British sprint star Daryll Neita can’t wait to line up at Kingston’s National Stadium for the opening leg of the inaugural Grand Slam Track series from April 4–6, calling the opportunity “very special” and one that feels “close to home.”
With Jamaican heritage through her mother’s side of the family, Neita is eagerly anticipating her first senior-level competition on the island—one that promises to blend high-stakes competition with deep personal meaning.
“I am so excited to race in Jamaica,” Neita told Athletics Weekly. “It’s somewhere I’ve always wanted to race. I’ve got family in Jamaica, so it would be amazing for them—not just to watch me on television like they usually do—but to actually see me in person. That would be really special.”
Neita, who is part of the star-studded cast for Grand Slam Track, said the buzz around the new series has her and her fellow athletes fired up. The format will see top athletes compete in multiple cities, building storylines and rivalries over several weeks—something she believes will keep fans engaged.
“We don’t know exactly how it’s going to be because we haven’t seen it before,” she said. “But that’s what makes it exciting. There’s an unknown element that gives it momentum. People will be able to watch the same athletes go head-to-head week in, week out, and I think that’s going to create great storytelling.”
But for Neita, the Jamaican leg of the series holds unique significance beyond just the competition. From the culture and food to the music and energy of the crowd, she’s ready to embrace the island’s world-famous track and field vibe.
“Jamaica just always has that vibe—whether it’s the food, the music, the culture, or just the atmosphere of the meet itself,” she said. “Whenever I watch Jamaican meets, they just look incredible. The energy in that stadium… I can’t wait to feel it.”
Opening her season in Kingston, she admits, brings a special kind of motivation.
“It honestly feels really special to be opening my season there,” she said. “In a way, it feels close to home.”
Neita, a 2021 Olympic finalist and European Championships bronze medallist over 100m, has been steadily climbing the ranks of world sprinting. With Grand Slam Track set to elevate the sport’s profile and bring elite racing to new audiences, she’s more than ready to deliver a performance that both her British and Jamaican families can be proud of.