Following her triumph at the opening meeting of the series last month, world and Olympic 400m hurdles champion Sydney McLaughlin once again achieved a perfect score of 24 points in the long hurdles category at the Grand Slam meeting in Miramar, on the outskirts of Miami.

 

This time, she went quicker in both disciplines, clocking a world-leading 52.07 in the 400m hurdles on Saturday (3) and following it with a dominant run of 49.69 in the 400m on Sunday (4), winning both races by two seconds. They’re also the fastest times she has ever recorded at this point of the season.

 

Jamaica’s Andrenette Knight finished second in the 400m hurdles (54.08) and in the category overall, while heptathlon specialist Anna Hall was second in the 400m flat (51.68).

 

Another world champion over one lap of the track, Marileidy Paulino, also bagged maximum points in her category. Following on from her 400m win on Friday, the sprinter from the Dominican Republic returned on Sunday to win the 200m in a national record of 22.30.

 

Two-time Olympic silver medallist Kenny Bednarek was another 24-point winner. The US athlete sped to a wind-assisted 9.79 (2.4m/s) 100m win on Saturday, then clocked a world-leading 19.84 (0.2m/s) to take the 200m on Sunday.

 

Jamaica’s Oblique Seville (9.84 / 20.13) was second overall in that category, finishing just ahead of Britain’s Zharnel Hughes (9.87 / 20.13).

 

In the women’s short sprints class, Olympic 200m champion Gabby Thomas won her specialist event in 21.95 (1.1m/s), but Melissa Jefferson-Wooden – who had won the 100m on Friday – was confirmed the category grand slam winner, thanks to her third-place 200m finish in 22.15.

 

Jacory Patterson produced one of the more surprising performances on Saturday. The world indoor bronze medallist, running in the outermost lane, charged into the lead in the home straight of the 400m to stop the clock at a world-leading PB of 43.96, becoming just the 26th man in history to break 44 seconds.

 

Jereem Richards won the grand slam title in this category, after finishing second in 44.32, 0.05 ahead of Olympic silver medallist Matt Hudson-Smith.

 

Full marks for Cunningham and Dos Santos in hurdles

Trey Cunningham and Alison dos Santos impressed in the men’s hurdles to win their respective categories with the maximum possible points.

 

Cunningham sped to an equal PB of 13.00 in the 110m hurdles on Saturday, then followed it with a 10.17 PB in the 100m flat on Sunday, winning both races and giving him 24 points in the short hurdles category. Sasha Zhoya was second overall after clocking a 13.06 PB in the sprint hurdles and running 10.36 in the 100m.

 

Dos Santos, the 2022 world champion, followed his 400m hurdles win on Friday with a PB of 44.53 in the 400m flat, giving him 24 points and a category victory.

 

Jamaica’s world indoor bronze medallist Ackera Nugent, who placed third in the record-breaking 100m hurdles on Friday, came back to win the 100m flat in a PB of 11.09, giving her the short hurdles grand slam title by one point over Olympic champion Masai Russell.

 

 

Having finished some way off the pace in the Grand Slam season opener in Kingston last month, world 1500m champion Josh Kerr rebounded in impressive fashion in Miami to win the short distance category.

 

The Briton claimed 1500m victory on Friday, then followed it with a fifth-place finish in the 800m on Saturday (1:45.01) in a race won by world champion Marco Arop (1:43.69). Both world champions had claimed victories in their specialist event, but Kerr’s higher placing in his secondary event gave him a two-point advantage over Arop.

 

World indoor 3000m champion Freweyni Hailu showed impressive range to win the short distance title. Having won the 1500m in 4:06.96 on Saturday, she finished third in the 800m (1:59.84) behind Mary Moraa to take the grand slam in her category.

 

The closest contest of the weekend came in the women’s long distance category which came down to a tiebreak between 5000m winner Agnes Ngetich and 3000m winner Hirut Meshesha (8:22.72). Ngetich was declared the winner as she had the lowest combined 3000m/5000m time of the pair.

 

Double Olympic bronze medallist Grant Fisher claimed the grand slam in the men’s equivalent thanks to his 5000m win in 13:40.32 on Sunday.

 

 

 

 

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Akani Simbine (left), Ferdinand Omanyala and Letsile Tebogo. Photo credit: Pool

 

 

Letsile Tebogo delighted home fans at the FNB Botswana Golden Grand Prix by easing to a dominant 200 metres victory at the World Athletics Continental Tour Gold meeting which also brought together 60 metres bronze medallist Akani Simbine and Africa 100m record holder Ferdinand Omanyala in Gaborone at the weekend.

