YARD VIBES
YARD VIBES . New additions Seville, Pryce eager to impress in Grand Slam Track
The Jamaica Observer
SEVILLE ...I have always known that to be the best you have to compete with the best, and the opportunity to do that in Grand Slam Track is exactly what I have been preparing for Naphtali Junior

STANDOUT Jamaican sprinters Oblique Seville and Nickisha Pryce have expressed their excitement about competing in front of their home fans at Grand Slam Track’s curtain-raiser inside the National Stadium in Kingston in April 2025, after both were confirmed as the latest Jamaicans to join the roster for the highly anticipated event.

Seville and Pryce, who will be among those carrying Jamaica’s hopes at the 2025 World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, Japan, have joined compatriots Ackera Nugent, Rushell Clayton, and Roshawn Clarke in the four-stop series that will also include top global figures such as Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, Fred Kerley, Kenny Bednarek, Alison Dos Santos and Marileidy Paulino among others.

Grand Slam Track, founded by four-time Olympic Champion Michael Johnson, will kick off in Kingston, Jamaica, in April 2025 and continue in Miami, Philadelphia, and Los Angeles.

The 23-year-old Seville, who is coached by Glen Mills at Racers Track Club, was expected to medal at the Paris Olympic Games in August, but finished a disappointing eighth.

He believes Grand Slam Track will provide an excellent opportunity to test his speed and endurance against some of the world’s best athletes.

“I have always known that to be the best you have to compete with the best, and the opportunity to do that in Grand Slam Track is exactly what I have been preparing for,” said Seville. “The races in this series will be a perfect platform to test my speed, consistency, and ability to perform under pressure.”

Seville is one of Jamaica’s top male sprinters with a personal best time of 9.81 seconds in the Men’s 100m.

“I’m excited to show the world that I can compete at the highest level. The challenge of Grand Slam Track excites me because it’s more than just about personal success — it’s about competing at the pinnacle of the sport and pushing the limits of what’s possible,” Seville added.

Pryce, 23, is the 2024 NCAA champion and national record holder, having set Jamaica’s 400m record at an impressive 48.57 seconds earlier this year. However, she also suffered a major disappointment at the Olympic Games when she failed to make the semi-finals due to illness. Despite this setback, Pryce says she is now focused on delivering a great performance at the meet.

“I am feeling good knowing that this is the first time this event will be held and [that] I will be competing in it,” said Pryce. “The preparations have been going well, and I just want to stay healthy and be ready for every race.”

“It will be great coming back to compete at home in front of my friends and family. I just want to achieve a personal best but since this is the first time, let’s see what happens,” she added.

Pryce, who graduated from University of Arkansas earlier this year, acknowledged that Grand Slam Track will be challenging, but added that she is now more focused, after completing her studies.

“This is another step for me — knowing that I am a professional athlete and I’m not in school anymore — so I am more focused,” she said. “I know it’s going to be tough, because these are great athletes, so I’m going to give it my best.”

Meanwhile, Johnson said in a media release that he welcomes both athletes to the Grand Slam family.

“Grand Slam Track is creating a platform where the best of the best come together to push the limits of speed and endurance,” said Johnson. “The level of competition this league is attracting is unmatched, and with incredible athletes like Nickisha and Oblique joining the roster, fans are in for an unforgettable experience.”

“From Kingston to Miami, Philadelphia, and Los Angeles, we are bringing the ultimate festival of speed to the fans, and I can’t wait to see what all of our racers will accomplish as they take on the world’s top competition. We’re delighted to welcome Nickisha and Oblique into the Grand Slam Track family,” Johnson added.

A total of 48 athletes will be named as Grand Slam Track Racers each year. The remaining 48 athletes will be designated as Grand Slam Track Challengers, competing in individual slams for a set appearance fee. The Challengers will be selected by the Grand Slam Track Racing Committee,based on a combination of factors, including recent performances and intriguing athlete matchups.

Racers and Challengers will compete in one of the following categories, racing in two events during each slam: short sprints (100m/200m), short hurdles (100H or 110H/100m), long sprints (200m/400m), long hurdles (400H/400m), short distance (800m/1500m), or long distance (3000m/5000m). The winner of each slam group will take home US$100,000 in prize money while the eighth-place competitor will earn US$10,000.

Grand Slam Track will award a total of US$12.6 million in prize money across the slams each year, in addition to the base compensation and appearance fees paid to racers. All racers will compete twice over the three-day event, and all slam events will adhere to World Athletics regulations, with achieved marks being eligible for rankings and standards.

The Kingston leg of Grand Slam Track will take place April 4-6 at the National Stadium.
Jamaica
https://www.jamaicaobserver.com/jamaicaobserver/news/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2024/12/0d7a8ebdbe0e8f933034af044e53921f.jpg
https://www.jamaicaobserver.com/2024/12/10/yard-vibes-20241210-0210-019653/
2024-12-10
rss
New additions Seville, Pryce eager to impress in Grand Slam Track
YARD VIBES