Jamaica-American sprinters Kenny Bednarek and Gabby Thomas each earned US $100,000 as Slam Champions after thrilling performances at Jamaica’s National Stadium at the inaugural Grand Slam Track Meet.

Bednarek, a two-time Olympic 200m silver medallist, solidified his status as the meet’s top male sprinter by winning the 200m in 20.07, ahead of Great Britain’s Zharnel Hughes in 20.37. His victory, combined with his 100m win, made him the first athlete to sweep the Men’s Short Sprints Race Group in Grand Slam history.

Bednarek was ecstatic that his dominant performances secured him the Slam championship title in Kingston.

“I said I wanted to dominate, and that’s what I did. I came out and made 100K. Happy about that. This is a big moment and this is going to change the sport. If we do our part, Grand Slam is going to do theirs. This is a life-changing moment,” he said.

Reigning Olympic 200m champion Gabby Thomas faced a more challenging path, with a personal best of 49.14 in the 400m, which earned her second place, to clinch the Women’s Long Sprints Race Group.

Bahrain’s Salwa Eid Naser won the race in a world-leading 48.67, but Thomas’s consistency, combined with her 200m victory, sealed the Slam title.

“This was an important meet for me. Grand Slam is huge in track and field, and I heard the announcer the entire way that the 100K was on the line, so l had to fight tooth and nail for that.”

Earlier, Matthew Hudson-Smith of Great Britain and Diribe Welteji of Ethiopia became the first-ever Slam Champions in the new league founded by Olympic legend Michael Johnson.

Hudson-Smith clocked 20.77 in the 200m, securing the Men’s Long Sprints Race Group. Welteji won the Women’s Short Distance Race Group thanks to a 1500m victory in a time of 4:04.51, narrowly out-pacing America’s Nikki Hiltz.