 

The Olympic champion’s compatriots Bayapo Ndori, Oratile Nowe and Kethobogile Haingura also roared on to victory at the National Stadium on Saturday, while South Africa’s Akani Simbine stormed to 100m success and USA’s Dalilah Muhammad clinched a clear 400m hurdles win.

 

 

Making his 200m season debut after four 400m races over the past couple of months, Tebogo’s win over half a lap of the track never looked in doubt.

 

Lining up alongside South Africa’s Luxolo Adams, Tebogo got a strong start and ran alongside Adams, on his outside, around the bend. But the African record-holder, who clocked 19.46 to win his Olympic 200m title in Paris, cruised down the home straight and eased up on his approach to the finish line, winning in a comfortable 20.23 (-1.6m/s). Adams was second in 20.42.

 

The event featured two 200m races and the first was won by South Africa’s Sinesipho Dambile in 20.01 (-1.8m/s).

 

In his first race since securing the first individual global medal of his career at the World Indoor Championships in Nanjing, 60m bronze medallist Simbine stepped back up to the 100m in style.

 

He was put under pressure from Kenya’s African record-holder Ferdinand Omanyala, but Simbine had the stronger finish and he strode ahead in the final metres. The South African clocked 9.90 seconds into a -1.4m/s headwind for the fastest 100m in the world so far this year. Omanyala was second in 10.00.

 

The women’s 100m was won by South Africa’s 17-year-old Hanna Hope Vermaak in 11.44 (-0.2m/s), the same time as runner-up Viwe Jingqi.

 

Former world 400m hurdles record-holder Muhammad continued her farewell season with a dominant victory. The 2019 world champion clocked 53.81 to triumph ahead of her US compatriot Cassandra Tate (55.59), while a close men’s race was won by South Africa’s Njabulo Mbatha in 49.06.

 

Tebogo’s Olympic 4x400m silver medal-winning teammate Ndori achieved a strong 400m win. He was ahead off the final curve and maintained that momentum, crossing the finish line in 44.35 for the second-fastest time of his career to win by three tenths of a second ahead of South Africa’s Zakithi Nene.

 

The women’s 400m was won by Egypt’s Bassant Hemida in a national record of 50.77. Racing in her first outdoor 400m since 2021 after focusing on the shorter sprints, the multiple national 100m and 200m champion improved her outdoor one-lap best by more than two seconds to win ahead of South Africa’s Miranda Coetzee (51.10).

 

Botswana’s Nowe also made history in front of home fans in the 800m. The 24-year-old had Kenya’s world U20 champion Sarah Moraa on her shoulder at the bell, but the teenager couldn’t match her rival over the second lap. After glancing over her shoulder down the back straight, Nowe kicked on her approach to the finish line and dipped under 1:59 for the first time, improving her own national record to 1:58.96.

 

There was another home win in the men’s 800m as Haingura held off his compatriot Tshepiso Masalela and they achieved a Botswana 1-2. A month on from running a PB of 1:43.88 in Johannesburg, this time Haingura clocked 1:44.18 to pip Olympic finalist Masalela, who ran 1:44.77.

 

Hailemariyam Amare was so sure of his victory in the 3000m steeplechase that he celebrated on his way to the finish line. Crossing it in 8:28.00, the two-time African gold medallist won ahead of his Ethiopian compatriots Milkesse Fekadu (8:28.67) and Demelash Girma (8:29.67).

 

In her first competition since becoming the world indoor long jump champion in Nanjing, USA’s Claire Bryant soared 6.79m to secure another win. Karmen Fouche was second with 6.51m, while USA’s 2016 world indoor champion Marquis Dendy won the men’s event with a leap of 7.94m.

 

Zane Weir and Leonardo Fabbri topped the shot put, throwing 20.83m and 20.64m respectively to clinch an Italian 1-2, and South Africa’s Olympic silver medallist Jo-Ane van Dyk threw 61.23m to win the javelin.

Gout Gout runs in the U20 100m heat during the 2025 Australian Athletics Championships at WA Athletics Stadium in Perth

Gout Gout breaks the 10-second barrier in the U20 100m heat during the 2025 Australian Athletics Championships at WA Athletics Stadium in Perth.

17-year-old runs 9.99s with illegal tailwind of 3.5m/s in heat

Sprint sensation to run U20 final later on Thursday in Perth

Sprinter Gout Gout has broken the 10-second barrier in the 100m for the first time, but his 9.99s won’t be officially recorded in the record books due to an illegal tailwind of 3.5m/s.

 

The 17-year-old set the time in the heats of the under-20 100m at the national athletics titles in Perth on Thursday afternoon, and he is due to run the final later on Thursday evening.

