Kingston, Jamaica, is set to come alive on April 4th, 2025, as the Grand Slam Track Series takes centre stage at the National Stadium where some of the world's fastest athletes will go head-to-head for record prize money.
Reigning World 100m hurdles champion Danielle Williams will be one of the headline acts, and she's excited to put on a show for her home crowd. The two-time world champion was among six Jamaicans named as Challengers for the series that will also have meets in Miami, Philadelphia and Los Angeles.
The other Jamaicans selected include Olympic semi-finalist Malik James-King, Olympic gold medalist Hansle Parchment, World U20 100m gold medalist Alana Reid, Olympic 110m hurdles finalist Orlando Bennett and Olympic 400m hurdles finalist Shian Salmon.
Williams said she can't wait to take on her rivals in Jamaica's 60-year-old stadium.
"I'm looking forward to another opportunity to race, especially in front of home fans," Williams shared with SportsMax.TV. "I'm hoping the fans come out and pack the stadium and show their passion."
As the reigning World Champion from Budapest 2023, Williams is no stranger to performing under pressure. Her training schedule has been carefully crafted to ensure she peaks at the right moment, and every competition leading up to the World Championships in September is an opportunity to fine-tune her skills.
"My training schedule is geared towards the World Championships in September, and every meet leading up to that is an opportunity to try to transfer what I'm working on in training to competition," Williams explained.
The Grand Slam Track Series marks a new era in track and field, and Williams is optimistic about its potential.
"It presents an opportunity to race the best athletes consistently, as well as the chance to earn more," she said. Williams hopes the series will not only benefit athletes but it also brings more attention to the sport. "I'm hoping that its format will bring more eyes to the sport and will gain more popularity among the mainstream media. Track is exciting, and hopefully, this series will showcase that."
With her sights set on defending her title in Tokyo this September, Williams will be looking to use the Grand Slam Track Series as a springboard to propel. The electric atmosphere in Kingston will undoubtedly play a role in motivating her to deliver a top-notch performance.
Williams will face fellow Jamaican Ackera Nugent, who has been signed as a Racer for the series. Nugent, the fastest woman in the world over the 100m hurdles in 2024, on Thursday ran a world-leading time of 7.75 to win in France.