Jereem Richards of Trinidad and Tobago competes in the Men’s 400m final on day twelve of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 at Stade de France on Aug. 7, 2024 in Paris, France.
Photo by Steve Christo – Corbis/Corbis via Getty Images
Trinidad and Tobago’s Jereem Richards was crowned overall long-sprints champion after two magnificent performances at the Grand Slam Track, Miami.
At the Ansin Sports Complex, Richards ran a blistering 19.86 to clinch a sensational win and world-leading men’s 200m event on May 2, followed by second place in the men’s 400m on May 3.
American Jacory Patterson took first place in the 400m event with a world-leading 43.98 seconds. He earned 12 points for the victory.
Richards was behind in 44.32 seconds with eight points, while Great Britain’s Matthew Hudson-Smith came third in 44.37 with six points.
Richards’ performances in the two events earned him 20 points, ahead of Patterson, who scored 15, and the Dominican Republic’s Alexander Ogando, who scored 12.
With each category winner earning US$100,000, Richards has his eyes on the prize with two more stops in the inaugural Grand Slam Track in Philadelphia on May 30-June 1 and Los Angeles on June 27-29. The opening event was held in Jamaica on April 4-6.
As Richards spoke to Grand Slam Track founder and sprint legend Michael Johnson, a confident Richards said, “They are not beating me. Bring anybody, bring anybody. Once I’m healthy, they will not beat me.”
“Yuh never hear me say anything like that before, but once I healthy, they not beating me. One hundred thousand dollars, and I’m driving home in a Lambo (Lamborghini).
“No, no, no. I’m saving. I’m investing my money as a responsible young man. I have a family, and then I’ll buy the Lambo,” Richards chuckled.
