Hudson Smith first Grand Slam winner
KINGSTON, Jamaica — Britain’s Matthew Hudson Smith emerged as the first Grand Slam Track champion with a combined 20 points after capturing the 200m in 20.77 (-3.3 m/s) on Saturday which picked him up 12 more points. He was second in the 400m on Friday night and received eight points.
Hudson-Smith pocketed a whopping US$100,000 with the victory.
Jareem Richards of Trinidad and Tobago was second in 20.81 ahead of Jamaica’s Deandre Watkins in 20.91. Vernon Norman of the USA was fourth in 20.92. Jamaica’s Zandrion Barnes, who was disqualified in the 400m on Friday night, was eighth in 21.59.
American Christopher Bailey, who came into the 200m with 12 points from the 400m last night, was fifth in 20.93 and collected four points for a total of 16 points. Jamaica’s Watkins ended with eight points while Barnes finished with two points.
Earlier, American Dylan Beard snatched the 110m hurdles, stopping the clock at 13.29 (-0.5 m/s) following a brill start that he never relinquished.
Paris 2024 Olympic silver medallist Daniel Roberts of the USA was second in 13.35 just ahead of the flamboyant Frenchman Sasha Zhoya in third in 13.36.
Jamaica’s 2012 Olympic gold medallist Omar McLeod ran an encouraging race and was fifth in 13.38 while his countryman Orlando Bennett was seventh with 13.61.
– H.W