Gabby Thomas Starts $100K Chase With A Bang

April 05, 2025

Apr 5, 2025 | Edition #110

👋 Hey, Speedsters!

It’s Grand Slam Track time. And what better way to start than with some Team USA domination! Right from Olympic heroes dominating to a young star emerging in the quarter mile, it was fab. The stands weren’t packed, but the energy? It. Was. Off. The. Charts!

Stay locked in—we’ve got the best track action coming your way! 🔥

📈 Trending News

Gabby’s Golden Glow In The Land Of Her Roots!

 

Gabby Thomas came and conquered. No, it wasn’t to be easy. And rightly so. Not with Marileidy Paulino, Dina Asher-Smith, and Salwa Eid Naser on the start list. Gabby knew it. We knew it. “It’s going to be a hard race,” she admitted. But champions don’t flinch. They rise. After all, Gabby is a 3x Olympic champ for a reason! Now she got a first after leaving her rivals playing catch-up.

Not just first place, but her 22.62 run saw her become Grand Slam Track’s first champion. Paulino—0.31 seconds behind. Asher-Smith—Settling for bronze. And Gabby? Sitting pretty with 12 big points and a head start toward that $100,000 jackpot! There seemed to be no doubt about that, especially after the turn. Watch Gabby Thomas’s insane sprint here! But this magical run wasn’t just any victory —

It was a homecoming. Gabby, an American on the land of her grandfather’s roots, wasn’t met as a rival. She was met with love. The crowd cheered. Fans rushed for selfies. And for Gabby, it meant something. "This is actually my first time actually competing in Kingston, Jamaica, so it meant a lot to me." Her family in the stands added the cherry on top. "I have at least 10 people who are personally here for me, which is really exciting.” So yes, Gabby won the points, the race, and Jamaican hearts!

📰 Top Stories of Today

💌 Ignoring Grand Slam Track? Sha’Carri Richardson drops a playful message featuring her boyfriend, Christian Coleman! - Full Story

😲 â€œIn America, we are fighting in different rooms”: Olympic medalist Fred Kerley makes a bold track & field confession! - Full Story

🏃‍♀️ Where’s the crowd? Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone & Gabby Thomas face empty stands as Grand Slam Track sparks debate! - Full Story

🌟 Rivals no more. Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone pays heartfelt tribute to Dalilah Muhammad on her retirement! - Full Story

⚔️ Tara Davis-Woodhall throws subtle shade at Grand Slam Track’s big debut! - Full Story 

See what else is trending in the world of track & field - Click here

🌟 Track Stories

Grand Slam Track Domination Too Easy for Sydney?

Well, folks, we might need to call in a referee. No, seriously. Is anyone even in the same league? It’s just too easy! Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone runs, and Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone wins. It’s like Eat. Sleep. Sprint and win. Repeat. Olympics. Check. World Championships. Check. And now, GST.

Sydney’s return to hurdles after 8 months was a coronation. In her first-ever race outside the U.S. before May, she clocked 52.76. Her reaction to setting the fastest hurdles time in April? A casual “Just shaking the cobwebs off.” Imagine being so dominant that setting a world lead feels like a warm-up jog. Watch her unmatched GST dominance.

Now, let’s talk about Dalilah Muhammad. This was supposed to be her moment—a high-stakes season opener in what could be her farewell tour. Instead, she watched Sydney take the win and crossed the line two full seconds behind her. Their head-to-head is now 8-6, and the gap is only getting wider. At 6-6, they faced off in the Olympic Trials, where Sydney broke a world record and Dalilah took 6th. If there was ever a shot at revenge, this was it. But it didn’t happen.

Is Sydney stacking up wins too easily? Due to the race groups, she won’t be squaring off against flat 400m stars like Gabby Thomas or Marileidy Paulino. Instead, she’ll race the same 400m hurdlers on Sunday—most of whom haven’t even cracked 51 seconds in an open 400m. Meanwhile, Sydney’s best? 48.74. So yeah, her “Racer of The Year” points are racking up with ease. So…Is anyone really going to challenge her?

📊 POLL OF THE DAY

Who Do You Think Will Take Home The $100K Prize At The Grand Slam Track Kingston?

Login or Subscribe to participate in polls.

Last Poll Result: We asked, “Which Female Athlete Had the Fastest 100m Time in 2024?”—and the results are in! 37% of you backed Julien Alfred—and you got it right! 🏆 Alfred sprinted to victory at the Paris 2024 Olympics, clinching gold with a 10.72-second finish, marking the fastest women's 100m time of the year.

And now, as promised! Congratulations to Cecelia O. Hendrickson for picking the right answer! To our readers, stay tuned for more fun polls, and vote for your chance to get featured next!

🏅Beyond the Medals

Sponsor and World Lead: Chris Bailey Got It ALL!

A Star Is Born! 24-year-old American, Christopher Bailey, flexed his biceps and stared straight into the camera after his 44.34-second stunner. The first challenger to win a race at the GST was living a moment he rightfully earned. Quite the outdoor season opener, you'd say! Well, yeah. Bailey came from behind, took the lead from Paris silver medalist Matthew Hudson-Smith, and did not look back. By the time they crossed the finish line, the scoreboard read:

  • 🏆 Bailey - 44.34 (World Lead)

  • 🥈 Hudson-Smith - 44.65

  • 🥉 Vernon Norwood - 44.70

You see that World Lead? It wasn’t just set. Bayapo Ndori’s 44.59 was obliterated by 0.25. Gone in 44.34 seconds. Gone. Just like that. Missed it? No worries. You can watch Bailey’s blistering 400m run here! Are we even surprised? Not really. The guy has been ripping through the indoor season, and the proof is in the receipts:

  • February – Torched a world #6 all-time 400m at the Tyson Invitational.

  • March – World Indoor Champion with a 45.08.

  • March – Anchored Team USA to a 4x400m relay gold, breaking a nine-year drought.

Bailey says his indoor spree gave him an edge. While everyone else was shaking off the rust, he showed up locked in and ready to dominate. And then, just when you thought the night couldn’t get any better—Bailey rolls up in a Nike singlet. Turns out, his sponsorship deal with Nike just went through. “It happened this weekend,” he said. And the feeling? “A huge relief.” So, let’s recap:

A world lead. A Nike deal. And a statement race to kick off the season! WOW!

That’s it for today, folks! We’ll look to knock on your inbox soon with more interesting stories!

💌 FEEDBACK

How Did You Enjoy Today’s Newsletter?

Login or Subscribe to participate in polls.