Category: Track and field

 

Favour Ofili at the Grand Slam Track

Nigeria’s Star Girl Favour Ofili made her long-awaited debut at the Grand Slam Track in Miami and earned herself a whooping sum of $25,000.

Sprint sensation Favour Ofili made history at the Grand Slam Track in Miami, becoming the first Nigerian athlete to compete at the prestigious meet and going home with a whooping amount of ₦40 million.

 

The track star secured her prize after finishing fourth in the women’s 200m event in a Season’s Best time of 22.27s.

 

 

Favour Ofili made her debut at the Grand Slam Track in Miami

Olympic champion Gabby Thomas expectedly won the race in 21.95s, ahead of in-form Tamari Davis in a Personal Best (PB) of 22.05s, and Melissa Jefferson also clocked a PB of 22.17s.

 

Ofili’s 200m position finish and her third place in the 100m on Day 1 of the meet, accumulated points were good enough for fourth place overall and earned the prize of $25,000 – equivalent to ₦ 40 million.

 

‘I want to be one of the greatest to do the sport’ – Melissa Jefferson-Wooden makes bold statement following brilliant 100m run in Miami

‘I want to be one of the greatest to do the sport’ – Melissa Jefferson-Wooden makes bold statement following brilliant 100m run in Miami

Meanwhile, Jefferson became the Grand Slam Champion for the second consecutive meet, having won the 100m and finished third in the 200m. She knicked Thomas to the title by just a point, who finished fourth in the 100m, while Davis was third overall for second-place finishes in both events.

 

Jefferson bagged the mouthwatering sum of $100,000 as the winner, Thomas – $50,000 in second, and Davis – $30,000 for third.

 

Ofili will hope she’s recalled for the third meet in Philadelphia, where she’ll gun to improve her position finish and earn more money ahead of the World Championships in Tokyo this summer.

 

Passing the Torch: Jayden Horton-Mims takes over U.S. No. 1 in 400m, but Quincy Wilson’s star still burns bright.

 

Apr 5, 2025; Gainesville, FL, USA; Tywan Cox of Miami Northwestern (left) defeats Quincy Wilson of Bullis on the anchor of the boys 4 x 400m relay, 3:08.74 to 3:09.97, during the Florida Relays at James G. Pressly Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

Apr 5, 2025; Gainesville, FL, USA; Tywan Cox of Miami Northwestern (left) defeats Quincy Wilson of Bullis on the anchor of the boys 4 x 400m relay, 3:08.74 to 3:09.97, during the Florida Relays at James G. Pressly Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images / Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

In a season already filled with historic performances, jaw-dropping splits, and national records falling like dominoes, another headline just etched itself into the ever-evolving narrative of high school sprinting greatness.

 

On a brisk spring afternoon, Jayden Horton-Mims blazed a 45.24-second 400-meter dash to leap into the No. 1 spot in the United States, overtaking none other than Quincy Wilson — the Olympic gold medalist and teen phenom who has captured the hearts of fans across the country.

 

While Jayden’s performance deserves every bit of the spotlight, the moment doesn’t come without reflection on what Quincy Wilson has done to elevate the standard. These two titans, each remarkable in their own right, are now linked in the story of one of the most competitive 400m seasons in U.S. high school history.

 

Jayden Horton-Mims: The Statement Performance

Let’s start with what just happened.

 

Jayden Horton-Mims, already a rising force in sprint circles, went head-to-head with national sensation Quincy Wilson and came out on top in one of the most electric 400-meter showdowns of the season.

 

In a race that felt more like a championship final than a regular-season clash, Horton-Mims battled stride for stride with Wilson through the curve before surging ahead down the homestretch. Crossing the line in a personal best of 45.24 seconds, Horton-Mims didn’t just win—he dethroned the reigning U.S. No. 1, resetting the national standard and proving he belongs in the same breath as one of the most celebrated young sprinters in the country.

 

It wasn’t just the time that it was how it was run. Horton-Mims attacked the curve aggressively, gliding down the backstretch with smooth efficiency and transitioning into the final 150 meters like a seasoned pro. His form never broke, his pace never faltered. By the time he entered the homestretch, the race was about keeping the focus on his technique as Quincy Wilson was right on his tail.

 

And then came the clock: 45.24.

