By Chris Chavez
October 17, 2024
Roshawn Clarke and Ackera Nugent become the first two Jamaican athletes to sign on as Racers for Grand Slam Track ahead of the professional league’s inaugural season in 2025.
Roshawn Clarke Joins The 400m/400m Hurdles Group
– At just 20 years old, Clarke is one of Jamaica’s rising talents in the 400m hurdles. He was fourth at the 2023 World Championships in Budapest and competed at his first Olympic Games this past summer. He crashed out of the Olympic final after clipping the penultimate barrier. He finished the 2024 season with a season’s best of 47.49 from his victory at the Zurich Diamond League. He was fifth in the Diamond League final.
– His personal best of 47.34 from last year’s World Championships is the Jamaican national record and the U20 world record.
– Clarke will compete in the long hurdles category that contests the 400m and 400m hurdles at each respective Slam. He owns a personal best of 45.24 seconds.
– Clarke joins Olympic bronze medalist Alison dos Santos and French star Clement Ducos in the long hurdles category.
Kevin Morris / @kevmofoto
Ackera Nugent Completes The Short Hurdles Racers Group
– Nugent will be the fourth Racer and joins Olympic medalists Masai Russell, Cyrena Samba Mayela and Jasmine Camacho-Quinn as the core stars that will contest the 100m/100m hurdles at all four Slams.
– Nugent crashed out of the 100m hurdles Olympic final in Paris after hitting the first hurdle and never managing to recover. She closed the year with five podium finishes at the remaining Diamond League meets, including victories at the Silesia and Rome Diamond League. She was third in the Diamond League final in Brussels.
– Nugent shattered the Jamaican 100m hurdles record with a 12.28 win at the Jamaican Olympic Trials in late June. She lowered it to 12.24 at the Rome Diamond League on Aug. 30th.
– Nugent was a three-time NCAA champion while at Arkansas. She also won gold at the 2021 World Junior Championships. She was fifth at the 2023 World Championships.
Kevin Morris / @kevmofoto
What They Had To Say:
Nugent via press release: “For me, it’s all about growth. I’m constantly looking for ways to get better, and Grand Slam Track gives me the platform to do just that. Racing at this level, over and over, against the best in the world, is what I’ve always wanted, and I’m ready to see how much more I can achieve.”
Clarke via press release: “I like the idea of Grand Slam Track because it changes how things usually are in track. I’m ready to jump into this and compete against the best while testing myself. This league gives me that chance. Racing in all four Slams means I’ll have the opportunity to show what I can really do.”
Kevin Morris / @kevmofoto
Who Else Has Signed With Grand Slam Track Thus Far:
– Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone (June 18th)
– Josh Kerr (June 27th)
– Cole Hocker and Yared Nuguse (Sept. 4th)
– Fred Kerley and Kenny Bednarek (Sept. 12th)
– Melissa Jefferson (Sept. 19th)
– Masai Russell, Cyrena Samba Mayela and Jasmine Camacho-Quinn (Sept. 25th)
– Alison Dos Santos and Clément Ducos (Sept. 26th)
– Muzala Samukonga (Sept. 26th)
– Quincy Hall and Matthew Hudson-Smith (Oct. 10th)
– Nikki Hiltz (Oct. 15th)
– Grant Fisher and Ronald Kwemoi (Oct. 15th)
___________________
Keep up with all things track and field by following us across Instagram, X, and YouTube. Catch the latest episodes of the CITIUS MAG Podcast on Spotify and Apple Podcasts. For more, subscribe to The Lap Count and CITIUS MAG Newsletter for the top running news delivered straight to your inbox.
Chris Chavez
Chris Chavez launched CITIUS MAG in 2016 as a passion project while working full-time for Sports Illustrated. He covered the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro and grew his humble blog into a multi-pronged media company. He completed all six World Marathon Majors and is an aspiring sub-five-minute miler.