 

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Gout was only told he had broken the 10-second mark by media immediately after the race. He let out an “oh” in surprise, but quickly regained his composure and said he was just focused on recovery and preparation for the final.

 

When asked whether it felt special to break the historic mark, even with the tailwind, Gout said no.

 

“It doesn’t feel very special,” he said.

 

“I mean, this is the stuff you’ve got to do to get to the next level, so sub-10 was inevitable, it happened today, so hopefully it will keep happening.”

 

Gout chose to contest the under-20 category for the 100m at this meet, while he juggles the opens competition in the 200m in which he holds the national record.

 

Dressed in the maroon of Queensland, he started slowly but quickly accelerated and actually eased up before the line.

 

The clock initially showed 10.02s, but the time was adjusted to 9.99s, prompting the confusion after the race.

 

and Red Bull are two of six F1 teams that have decided to make changes to their driver line-ups in Bahrain this week.

Ahead of the Grand Prix on Sunday, some drivers are being replaced for a practice session due to a little-known rule.

 

 

Hamilton and Leclerc will be separated for the first practice session

Hamilton and Leclerc will be separated for the first practice sessionCredit: AFP

Verstappen isn’t going to be involved

Verstappen isn’t going to be involvedCredit: Getty

Lewis Hamilton won’t be sitting out of the opening session of the raceweek, but his teammate Charles Leclerc will.

 

Instead, rookie Dino Beganovic is taking Leclerc’s seat.

 

World champion Max Verstappen is going to be absent for FP1 in Bahrain too, with his seat being taken by Ayumu Iwasa.

 

 

Mercedes, Williams, Aston Martin and Haas will all also be dropping a driver in place of a rookie for the session.

 

 

It means George Russell, Carlos Sainz, Fernando Alonso and Oliver Bearman are all not going to be taking part on Friday.

 

 

Russell is giving up his seat for Danish youngster Frederik Vesti, while former F2 champion Felipe Drugovich replaces Alonso.

 

Sainz’s seat is going to be taken by Luke Browing and Bearman misses out on the session so Ryo Hirakawa can step in.

 

 

This isn’t just a coincidence, it’s actually the teams following the F1 regulations for the 2025 season.

 

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Each team must allow a rookie (a driver that has driven in two or fewer Grand Prix) to take a spot in practice twice per car per season.

 

This was increased to twice per car for 2025, with it previously being at least once per each car from 2022.

 

Vesti is replacing Russell for Williams in FP1Credit: Getty

 

Drugovich is taking Alonso’s seat for the sessionCredit: Getty

Over half of the grid have chosen to use the first practice session at the Bahrain International Circuit as one of their slots.

 

The other teams will swap out drivers and complete their mandatory rookie appearances in other raceweeks.

 

Russell’s replacement Vesti, who has already made two appearances in FP1, is pleased to be getting back in the Mercedes.

 

 

“I am really looking forward to getting my first taste of the W16 in FP1 in Bahrain,” he said. “Being able to put all of my simulator work into practice on the track is a really exciting prospect for me.

 

“At the start of the year, I set myself the goal of maximising every chance I get behind the wheel of an F1 car in 2025, and that is what I hope to achieve in Bahrain.

 

“I will be doing everything I can to help the team, George, and Kimi get set for the rest of the weekend. I am grateful to Mercedes for once again giving me this opportunity.”

 

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24-year-old Drugovich is stepping in for Alonso and he’s also been speaking about getting the chance to drive in F1 again.

 

 

He said: “I’m very happy to be getting out in the F1 car again, especially so early in the season.

 

“I’ve been preparing on the simulator to get a feel for the car, and Bahrain is a track I know well and really enjoy driving.

 

“I’m excited to contribute and give the team the data they need to perform at their best this weekend. Thanks to the whole team for their continued support.”

 

Sainz is giving up his seat for Browning and the youngster has called the chance to drive the Williams ‘a dream come true’.

 

 

 

Once a rising SEC talent, Gilmore’s stint with the Cornhuskers ends just months after leaving Kentucky.

 

 

 

chrisbeasmore A sports writer for A Sea of Blue. Beasmore helps to cover Kentucky football and basketball recruiting and the big games coming up for Kentucky sports.

Former Kentucky Wildcats wide receiver Hardley Gilmore IV transferred to Nebraska in late December with hopes of a fresh start and a bigger role — but just over three months later, he’s been dismissed from the Cornhuskers’ program.

 

Once viewed as a rising star in the SEC, Gilmore’s journey has taken another unexpected detour as Nebraska head coach Matt Rhule confirmed on Saturday that the sophomore wideout is no longer with the team. No further details were provided regarding the dismissal.