 

A new U.S. No. 1. A new chapter for the Nike Elite Athlete and former Imhotep Charter Panther, who is now competing for the Center of Education (NJ). But what makes this moment special isn’t just that Jayden took the No. 1 ranking—it’s who he took it from.

 

Quincy Wilson: Still the Benchmark

To understand the magnitude of Jayden Horton-Mims’ feat, you have to understand who Quincy Wilson is.

 

At just 17 years old, Wilson has already amassed a résumé that most athletes dream of. He made Olympic history in Paris as the youngest male athlete to win gold in track and field since 1928. He’s a national champion, a record-holder, and the kind of athlete whose mere presence on a heat sheet causes everyone else to step up.

 

Earlier this season, Wilson torched a 45.13 indoor 400m—a national record—and followed it up with blistering relay legs that have become the stuff of legend. Just a week ago, he anchored the Bullis School 4x400m to a national record at the Penn Relays, splitting an absurd 43.99 seconds. He’s already established himself as a once-in-a-generation talent.

 

So when a performance comes along that surpasses Wilson’s, it doesn’t diminish him. It raises the bar for everyone—including himself.

 

This is not the story of a fallen star. It’s the story of healthy, elite-level competition pushing both athletes to greatness. And it’s a reflection of Wilson’s influence that Jayden Horton-Mims had to reach this level to even join the conversation.

 

Let’s be clear: Quincy Wilson’s season is far from over. He still holds the fastest indoor mark ever by a high schooler and remains a favorite in every race he enters. The U.S. No. 2 tag doesn’t feel like a step down, but more so fuel for what’s next. If history tells us anything, it’s that Wilson is going to answer.

 

Iron Sharpens Iron: The Beauty of Competition

There’s a reason why fans love rivalries, and while Horton-Mims and Wilson aren’t in a direct rivalry in the traditional sense, their paths are now intertwined in the purest form of competitive excellence.

 

Track and field is an individual sport, but no athlete reaches their peak in isolation. Jayden’s surge is a direct response to the standard Wilson has set. And if you’ve watched Quincy Wilson race—even once—you know he thrives on being challenged.

 

We’re now entering a stretch of the season where these two could very well meet on the track. Whether it’s at New Balance Nationals, Nike Nationals, or even the U.S. U20 Championships, the possibility of Horton-Mims vs. Wilson is tantalizing. Imagine two sub-45 second talents pushing each other down the homestretch with national and possibly world junior records in sight.

 

And let’s not forget, both athletes are just getting started.

 

The Legacy of the Lap

In the last decade, we’ve seen the high school 400 meters slowly evolve. Athletes like Tyrese Cooper, Elija Godwin, Justin Robinson, and Sean Burrell set the tone. But it’s Wilson, and now Horton-Mims who are redefining what’s possible at the high school level.

 

For years, a sub-46 performance was rare air. Now, we’re seeing not just one, but multiple athletes making it look routine as the top 7 in the US are below this mark. And what’s more—these guys aren’t just 400-meter specialists. They’re anchoring relays, doubling in the 200m, and dominating across the board.

 

Jayden Horton-Mims may have the title of U.S. No. 1—for now—but Quincy Wilson has helped create the platform on which this title holds value.

 

 

As the outdoor season heats up, fans should brace for fireworks. Horton-Mims will carry the weight of being the nation’s fastest into every meet. But with that comes the target on his back—and no one is better equipped to aim at that target than Wilson.

 

Could we see a new national record before the season’s end? Absolutely. Could it come from either of these two? Without a doubt.

 

What we’re witnessing isn’t just fast times. It’s the emergence of a generation of sprinters who refuse to settle. Jayden’s 45.24 may be the top mark today, but with Wilson in the picture—and others like Da’Mari Thomas, Nyckoles Harbor, and Rodrick Pleasant looming—tomorrow is never guaranteed.

 

And that’s the beauty of it all.

 

Final Thoughts

Jayden Horton-Mims’ 45.24 is a milestone—a bold statement in an already blazing season. He deserves every accolade coming his way. It’s a defining moment that will live in highlight reels and social feeds for years to come.

 

But let’s not forget the foundation laid by Quincy Wilson. The times he’s posted. The records he’s broken. The excitement he’s brought to the sport. Even in a moment where he’s been passed, his legacy is being extended—not erased.

 

In many ways, this isn’t a baton handoff but a relay in motion.

 

And the next leg might be the fastest one yet.

