McLaughlin-Levrone dazzles as Grand Slam opens to ghost fans

Two-time Olympic 400m hurdles champion and world record-holder Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone cruised to victory as the opening leg of the new Grand Slam track athletics circuit got underway in Kingston on Saturday.

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American track star McLaughlin-Levrone — racing in her signature event for the first time since winning gold at the Paris Olympics last year — romped home in 52.56sec at Kingston's National Stadium.

The 25-year-old, who will also race in today's 400m, was always in control and had opened a significant lead in pulling away off the final bend before pulling away in imposing several metres clear of 2019 Olympic champion Salilah Muhammad, who was second in 54.59sec.

"You know, just shaking the cobwebs off," said McLaughlin-Levrone said after her first race of the year. "The legs always starts, but happy to be here."

McLaughlin-Levrone is now in pole position to claim the $100,000 being offered to the athlete with the best combined result from the 400m hurdles and 400m.

The lucrative prize money on offer is one of the notable features of the fourevent series, which was conceived by US Olympic legend Michael Johnson with the aim of revitalising interest in track racing.