Jamaicans set to star at Miami GST
Published:Friday | May 2, 2025 | 12:11 AM
Jamaican hurdlers Roshawn Clarke and Ackera Nugent are expected to headline the Jamaican contingent set to get under way today at Grand Slam Track’s (GST) second meet of the season at the Ansin Sports Complex in Miami, Florida.
With 10 Jamaican athletes set to compete over the three days of competition, six will take to the track in the series’ opening day.
Nugent will be one of the first Jamaicans on track as she lines up in the women’s 100 metres hurdles as a part of the short sprints race group set for 4:42 p.m. Jamaica time.
She is set to challenge compatriot Megan Tapper, who was recently added to the GST line up as a challenger, and Olympic champion Masai Russell of the United States.
USA’s Kendra Harrison, the former world record holder, will also line up in the race as she will make her GST debut as a race challenger.
Nugent finished third overall in the standings in the Kingston Grand Slam with 13 points, behind fellow Jamaican Danielle Williams, 20, and American Tia Jones, 15.
Williams is notably absent from the field this time around, however, as her status as a challenger means she is not committed to run at all four slams this season.
Clarke will take part in the men’s long hurdles race group when he lines up in the men’s 400m hurdles at 5:06 p.m. Jamaica time, setting up another exciting clash with Brazilian star Alison dos Santos.
The U20 world record holder will be looking to improve on his second place finish last time out as finished on 13 points, behind dos Santos’ perfect tally of 24.
Clarke will be joined by compatriot Malik-James King who finished fifth at the Kingston Grand Slam with nine points.
Stacey-Ann Williams and Nickisha Pryce will be the final Jamaican representatives on day one as they line up in the women’s long sprints 400m event.
The duo will be hoping for much improved performances as they had finished sixth and eighth at the Kingston’s staging, with Williams’ tally six points to Pryce’s four.
The remaining four Jamaican athletes will get into action on day two with Oblique Seville and Ackeem Blake leading the lines in the men’s short sprints race group.
Shiann Salmon and Andrenette Knight will take part in the women’s long hurdles as Rushell Clayton has withdrawn from the event after picking up an injury at the Kingston Grand Slam.