 

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Miramar, Florida – Eight champions were crowned on the final day of the Miami Grand Slam Track meeting on Sunday, May 4, 2025.

 

Olympic silver medallist Bednarek, having sewn up the 100m on Saturday, returned to his 200m specialty to wrap up the sprint double. He wasted no time as he flew around the bend like a shot out of a cannon, passing Tokyo Olympic champion Andre de Grasse on his outside with consummate ease. As he transitioned into the home straight, the challenge appeared to his left from Jamaica’s Oblique Seville and Britain’s Zharnel Hughes. Bednarek powered away from them to cross the line in 19.84 seconds, the fastest time in the world.

 

“Running these fast times this early, doing it against this field and running comfortably just says that I am in excellent shape,” said Bednarek, who also won the Men’s Short Distance Race Group in Kingston last month. “I felt pretty good throughout the first race and second race. Everything felt smooth, felt easy, I’m in really good shape right now. This race was just to execute and dominate the field, and that’s what I did.”

 

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Hughes and Seville looked inseparable as they crossed the finish line together. Although they had identical times of 20.13, Hughes came out on the right side of the photo finish for second.

 

Paulino and dos Santos in smashing form

Dominican Republic’s Marileidy Paulino set a national record in the 200m, 22.30 seconds (1.0 m/s), en route to the women’s Long Sprints title. The Olympic champion collected a maximum of 24 points, having dominated the 400m on Friday.

 

Marileidy Paulino

Alison dos Santos ran like a man on a mission in the 400m for the Long Hurdles championship decider. After coming off the top bend with a marginal lead, dos Santos was joined by Chris Robinson, who pushed him to a new personal best of 44.53 seconds. Robinson was second in 44.86. “I knew Chris was in good shape and he can finish pretty strong, so I didn’t want to give him any hope,” reasoned dos Santos.

 

 

In the women’s equivalent, Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone ran a season’s best 49.69 to wrap up her second Grand Slam championship. “Just happy with where we’re at. I think it was a good progression from the first slam until now. It shows you what you have to work on, shows you where you’re at,” said McLaughlin-Levrone.

 

Sydney McLaughlin

Trey Cunningham, who came into Grand Slam Track as a challenger, capitalised on the opportunity. Cunningham, who equalled his PB in the 110m hurdles on Saturday, returned on Sunday to surprise the field in the 100m, clocking a lifetime best 10.17 seconds for the win.

 

“I sprint a lot at practice. I’ve ran a 150 at 14.7 before, which was like a month ago. I’ve done a lot of speed work, so I was prepared for this,” said Cunningham, the 2022 World silver medallist. “It’s just a different environment and atmosphere because I don’t have barriers in my way that can mess me up. I had a fumble 30 through 40 meters. I didn’t really transition appropriately, but I got a PB, so I’m excited.”

 

American Grant Fisher made light work of the 5000m field to be crowned the Long Distance champion. Fisher made a decisive move with four laps remaining, and no one could live with him. He had the luxury of slowing down and waving to the crowd in the final 100m as he came home in 13:40.32, almost six minutes ahead of compatriot Cooper Teare. “With four laps to go, you start thinking a little bit so I wanted to squeeze them hard,” Fisher explained. “I got some daylight and kept on the gas for quite a while. When we got to about 100 to go, I realised I had enough cushion that I could chill out that last 100.”

 

In the women’s 3000m, Kenya’s Agnes Ngetich captured the women’s Long Distance championship after another impressive display of tactical running. Ngetich, who won the 5000m on Friday, pushed the pace for long periods, trying to take the sting out of her opponents’ legs.

 

The race intensified with 250m to go when the Ethiopians made their move. First, Tsige Gebreselama swept into the lead. This triggered an immediate response from compatriots Medina Eisa and Hirut Meshesha, but Ngetich was hanging tough. Meshesha separated herself from the pack thanks to her foot speed to win in 8:22.72, a new PB with Eisa (8:23.08 PB) edging Ngetich (8:23.14 PB), who clinched the overall Grand Slam Track title ahead of Meshesha, who also tallied 18 points. The tiebreaker was decided by the athletes’ best combined times.

 

“I think in Kingston, it was the fastest event of the year, and I just opened the season, so I didn’t know where my body was on the track,” said Ngetich. “I went back and continued training and working for speed. I knew 3000m would be tough, so I wanted to be in the top three to secure the title. I am so happy that I won today at Grand Slam Track. I’m so excited. The track was tight, everyone was strong, and I thank God I managed to get the points here.”

