Harrison, De Grasse, four others join the money-spinning Grand Slam Track train
Former World 100m hurdles record holder, Kendra Harrison, 2020 Olympic 200m champion, Andre De Grasse and reigning World indoor 400m champion, Amber Anning headline the list of six new athletes (Challengers) signed to compete in the second leg of the money-spinning Grand Slam Track set to take place May 2–4 at Ansin Sports Complex in Miramar, Florida.
Harrison, who still holds the Diamond League record in the high hurdles will compete in the women’s short hurdles where she will battle for the $100,000 top prize money with reigning Olympic champion, Masai Russell, former Olympic champion, Jasmine Camacho-Quinn and fastest 100m hurdler in 2024, Jamaica’s Ackera Nugent among others.
It is not certain yet if Danielle William, the two-time World champion will be retained as a challenger for the second leg and if reigning World record holder, Nigeria’s Tobi Amusan will be added.
Anning will run in the women’s long sprints where she will compete over 200m and 400m and battle Olympic 200m champion, Gabby Thomas, Olympic 400m champion, Marieleidy Paulino and the former World champion and fastest woman over the 400m this year, Salwa Eid Naser for the top prize money on offer and bragging rights.
Anna Hall will compete in the women’s Long Hurdles. The 2023 World Championships silver medalist in the Heptathlon has the near impossible task of beating World and Olympic 400m hurdles champion and record holder, Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone to the $100,000 top prize money.
Claudia Hollingsworth, the 2024 World U20 800m silver medalist, is also set to compete in the Women’s Short Distance.
For the men, De Grasse will compete in the men’s short sprints while Kenyan, Timothy Cheruiyot, the 2020 Olympic 1500m silver medalist, will run in the men’s short distance.
Nigeria’s Favour Ofili was scratched out of the opening leg of the event in Kingston, Jamaica early this month and it is not certain if she could return for the Miami leg early next month.
Grand Slam Track is the brain child of four-time Olympic Champion Michael Johnson and is believed to be the global home of professional track competition. It pays the highest prize money ever in the sport.