 

Gilmore, a former four-star prospect in the 2024 recruiting class, began his college career at Kentucky with plenty of buzz. Ranked as the No. 367 overall player and No. 56 wide receiver nationally, he arrived in Lexington with a reputation for explosive playmaking.

 

After missing the first seven games of the season due to a broken collarbone, he returned to the field late in the year and made an immediate impact. In five games, Gilmore tallied six receptions for 153 yards and a touchdown, flashing his big-play potential and earning praise from the coaching staff.

 

However, just as things seemed to be trending upward, Gilmore entered the transfer portal on December 28. There was early speculation he could return to Kentucky, but within days, he committed to Nebraska — a move that reunited him with former UK wide receivers coach Daikiel Shorts and teammate Dane Key, who had also transferred to the Cornhuskers.

 

With Gilmore gone, Nebraska will move forward without the once-promising receiver. Meanwhile, Kentucky now has a wide receiver room with portal pickups Kendrick Law (Alabama), Troy Stellato (Clemson), and J.J. Hester (Oklahoma), while returning veteran contributors Ja’Mori Maclin and Fred Farrier II. Wide receivers coach L’Damian Washington will lead a group still rich with talent and experience heading into the 2025 season.

 

As for Gilmore, the former SEC standout’s future remains uncertain — a talented player now searching for yet another opportunity to get back on track.

 

Saying this, should Kentucky consider bringing Gilmore back to Lexington? Rivals’ Justin Rowland and KSR’s ZacK Geoghegan report that a return to the Wildcats is possible for Gilmore.

 

If true, Kentucky could sure use some extra firepower at the position. However, Mark Stoops has stressed wanting to build a better culture, and Gilmore was just dismissed from a program.

 

He was also charged with misdemeanor assault in December for allegedly punching someone in the face at a Lexington storage facility.

 

 

 

Usain Bolt has made a $2 million donation to his former school. Photo source.

Usain Bolt may have been scammed nearly $13 million in Jamaica but that has not stopped him from donating millions of dollars to his former school to support athletic talent.

Jamaican sprint great Usain Bolt has made news in the last two years following fraud that saw him lose nearly $13 million.

 

Bolt was among investors who lost colossal amounts of money from a Jamaican investment scheme in early 2023 after his financial advisors discovered that $12.8 million had vanished from his account and since then, there has been little effort to recover the money.

 

Bolt recently spoke about how his love for Jamaica restrained him from publicly talking about the scam, as he did not want his county to be seen as a bad place for investment, but even with his country letting him down, the legendary sprinter is still standing by it.

 

This was evident this week when Bolt made a multi-million cash donation to his former school to help nurture athletics talent.

 

Usain Bolt: 3 thriving multi-million ventures owned by Jamaican sprint legend

Usain Bolt: 3 thriving multi-million ventures owned by Jamaican sprint legend

On Wednesday March 19, it was revealed that Usain Bolt donated $2 million to his alma mater Williams Knibb Memorial High School to help the school’s track and field team ahead of the Athletics Championships.

 

: Stay updated with the Latest Athletics News in Kenya from Pulse Sports.

 

Bolt’s athletics career was discovered at the school, where coaches advised him to take up athletics seriously, and he heeded the advice and went on to become the greatest sprinter of all-time.

 

“Sprint Legend Usain Bolt reaffirmed his commitment to his high school Alma-mater William Knibb Memorial High School following a $2 million dollar donation toward their preparation for the upcoming Boys and Girls Championships,” Sleek Jamaica confirmed the donation with Usain Bolt also doing the same through his Instagram stories.

 

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‘I don’t make my money on the track’- Gabby Thomas on why she opts for multiple jobs beyond running

Bolt has also partnered with his sponsors Puma to provide athletes at the school with sports gear, showing his love and commitment to the institution which played a large part in his transformation into a global track superstar.

 

In the early 2000s, Bolt had fallen in love with cricket and thought he would take up the sport but coaches at Williams Knibb Memorial High School noticed his great speed and encouraged him to take up sprinting professionally.

 

The advice paid off as Bolt went on to win eight Olympics gold medals and 11 world titles. Bolt remains the 100m and 200m world record holder since setting the new marks in 2009.

 

Usain Bolt: 3 multi-million investment ventures of Jamaican sprint legend that failed to take off

Usain Bolt: 3 multi-million investment ventures of Jamaican sprint legend that failed to take off

Meanwhile, Bolt’s generosity is not just tied to his former school as a donation of six million Jamaican dollars was made to six schools to support their preparations for the 2025 Athletics Championships.