 

Australia’s teenage athletics sensation Gout Gout will balance his studies with his sprinting as he prepares for his World Championships debut in Tokyo in four months time.

 

Australian Athletics high performance manager Andrew Faichney said the exciting 17-year-old’s preparation will bear a difference to some of his older peers given his age.

 

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But the certainty provided by his selection last week will allow the Oceanic 200m record holder and his coach Di Shepperd an extended runway to the biggest event of his fledgling career.

 

“He will prepare himself in a few different ways,” Faichney told foxsports.com.au.

 

“He is still at school, so he will be attending school a lot of the time between now and the World Championships, which is a bit different to most people.

 

 

“I understand he will has a couple of commitments overseas. He will go to Europe for a couple of meets over the school holidays to have a couple of races over there.”

 

A silver medallist in the World U20 Championships last year, Gout Gout recently met with Australia’s fastest ever man Patrick Johnson after returning to school in Brisbane.

 

Johnson said last December that the teenager, who will feature on Fox Sports’ The Back Page on Tuesday night, had the capacity to break his national record of 9.93 seconds for the 100m.

 

“I hope so, because he’s really proved that he’s got the talent and ability [to break my record],” Johnson told ESPN.

 

“But we should also make sure that we don’t put too much pressure on him too early. He’s still young and that is going to be the big thing now — how we nurture and support him.

 

“He is still a kid, so we need to let him enjoy being a kid, because the world will come very quickly at him and ask him to perform under the spotlight and the pressure. When he joins the circuit and the intense racing overseas, it’s really important that they manage that really well — and no doubt they will.”

 

Australia’s Gout Gout reacts after competing in Backmarkers Invitation 120m event during the 2025 Stawell Gift at Central Park in Stawell on April 21, 2025

 

Gout is scheduled to race at meets in Monaco and Ostrava during the Queensland school holidays with a view to broadening his experience before the World Championships.

 

“Between now and then, other than that as far I am aware, he will be racing mainly at home, going to school, doing his training with his coach, which has proved so successful,” Faichney said.

 

The emergence of Gout has coincided with a resurgence in interest in Australian athletics due to strong international performances dating back to the Tokyo Olympics.

 

The dynamism of the national 200m champion, who has run faster than Usain Bolt at the same age, has wowed Australian fans and put the teenager firmly in the spotlight.

 

At meetings around the country, including the recent Stawell Gift where he won a heat as a backmarker in the famous race, he was obliging when swamped by fans.

 

 

Handicap too much for Gout Gout | 01:10

In a recent profile in The Guardian, Shepperd praised the mental strength of Gout but said the focus on the Ipswich Grammar student will require him to make sacrifices.

 

“I’ve been telling him for a couple of years that when we get to a set point, your social life will be pretty much non-existent, in the sense you just can’t go out where you want,” she said.

 

“He’s at that point pretty much now, which is kind of tough when you think he’s still at school.”

 

Faichney said the Gout camp, which includes renowned athlete manager James Templeton, were well equipped to support the star but said Australian Athletics was on hand to provide any assistance required as he transitions on to the global stage.

 

Australia’s Gout Gout reacts after finishing runner up in the men’s 120m handicap semi-final during the 2025 Stawell Gift at Central Park in Stawell on April 21, 2025.

 

“He’s phenomenal. The competitions that he has been at and the way he has engaged with kids all the way through to adults and grandparents has been amazing,” Faichney said.

 

“He has got some really good support behind him. His managers and his coaches have been fantastic and work really closely with him.

 

“We provide support that can help them when they need it and, as much as anything, we try not to overload him and get too involved, because he is a kid at the moment.

 

“We want to provide support (and) we will work with Di and his manager James on a way to do that … whether that be by directing things their way they can benefit from.”

 

 

“Like a champion” Gout Gout storms home | 00:40

With the World Championships being held about six weeks later than usual this year, Australian Athletics has opted to select athletes in two different groups and Faichney believes that will be beneficial for a younger athlete like Gout.

 

“It is a long time between now and September. It is longer than normal,” Faichney said.

 

“It has been beneficial for us to be able to select a group of athletes early so that they know they are on the team and they can prepare. But it really depends on what stage of their career they are at.

