Canadian middle-distance star Marco Arop placed seventh in the 1,500 metres on Friday in Miramar, Florida, clocking 3:35.95 in just his third career race over the distance. Great Britain’s Josh Kerr won the race with a time of 3:34.51, followed closely by Americans Yared Nuguse (3:34.65) and Cole Hocker (3:34.79). Arop, who previously won the 800m and finished sixth in the 1,500m at last month’s Grand Slam debut in Jamaica, now sits in contention in the men’s short distance competition despite the absence of group leader Emmanuel Wanyonyi.
Meanwhile, Canadian sprinters Andre De Grasse and Jerome Blake are set to make their Grand Slam Track debuts this weekend. Their 100m race takes place Saturday at 6:53 p.m. ET, with the 200m closing the meet on Sunday at 5:21 p.m. ET, streamed live on CBCSports.ca. They will face off against Kenny Bednarek, the reigning group leader and back-to-back Olympic 200m silver medallist.
The weekend meet took an unexpected turn with the arrest of American sprinter Fred Kerley. The Olympic 100m silver and bronze medallist was charged with touch or strike battery following an altercation at the meet hotel. Kerley, who was scheduled to run the 100m and 200m, will not compete. The Broward County Sheriff’s Office is investigating, and Grand Slam Track declined further comment.
The Grand Slam Track circuit, founded by Olympic legend Michael Johnson, serves as a new rival to the Diamond League, offering a fresh format with four high-profile meets in 2025.
Source: Swifteradio.com
