The ISSA/Grace Kennedy Boys and Girls Athletics Championship had a major influence on the decision to bring the opening leg of Grand Slam Track to Jamaica. 

The four series meet a brain child of the eight times World Championship gold medalist Michael Johnson, will open in Kingston at the National Stadium on Friday afternoon . 

Johnson  speaking with Jamaican Public relations and media consultant Lyndon Taylor says, the passion for the five days high school track and field spectacle was the driving force that brought Grand Slam to the island. 

The meet starts at 5:42 PM with the heats of women’s 200m, featuring Olympic gold medalist Gabby Thomas, national record holder Nickisha Pryce and her compatriot Olympic mile relay bronze medalist Stacy Ann Williams along with the Dominican Republic’s Olympic 400m gold medalist Marileidy Paulino. 

The men’s 400ms comes up immediately after at 5:54 PM and features the Jamaican pair of Deandre Watkin and Zandrion Barnes.