 

“Someone like Gout is able to do the training while at school and prepare himself in that way, whereas others will be on the circuit pretty much through the Diamond League, having spent last weekend in China and they will continue all the way through.

 

“We work closely with them to see how they can prepare all the way through to September, because it is a long way away.”

 

 

 

 

 

Australian Olympic medallist Jessica Hull has earned herself another fine pay day at the second stop of the inaugural Grand Slam Track season, cashing in as a star of the lucrative athletics league launched by US sprinting great Michael Johnson.

 

Hull wasn’t at her phenomenal best in Miami — she finished fourth in the 1500 metres and fifth in the 800m — but such is the nature of Johnson’s league that the Paris 2024 silver medallist will leave Florida with an extra $30,000 in her bank account.

 

One of the main reasons why Johnson set up the league was because he was concerned about the lack of financial reward for elite athletes in athletics.

 

 

The four-time Olympic champion’s answer to that was masterminding a league backed by US$12.6 million (A$20 million) in prize money in its inaugural season.

 

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Johnson’s brainchild hasn’t solved the issue facing the field athletes of the athletics world — his league only has track events — but it’s enticed stars such as American champion Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone into racing more often, which is a win for fans, and filled their pockets in return.

 

Jessica Hull.

Jessica Hull greets the crowd at the Miami leg of the inaugural Grand Slam Track season. Howard Lao/Grand Slam Track

All eight athletes in each of the six race categories are guaranteed to receive US$100,000-$10,000 per grand slam, which equates to A$154,000-$15,000.

 

In Miami, Hull finished fifth in the women’s “short distance” category and therefore picked up US$20,000 (A$30,000).

 

In a slow and tactical 1500m race on Sunday (AEST), the Albion Park product finished fourth in 4:07.67.

 

She then finished fifth in the 800m in 2:00.88 on Monday (AEST).

 

Australia’s Sarah Carli, a two-time Olympian, finished sixth in the women’s “long hurdles” category to earn herself US$15,000 (A$23,000).

 

 

Carli finished fifth in the 400m hurdles in 54.93 seconds and seventh in the 400m sprint in 53.01.

 

Australian middle-distance champion Peter Bol snapped up US$20,000 (A$30,000) in Miami by finishing fifth in the men’s “short distance” category.

 

At the first stop of the season, hosted by the Jamaican capital, Hull finished fourth to pocket US$25,000 (A$40,000).

 

The two remaining legs of the season will be hosted by Philadelphia and Los Angeles.

 

 

Masai Russell and Tia Jones stormed up the 100m hurdles all-time list by achieving the second- and third-fastest performances in history at the Grand Slam Track meeting in Miami on Friday (2).

 

Olympic champion Russell ran a North American record of 12.17 (2.0m/s) to hold off Jones by just 0.02, those marks respectively moving them to No.2 and No.3 all time behind Tobi Amusan who set her world record of 12.12 in Oregon in 2022.

 

Russell and Jones now sit above their US compatriot Kendra Harrison – the former world record-holder who clocked 12.20 in 2016 – on the world all-time list. Harrison finished fourth in Miami on Friday in 12.40, with third place clinched by Jamaica’s Ackera Nugent in 12.34.

 

The women’s 100m hurdles was the first race on the first day of action in Miami – the second stop in the Grand Slam Track series after the opener in Kingston last month.

 

While the 100m hurdles was close, the men’s 200m was even closer. Both Trinidad and Tobago’s Jereem Richards and Dominican Republic’s Alexander Ogando crossed the finish line in 19.86 (1.7m/s) – the fastest time in the world so far this season – with Richards getting the nod for victory.

 

Following her 100m and 200m double in Kingston, USA’s Olympic bronze medallist Melissa Jefferson-Wooden won the Miami 100m in a wind-assisted 10.75 (2.4m/s) ahead of Tamari Davis, who ran 10.76.

 

Brazil’s 2022 world champion Alison dos Santos also started with victory in Kingston and repeated the feat in Miami, clocking 47.97 to win the 400m hurdles by almost a second ahead of Chris Robinson (48.92), while Dominican Republic’s Olympic 400m champion Marileidy Paulino followed her third-place finish in Kingston by getting top spot in Miami, clocking 49.21 to Salwa Eid Naser’s 49.33.

