant Fisher, Ejgayehu Taye, and Alison Dos Santos also secured top honors by dominating their categories.
McLaughlin-Levrone Doubles Up, Wins Long Hurdles Grand Slam
Reigning Olympic 400m hurdles champion Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone claimed victory in the flat 400m with a time of 50.32, completing a dominant double after her 52.76 win in the hurdles on Friday. Her performances earned her the $100,000 Grand Slam title in the long hurdles category.
Jamaica’s Andreanette Knight placed second in 52.09, finishing third overall with 13 points. Daliah Muhammad, the 2016 Olympic champion, finished third in the race with a season-best 52.21 just days after announcing this season would be her last, placing second in the final standings.
“Anything can happen. Just got to execute, focus on yourself and do what you know how to do,” said McLaughlin-Levrone. “We’ve talked about doing the long sprints in Los Angeles. Maybe even the 100m hurdles and 100m in Philadelphia.”
Marco Arop Clinches Men’s Short Distance Title
World 800m champion Marco Arop of Canada clocked 1:45.13 to win the men’s 800m, beating Olympic gold medallist Emmanuel Wanyonyi (1:46.44). Despite finishing second in this race, Wanyonyi secured the men’s short distance Grand Slam title, thanks to his earlier personal best win in the 1500m (3:35.16).
Fisher’s Final-Lap Surge Secures Long Distance Jackpot
Double Olympic bronze medallist Grant Fisher claimed the $100,000 prize in the men’s long distance category with 18 total points. After winning the 5000m earlier in the series, he needed a top-three finish in the 3000m—and delivered with a last-lap surge to finish third in 8:03.85.
Hagos Gebrhiwet won the 3000m in 7:51.55, finishing just one point behind Fisher in the standings.
Jefferson-Wooden Dominates Women’s Short Sprints
Olympic 100m bronze medallist Melissa Jefferson-Wooden completed a sprint double, winning the 200m in 23.46 into a headwind after also taking the 100m in 11.11. She finished with a perfect 24 points, securing the $100,000 Grand Slam in the women’s short sprint category.
Jenna Prandini, a late entry, placed second in both races (200m in 23.56) and in the overall standings.
Danielle Williams Surges in Flat and Hurdles to Win
Two-time world 100m hurdles champion Danielle Williams edged Ackera Nugent to win the 100m in 11.54 (-3.4 m/s headwind). Williams, who finished second to Tia Jones in the hurdles (12.70), collected enough points in both events to win the short hurdles Grand Slam with 20 points.
“I really enjoyed this race. I like the format of this circuit. I am very confident,” said Williams.
Dos Santos Completes 400m Double
2022 world champion Alison Dos Santos won the flat 400m in 45.52, narrowly beating Chris Robinson (45.54) in challenging conditions. Having already claimed the 400m hurdles with a world-leading 47.61, Dos Santos completed his double and topped the standings with a perfect 24 points.
Taye Takes Women's Long Distance Crown
World 10,000m bronze medallist Ejgayehu Taye won the women’s 5000m in 14:54.88, closing hard to overtake Agnes Ngetich (14:59.80) with 300m to go. After previously winning the 3000m, Taye clinched the women’s long distance Grand Slam title with a perfect 24 points. Tsigie Gebrselama placed third in 15:24.62.
Sasha Zhoya Wins Men's Short Hurdles Prize
Sasha Zhoya, the 2024 Diamond League 110m hurdles champion, won the men’s 100m in 10.55, adding to his earlier second-place finish in the 110m hurdles. With a total of 20 points, Zhoya won the short hurdles Grand Slam title and $100,000.
Cordell Tinch placed second with a personal best 10.65, while Dylan Beard (10.67) took third and finished second overall, earning $50,000. Beard, notably unsponsored, works at Walmart in Atlanta.
“I really enjoyed competing in Jamaica. I haven’t run flat sprints in a while. Sprinters inspired me,” said Zhoya.
