Eyes on Kenyan stars as Grand Slam Track kicks off in Kingston

The athletics world is buckling up as it gets ready for thrillers at the inaugural Grand Slam Track which is kicking off in Kingston, Jamaica tonight.

Mouthwatering contests, show of class and handsome prize monies are expected to make the strong talking points

Kenyan big shots are part of the stellar cast assembled for the inaugural track league, a circuit that is setting tongues wagging even before its kick off.

Global track superstars have already converged in Kingston for a major contest.

World champion Mary Moraa, Olympic gold medallist Emmanuel Wanyonyi and 10km world record Agnes Jebet Ngetich will feature in the Kingston showdown, the first leg of the series.

From Jamaica, the slams will move to the USA. Miami’s Ansin Sports Complex will host the three-day event on May 2-4 while the third leg will be staged in Philadelphia at the Franklin Field from May 30 to June 1and the final round is set for Los Angeles from June 7-9.

Unlike the Diamond League which also kicks off later in April, the new circuit, pioneered by four-time US Olympic champion Michael Johnson, has been designed for selected athletes to compete in two track events.

Wanonyi, Moraa and Ngetich will tonight be taking on their counterparts, among Olympic and world medallists.

Moraa, who will be facing a strong field comprising world 1500m silver medallist of Ethiopia and Jessica Hull of Australia, who has an Olympic silver medal, says she is ready for her first assignment of the track season.

“I know it is a tough race but I am really prepared. I am going to compete and what I can tell you is just to wait for the results because my body is well based on the way I have trained with my coach,” Moraa said before departure to Kingston.

She however said doubling 800m, her specialty, and 1500m was likely to be a challenge, but she had trained for it.

“The combination between 800m and 1500m is a challenge to me but I am going to do my best for the first event of the season,” said Moraa.

Moraa will have the company of compatriot Susan Ejore, who is fresh from representing Kenya at the recently concluded world indoor championships in Nanjing, China.

The duo will be starting on day one alongside Ngetich who will be featured in 3000m.

Ngetich will also be competing 5000m, races that will place her in the list of serious contenders for slots in team Kenya to the Tokyo World Championships.

Kenyan Hellen Ekalale is also in the 3000m and 5000m mix.

Ngetich and Ekalale will be competing with Ethiopia’s Tsige Gebreselama, a two-time Olympian at 10,000m, World Cross Country silver medalist as well as her compatriot Ejgayehu Taye, the 2022 world indoor 3000m bronze medallist.

An athlete who will run the fastest combined time across the two races will be declared the winner and will walk away with Sh12.9 million ($100,000).

In each of the four Grand Slam Track meets this year, athletes will earn points in each of the events.

For instance, winners will earn 12 points, runner-ups (eight points) and second runner-ups (6 points) and the eighth place finishers will have one point.

According to organisers, the overall season winner will be the athlete in each race group with the highest accumulated points once the four meets have been completed, with a single male and single female champion crowned ‘Racer of the Year’ in each ‘Race Group.’