Gabby Thomas Storms to Victory in 200m at Grand Slam Track Opener in Jamaica

Thomas Reigns Supreme in Sprint Showdown
Reigning Olympic champion Gabby Thomas delivered a statement performance at the inaugural Grand Slam Track event in Kingston, Jamaica, clocking 22.62 seconds to win the women's 200m. The American sprinter outpaced Dominican Republic's Marileidy Paulino (400m Olympic gold medalist) and Britain's Dina Asher-Smith in a stacked field showcasing track's new elite competition format.

A New Era for Athletics
Conceived by legendary sprinter Michael Johnson, the four-event Grand Slam Track series aims to sustain Olympic-level excitement year-round with a $100,000 prize purse per athlete. Thomas emphasized the groundbreaking nature: *"The stakes here change everything – world-class rivals, huge rewards, and no off-season mentality."

Hurdles Dominance Continues
World record holder Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone (USA) opened her campaign with a commanding 52.76-second 400m hurdles win. The double Olympic champion now leads the race for the six-figure combined events bonus.

Sprint Showcases Depth

Men's 100m: Kenny Bednarek (USA) edged Jamaica's Oblique Seville in 10.07s
400m Thriller: Chris Bailey (USA) narrowly defeated Matt Hudson-Smith (GB) after his world indoor triumph

What's Next?
The series continues with three U.S. meets through June, featuring: