Kenya’s leading track stars are ready to shine at the inaugural Grand Slam Track Meet this weekend in Kingston, Jamaica.
This high-stakes event features intense battles in middle and long-distance races, with Kenya’s athletes prepared to challenge the world’s best.
Leading Kenya’s charge is 800m world champion Mary Moraa, whose explosive speed and charismatic racing style make her a fan favorite wherever she competes.
She joins Olympic silver medalist Kwemoi and 10km record holder Ng’etich, both classified as “seasoned racers” in the Grand Slam Track format.
The Kenyan challengers are equally formidable, featuring Olympic 800m champion Emmanuel Wanyonyi, Paris 2024 1500m finalist Susan Ejore, and 2025 10km road race winner Hellen Ekalale , a squad depth that underscores Kenya’s enduring dominance in running.
The competition format guarantees fireworks, with each athlete racing twice across the three-day meet in a points-based system.
Wanyonyi will face the most intriguing double challenge, taking on world 1500m champion Josh Kerr of Britain and Canada’s 800m king Marco Arop in a rare middle-distance showdown. American stars Yared Nuguse and Cole Hocker add further depth to what promises to be a tactical masterclass in both the 800m and 1500m events.
Ng’etich’s transition from road to track will be tested against a world-class 3000m/5000m field including Ethiopia’s Tsige Gebreselama, Japan’s Nozomi Tanaka, and Britain’s Melissa Courtney-Bryant.
Meanwhile, Moraa’s early-season form gets a stern examination against Ethiopia’s Diribe Welteji, Australia’s Jess Hull, and Jamaican record holder Natoya Goule-Toppin, matchups that could preview potential clashes at this summer’s World Championships.
Each category winner will take home $100,000 (KSh 12.925,000. million), with prize money extending to the top eight finishers.
After Kingston’s opening leg, the Grand Slam Track circuit moves to Miami in May 2-4, Philadelphia from May 30-June 1, and concludes in Los Angeles June 27-29.