 

Agnes Ngetich and Medina Eisa impressed in the 5000m, Kenya’s Ngetich holding off Ethiopia’s Eisa with a fierce kick

 

Ireland’s Andrew Coscoran (8:17.56) pipped Grant Fisher (8:17.60) and George Mills (8:17.77) in a tactical 3000m, while Great Britain’s world champion Josh Kerr edged ahead down the home straight to take the 1500m in 3:34.51 from his fellow Paris Olympic medallists – bronze medallist Yared Nuguse running 3:34.65 and Olympic champion Cole Hocker clocking 3:34.79.

 

Masai Russell wins the women’s 100m hurdles in 12.74 during the 115th Drake Relays at Drake Stadium. Kirby Lee-

May 2 (Reuters) – Olympic gold medalist Masai Russell set an American record in the 100m hurdles at the Grand Slam Track meet in Miami on Friday, breaking the tape in 12.17 seconds for the second-fastest time ever recorded in the event.

The 24-year-old Russell looked stunned when she saw the time on the scoreboard after edging fellow American Tia Jones, who had the third-fastest time ever recorded with 12.19 seconds in the first race of the day. Jamaica’s Ackera Nugent was third.

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The competition on a hot day at Ansin Sports Complex had the maximum allowable tailwind with 2.0.

“I can’t even tell you,” she said with a look of disbelief of her face after the race.

“These women bring out the best in me.”

Keni Harrison previously owned the American record after finishing in 12.20 seconds in 2016.

Tobi Amusan of Nigeria is the world record holder with a time of 12.12 seconds at the 2022 World Championships.

 

Melissa Jefferson-Wooden stormed to victory in the women’s 100m with a blistering 10.75 seconds in conditions that exceeded the wind limit.

American Tamari Davis finished second in 10.79 seconds, with Favour Ofili of Nigeria third and American Gabby Thomas fourth.

Jefferson-Wooden also won the 100m at Grand Slam Track’s inaugural event in Kingston, Jamaica last month.

“I want to be one of the greatest to ever do this sport,” the American, who took bronze in the event at the Paris Olympics, told FloTrack.

 

“I don’t want to be one of the ones who they say, ‘She was always on the circuit, but she didn’t win a lot of medals,’” she said.

“No, I want when people see Melissa Jefferson-Wooden to know that she’s here and she’s not here to play.”

On the men’s side, Irishman Andrew Coscoran won the 3000m in 8:17.56, beating out American Grant Fisher and England’s George Mills.

The three-day event in Miami marks the second Grand Slam Track meet of its first season.

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The circuit was created by four-times Olympic gold medallist Michael Johnson and is a direct challenge to the Diamond League, long the standard-bearer for the sport worldwide, which hosts 15 meetings each year in cities from Xiamen to Zurich.

Reporting by Rory Carroll in Los Angeles; Editing by Stephen Coates

 

Dramatic final day of EFL season saw Leeds clinch the Championship title, Luton suffer back-to-back relegations and Bradford snatch promotion in stoppage-time on a day of contrasting emotions

 

Watch as Leeds United players celebrate with the Championship trophy in front of the away end after a late goal crowned them Champions.

Stoppage-time drama, anxious waits to discover play-off fates and nails bitten to the wicks by fans up and down the country… the final day of the EFL season did not disappoint.

 

A tired Daniel Farke celebrated an emotional day for Leeds United as they won the Championship title in dramatic style at Plymouth.

 

Leeds needed to match Burnley’s result to beat them to the crown on goal difference and, thanks to Manor Solomon’s stoppage-time winner, they did just that, as both teams finished on a staggering 100 points.

 

“I was too tired to celebrate even at the final whistle because I was so focused on winning promotion,” said Farke, who initially shunned the pandemonium to sit alone in the dugout.

 

Highlights of the Sky Bet Championship match between Plymouth and Leeds.

Since Leeds secured their Premier League return last week there has been plenty of speculation about Farke’s future, though he did eventually join in the celebrations and share a moment with chairman Paraag Marathe.

 

 

“I really wanted to win this match and win the title for everyone at the club,” said Farke. “It’s a proud day and an emotionally moving day because we have invested so much and wanted to crown ourselves with some silverware.

 

“I’ve had this experience only a few times but for some of them it was the first time they have won any title. It feels pretty special in the dressing room and I’m very happy for my players and all my staff.”

