McLaughlin-Levrone takes final Grand Slam Track prize

Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone crosses the finish line in first place in the women's 400m hurdles during the Grand Slam Track competition at the National Stadium in KingstonGetty Images

Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone is the 400m hurdles world record holder

Michael Short
BBC Sport Senior Journalist

Double Olympic champion Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone won the 400m to bring to a close the inaugural Grand Slam Track meeting in Kingston, Jamaica.

The 25-year-old American followed up Friday's win in the 400m hurdles - an event for which she holds the world record – to take victory in the format's long hurdles group and win the $100,000 (£77,610) top prize.

Grand Slam Track is a new competition which aims to bring the world's fastest athletes together for four three-day events each year, with lucrative prizes on offer.

It is the brainchild of former US sprinter Michael Johnson, who says he wants to generate more interest in the sport.

Athletes race in two events across the three days and their combined results determine the champion in each category - and the $100,000 winner's prize.

The categories are:

  • Short sprints (100m and 200m)

  • Short hurdles (100m hurdles for women, 110m hurdles for men, plus 100m for both)

  • Long sprints (200m and 400m)

  • Long hurdles (400m hurdles and 400m)

  • Short distance (800m and 1500m)

  • Long distance (3,000m and 5,000m)

Both of the 'hurdles' categories include one flat race.

Melissa Jefferson-Wooden emulated compatriot McLaughlin-Levrone by making it a clean sweep in the women's short sprints, while Alison dos Santos won the men's long hurdles title with victory in the 400m.

France's Sasha Zhoya took the men's short hurdles with Jamaica's Danielle Williams winning the women's event.

The men's short distance category - which featured Olympic 1500m champion Cole Hocker and Britain's world champion Josh Kerr - went to Kenya's Olympic 800m champion Emmanuel Wanyonyi. He came second in the 800m behind Canada's Marco Arop on Sunday but won Saturday's 1500m.

In Saturday's races, Britain's Matthew Hudson-Smith won the 200m to top the long sprints category, following his second place in Friday's 400m.

The next Grand Slam Track takes place in Miami on 2-4 May.

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