“I’m looking forward to testing my limits, improving my performance, and putting on a show for the fans.” These were the words of Kenny Bednarek when he signed for Grand Slam Track in September 2024. And oh boy! Did he disappoint? Well, not even for a second! His shenanigans at GST were a complete showstopper. On April 4, he lined up against big names such as Fred Kerley, Oblique Seville, and Zharnel Hughes in the 100m. In a photofinish, he clinched first position by clocking 10.8s, just 0.01s ahead of Oblique. But was Kenny Bednarek done? Not yet! The very next day, he lined up against the same lineup, but this time for 200m. And the result? He again finished first by clocking in at 20.07 and thus becoming the first men’s short sprint Slam Champion. P.S.: He also pocketed $100K. And now he has quite a bit to say!

Bednarek’s performance wasn’t just about the wins, but it was a statement to his rivals. “I told you I was going to dominate. I told you I was gonna have fun. And I told you I was going to win,” Bednarek declared in his X post on April 8, 2025, reflecting on his six-figure victory. But what makes this win so special for Bednarek, and whom did he thank for standing by him on this journey?

Beyond the track, Bednarek’s victory was a moment of gratitude and recognition for the platform GST provides, a series he believes is revolutionizing the sport. In his X post, he shared, “Thank you, Grand Slam Track. Thank you, Kingston. And thank you to my family, friends, and fans for supporting me on this journey.” He also gave a shout-out to the series’ founder, saying, “@MJGold has created something special – this series is raising the bar for athletes, for fans, and for the sport.”

Furthermore, Bednarek shared his experience at the Kingston event, stating, “I’ve never been to a meet where my experience and my brand were respected at this level.” The Kingston meet was the first stop in a four-part series that also includes Los Angeles, Miami, and Philadelphia. Bednarek earned 12 points for each of his wins in Kingston, following the GST scoring system, which awards points to the top eight finishers (12, 8, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1). This strong performance positions him as a leading athlete in the early stages of the race for the Racer of the Year title.

Also, he topped the men’s dominance chart by scoring 48.50. Following his strong start, the question now is how Bednarek will maintain this momentum as the series progresses. Fans are certainly eager to see what’s next for ‘Kung Fu Kenny,’ who has already expressed his determined focus on the upcoming events. As he posted on X, “This is just the beginning. More Slams on the way, and you can bet I’ll be training harder, stacking points, and chasing that bag. See you in Miami. @GrandSlamTrack.” This statement clearly indicates his intentions as he looks ahead to the next leg of the series. With three more GST competitions ahead, with Miami as the next stop, which he has set his sights on, Bednarek’s performance in Kingston serves as a notable indicator for his competitors. But Kenny wasn’t the only performer.

Stellar performances weren’t limited to Kenny, as others also shone

While Kenny Bednarek stole the headlines with his Short Sprints sweep at the Grand Slam Track (GST) Kingston meet on April 5-6, 2025, he wasn’t the only star lighting up the track in Jamaica. Gabby Thomas, the Olympic 200m bronze medalist, dominated the Women’s Long Sprints group, taking the 200m with a blazing 22.08-second run and placing second in 400m with a 49.14 run, just enough to pocket $100K.

Meanwhile, Matthew Hudson-Smith, the British 400m specialist, claimed the Men Long Sprints category with a 44.65-second 400m, proving the depth of talent in this new GST series founded by Michael Johnson. With 48 “Grand Slam Racers” competing across six race groups—three for men and three for women—alongside event-specific “Challengers,” Kingston was a showcase of global track excellence. But who else made waves in the other categories during this electrifying weekend?

In the hurdles, Tia Jones won the Women’s Short Hurdles with a 12.63-second 100m hurdles performance, while Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, the Olympic 400m hurdles world record holder, took the Long Hurdles in 52.76 seconds. On the men’s side, Emmanuel Wanyonyi stunned in the Short Distance group, winning the 1500m in 3:35.18, a race highlighted as a defining moment of GST’s debut.

Each winner in a race earned 12 points toward the $100K Racer of the Year prize, per the GST website, setting up a fierce year-long battle. With the next stop in Miami on May 2-4, can these champions keep their momentum going, or will new contenders emerge to shake up the leaderboard?