 

Farke joined Leeds two years ago after their relegation from the top flight and, after play-off final defeat last season, he has completed the mission he was brought in to achieve.

 

“To be honest I would not have signed for any other Championship club but Leeds United because I know how big this club can be and how much potential there is,” he added.

 

Burnley missed out on the Championship title on the final day of the season, despite their 3-1 victory against Millwall.

 

Burnley boss Scott Parker is refusing to let missing out on the title “overshadow a remarkable season” for his centurions after they won 3-1 against Millwall, who just fell short of securing a play-off spot.

 

“I’m delighted,” said Parker, whose side clinched promotion to the Premier League two weeks ago. “The main objective was to get three points and end the season on 100 points. Two defeats all season, 33 games unbeaten, 16 goals conceded, that’s all I could ask for really.

 

“If you’d said to us at any point that 100 points this year wouldn’t get you the title we’d all be thinking, ‘no chance’.”

 

James Trafford and his father, James, shared a wholesome moment with Sky Sports after Burnley’s promotion to the Premier League.

Singer Natasha Bedingfield joined Burnley’s dressing room celebrations after their promotion, with players belting out her hit Unwritten.

Bristol City, Coventry board play-off rollercoaster

Liam Manning says he experienced “every emotion imaginable” as his Bristol City team roared back from two goals down to draw 2-2 with Preston and clinch a place in the Championship play-offs in front of a sellout Ashton Gate crowd.

 

Bristol City – who now face Sheffield United in the play-off semi-finals – were one Blackburn goal at Bramall Lane away from being knocked out of sixth right until the final whistle, even after left-back Ross McCrorie’s heroic second-half double had brought them level, but a point ended up being enough as Preston also avoided relegation.

 

Manning, who suffered personal tragedy with the loss of his baby son Theo last October, said: “I guess I went through every emotion imaginable over the 90 minutes and those that followed the final whistle when we had to await the finish of games elsewhere.

 

Highlights of the Sky Bet Championship match between Bristol City and Preston North End.

“At different times there was frustration and anger with how we were playing. But it was worth all of that to hear the cheer that rang out when our place in the play-offs was confirmed. It will stay with me forever.

 

“Our fans have been brilliant. The lap of honour was so emotional for me in view of the difficult year it has been personally and I was close to tears three or four times.

 

“Celebrating with my family was very special. They and the players and staff have helped me through some tough times. Tonight, I am just looking forward to relaxing with a couple of beers.”

 

Coventry City secured their spot in the Championship play-offs, following their 2-0 victory against Middlesbrough.

Coventry sealed their place in the play-offs with a 2-0 win over Middlesbrough thanks to Jack Rudoni’s double, marking a remarkable turnaround under Frank Lampard, who took over with the team 17th less than six months ago.

 

“I loved it today, but it was so tense at times,” Lampard said. “The players deserve so much credit, given where we’ve come from, but we’ve got what we deserve, for sure.

 

“I’m excited for the play-offs now, it’s been a long week before this game and now we can look forward to another huge challenge.”

 

Highlights of the Sky Bet Championship match between West Brom and Luton.

 

Luton boss Matt Bloomfield said it was a “particularly painful day” for the club and apologised to supporters as they suffered back-to-back relegations following a 5-3 defeat at West Brom.

 

The 2,500 fans who travelled vented their anger at full-time once it was confirmed the Hatters had been relegated to League One by singing ‘You’re not fit to wear the shirt’.

 

Hull held on for a 1-1 draw at Portsmouth to send Luton down and head coach Ruben Selles was happy to enjoy the moment after what he described as a “painful season”.

 

Highlights from the Sky Bet League One match between Huddersfield Town and Leyton Orient.

 

Leyton Orient learned a valuable lesson when watching West Brom dismantle Luton before they bagged the final League One play-off spot with a 4-1 at Huddersfield.

 

“We actually watched Luton against West Brom before the game and some people might think West Brom have got nothing to play for – it doesn’t work like that,” said manager Richie Wellens. “Professional footballers are paid to do a job and we expected to come here for a tough game.

 

“But I thought we were at it and when we’re at it we’re dangerous. Nobody expected us to be here, but here we are.

 

“How we’ve not got a player in the League One team of the year, I don’t know.”

 

Bradford scenes after ‘brutal season’

Antoni Sarcevic popped up with the stoppage-time winner as Bradford City beat Fleetwood 1-0 to seal automatic promotion at the expense of Walsall and prompt incredible scenes at Valley Parade.

