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≡ GRAND SLAM TRACK ≡
The much-appreciated concept of the Grand Slam Track project is that the competing athletes are contracted to appear, reducing the number of no-shows on meet day.
But injuries and other problems get in the way and on Monday, Grand Slam Track announced 10 scratches from the 96-athlete fields (10.4%), and their replacements:
Men’s Long Sprints:
● Quincy Hall (USA) ~ replaced by Zandrion Barnes (JAM)
Men’s Long Distance:
● Dominic Lobalu (SUI) ~ replaced by Charles Philibert-Thiboutot (CAN)
Men’s Short Hurdles:
● Hansle Parchment (JAM) ~ replaced by Omar McLeod (JAM)
● Cameron Murray (USA) ~ replaced by Eric Edwards Jr. (USA)
Men’s Long Hurdles:
● Trevor Bassitt (USA) ~ replaced by Assinie Wilson (JAM)
Women’s Short Distance:
● Nelly Chepchirchir (KEN) ~ replaced by Sage Hurta-Klecker (USA)
Women’s Short Hurdles:
● Favour Ofili (NGR) ~ replaced by Jodean Williams (JAM)
● Alia Armstrong (USA) ~ replaced by Amber Hughes (USA)
● Grace Stark (USA) ~ replaced by Nia Ali (USA)
Women’s Long Hurdles:
● Shamier Little (USA) ~ replaced by Cassandra Tate (USA)
Hall was the Paris Olympic gold medalist at 400 m is the biggest loss. In some cases, the replacements are just as interesting, such as Rio 2016 Olympic hurdles champ McLeod (JAM) for Tokyo 2020 winner Parchment (JAM), or Paris Olympic finalist Stark in the women’s short hurdles, replaced by two-time World Indoor Champion Ali, both from the U.S. (The previously-announced fields are here.)
Grand Slam Track Senior Director of Racing Kyle Merber (USA) said:
“While injuries and unexpected circumstances are out of our control, we’ve chosen to be transparent with fans rather than keep them in the dark. We are excited that there has been so much interest from athletes to compete in the initial Grand Slam Track event that we have been able to fill the open lanes with such high quality competitors who will contend for wins.”
The inaugural meet in Kingston – where Grand Slam Track underwrote most of the cost of a resurfaced track for the meet in green, gold and black, Jamaica’s national colors – comes Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
● 4 April (Fri.): 6 p.m. Eastern on Peacock
● 5 April (Sat.): 5 p.m. Eastern on The CW
● 6 April (Sun.): 3 p.m. Eastern on The CW
The following Slams will be on 2-4 May in Miramar, Florida; 30 May-1 June at Franklin Field in Philadelphia, and 27-29 June at UCLA’s Drake Stadium in Los Angeles.
The circuit has a $12.6 million prize pool across all four Slams, with each of the 12 event groups paying out $100,000-50,000-30,000-25,000-20,000-15,000-12,500-10,000 for places 1-8 for the two-race group standings in each meet.
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