Seville, Parchment head final list of Jamaicans for Grand Slam Track

Seventeen Jamaicans, led by Paris Olympic Games finalists, sprinter Oblique Seville and hurdler Hansle Parchment, will be on show at the inaugural Michael Johnson Grand Slam Track series which kicks off April 4-6 at the National Stadium.

“We’re thrilled to finalise the line-up for our first-ever Grand Slam Track event,” said Michael Johnson, the league’s founder and commissioner. “With 96 world-class competitors, the Kingston Slam will be a spectacular celebration of speed and athleticism. We invite fans from around the world to join us in Jamaica for what promises to be an unforgettable festival of track and field at the National Stadium.”

Two days ago the start list for the first of three meets was released. The other Jamaicans set to compete include Alana Reid, Ackera Nugent, Kemba Nelson, Stacy-Ann Williams, Rushell Clayton, Nickisha Pryce, Shiann Salmon, Andrenette Knight, Danielle Williams, and Natoya Goule-Toppin on the women’s side. The men’s roster also includes Roshawn Clarke, Malik James-King, Ackeem Blake, Deandre Watkins, and Orlando Bennett.

A total prize purse of US$12.6 million will be up for grabs, with the winners of each Slam group earning US$100,000 and eighth-place finishers receiving US$10,000. Additional compensation will be provided to Racers, and appearance fees will be awarded to Challengers. The event will focus on head-to-head competition rather than winning times, with 48 Challengers competing against 48 Racers. Unlike Diamond League events, there will be no pacemakers or pacing lights, and each race will have its own prize, with no points carried forward.

Invitees

Men’s short sprints:

Kenny Bednarek, Fred Kerley, Oblique Seville, Zharnel Hughes, Courtney Lindsey, Ackeem Blake, Terrence Jones, Joseph Fahnbulleh.

Women’s short sprints:

Brittany Brown, Daryll Neita, Melissa Jefferson-Wooden, Alana Reid, Jacious Sears, Tamara Clark, Favour Ofili, Kemba Nelson.

Men’s long sprints:

Quincy Hall, Muzala Samukonga, Matthew Hudson-Smith, Jereem Richards, Busang Collen Kebinatshipi, Vernon Norwood, Chris Bailey, Deandre Watkin.

Women’s long sprints:

Gabby Thomas, Nickisha Pryce, Alexis Holmes, Marileidy Paulino, Salwa Eid Naser, Dina Asher-Smith, Talitha Diggs, Stacey Ann Williams.

Men’s short hurdles:

Freddie Crittenden, Sasha Zhoya, Daniel Roberts, Orlando Bennett, Hansle Parchment, Cordell Tinch, Cameron Murray, Dylan Beard.

Women’s short hurdles:

Ackera Nugent, Jasmine Camacho-Quinn, Masai Russell, Cyréna Samba-Mayela, Danielle Williams, Grace Stark, Denisha Cartwright, Alia Armstrong.

Men’s long hurdles:

Clément Ducos, Alison Dos Santos, Caleb Dean, Roshawn Clarke, Malik James-King, C. J. Allen, Chris Robinson, Trevor Bassitt.

Women’s long hurdles:

Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, Shamier Little, Rushell Clayton, Jasmine Jones, Shiann Salmon, Cathelijn Peeters, Andrenette Knight, Dalilah Muhammad.

Men’s short distance:

Cole Hocker, Josh Kerr, Yared Nuguse, Marco Arop, Emmanuel Wanyonyi, Bryce Hoppel, Neil Gourley, Mohamed Attaoui.

Women’s short distance:

Jess Hull, Nikki Hiltz, Diribe Welteji, Mary Moraa, Nelly Chepchirchir, Heather MacLean, Natoya Goule-Toppin, Susan Ejore.

Men’s long distance:

Grant Fisher, Ronald Kwemoi, Hagos Gebrhiwet, Cooper Teare, Thierry Ndikumwenayo, Dominic Lobalu, Dylan Jacobs, Telahun Haile Bekele.

Women’s long distance:

Nozomi Tanaka, Tsige Gebreselama, Agnes Ngetich, Elise Cranny, Hellen Ekalale, Whittni Morgan, Melissa Courtney-Bryant, Ejgayehu Taye.