 

Bradford City score in the last minute to jump into the automatic promotion places.

Manager Graham Alexander said: “It’s the Bradford way, I suppose – take everyone through every emotion you can possibly feel.

 

“What an amazing way to finish a really tough and brutal season. The way these players have approached everything, I have never seen them quit, not once.

 

“Even in the 96th minutes in the last game of the season, they are still going, still fit and more than anything, still believing. They’ve been magnificent.

 

“It’s such a special year with the 40th anniversary of the Bradford City fire in 1985. It doesn’t become more poignant.”

 

Grand Slam Track Miami winner Jereem Richards. – Howard Lao for Grand Slam Track

Grand Slam Track Miami winner Jereem Richards. – Howard Lao for Grand Slam Track

Trinidad and Tobago’s Jereem Richards was crowned overall long-sprints champ after two sensational performances over the weekend at the Grand Slam Track, Miami.

 

At the Ansin Sports Complex, Richards, who ran a world leading 19.86 seconds to win the men’s 200m event on May 2, followed that effort with 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 trailed in 44.32 seconds (eight points) while Great Britain’s Matthew Hudson-Smith came third in 44.37 (six points).

 

Richards’ performances in the two events earned him 20 points, ahead of Patterson (15 points) and Dominican Republic’s Alexander Ogando (12 points).

 

The 2017 World Championships 200m bronze medallist was in a jovial mood as he spoke to Grand Slam Track founder and sprint legend Michael Johnson.

 

“They not beating me. Bring anybody, bring anybody, Once I healthy, they not beating me,” a confident Richards said while laughing heartily.

 

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 (May 30-June 1) and Los Angeles (June 27-29). The opening event was held in Jamaica (April 4-6).

 

“Yuh never hear me say anything like that before, but once I healthy, they not beating me. One hundred thousand dollars and I 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 buying the Lambo,” he chuckled.

 

 

All eight athletes in each of the six race categories are guaranteed to earn between US$100,000-$10,000 in prize money per meet, depending on where they rank.

 

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At the first stop of the Grand Slam Track season, hosted by the Jamaican capital, Australian Paris 2024 silver medallist Jessica Hull finished fourth in the women’s “short distance” category to pick up US$25,000 (A$40,000).

 

Peter Bol.

Peter Bol racing in Miami. Mary Holt/Grand Slam Track

In a slow and tactical affair in Miami on Sunday (AEST), Hull finished fourth in the 1500m in 4:07.67.

 

The Albion Park product will lace up again on Monday (AEST) to run the 800m.

 

Two-time Australian Olympian Sarah Carli also competed on Sunday, finishing fifth in the 400m hurdles in 54.93 seconds.

 

The Wollongong product is entered in the women’s “long hurdles” category, meaning she’s in Miami to race the 400m hurdles and 400m sprint, the latter of which will be run on Monday.

 

Sarah Carli at the Miami leg of the inaugural Grand Slam Track season. Howard Lao/Grand Slam Track

Diamond League results

Meanwhile, three Australians landed on the podium at the Shanghai Diamond League meet on Saturday night.

 

Melbourne runner Sarah Billings finished second in the 800m and clocked the second-fastest time by an Australian woman in history.

 

She stopped the clock at 1:57.83 to fall short of Catriona Bisset’s national record by just 0.05 of a second.

 

Ethiopia’s Tsige Duguma won in 1:56.64, a meet and national record, and Uganda’s Halimah Nakaayi took third in 1:58.39.

 

Australia’s brilliant high jump pair, Nicola Olyslagers and Eleanor Patterson, netted silver and bronze respectively.

 

Olyslagers’ 1.98 metres and Patterson’s 1.95m were only bettered by Ukrainian champion Yaroslava Mahuchikh, the reigning Olympic and world championship gold medallist, who cleared 2.00m.

 

Tokyo Speed Race results

Over in the Japanese capital on Saturday night, the women’s and men’s Australian 10km road records tumbled.

 

Dual Olympian Izzi Batt-Doyle finished third in 30:44 to better the 31:15 she ran at Melbourne’s Albert Park last September.

 

In the men’s 10km race, Tasmania’s Sam Clifford finished sixth in 27:34 to eclipse Jack Rayner’s 27:43 set in Burnie in 2022.