This is my daily chat with #RunBlogRun viewers and track fans on all things track & field!
Today is April 8, 2025, a Monday.
Coffee with Larry is sponsored by our friends at OMIUS, the cooling technology company, which you can find at www.OMIUS.IO. Sifan Hassan wore the head band from OMIUS during her win at the Paris Olympic marathon.
If you are a coach, an elite athlete send me a note at runblogrun@gmail.com and I will send you an OMIUS sample, as the OMIUS folks would like some comments on their product!
Special thanks to PACE Events, managers of #DubaiMarathon and the #RasAlKhaimahHalfMarathon (thanks to Peter Connerton and Alan Ewan).
Special thanks to Global Athletics & Marketing. Mark Wetmore, their co-founder and CEO, and his team of merry sports pranksters put on the #NBIndoorGP at the #TRACKatNewBalance, where I have gone for 28 of the past 30 years!
Finally, please support #BrooksRunning! Brooks has sponsored my projects since 1990 under Tom Carmody and Helen Rockey! Jim Weber kept the fire burning with Dave Larson, Jesse Williams, and Dan Sheridan. Now, Amanda Reiss, Garrett Heath, and Jillian Zech, for their continued support. Brooks makes tremendous running shoes. I love the Glycerin Max, Cascadia GTX 16, and Brooks Ghost Max. To see Brook’s footwear and apparel, please go to www.brooksrunning.com!
Out topics today:
1. The Grand Slam Track debut happened in Kingston, Jamaica this past weekend.
2. The races, long and short sprints, long and short hurdles, short middle distance and long middle distance were all there.
3. No field events, something many fans sent notes to RBR on.
4. Races were compelling, and the competition one out, best races: Men’s 1,500 meters, women’s long sprints.
Kingston, Jamaica
April 5, 2025, photo by Grand Slam Track
5. Most compelling athletes: Gabby Thomas, Sydney McLaughlin -Levronte, Emmanuel Wanyonyi, Nikki Hiltz and Danielle Williams.
7. Event commentary by Steve Cram, Carrie Tollefson, and Anson Henry. Henry was surprised, Steve controlled the environment,
8. The color commentary by John Anderson, Sanya Richards-Ross and Matt Centrowitz was pretty good, although some noted that it was quite long.
7. The lack of audience in stadium was telling on day 1, and I heard about it all weekend long. Sponsors noted it, brands noted it, fans noted it.
8. Sponsors called, One did not like the format, others said it was a glorified high school meet with great money.
9. Patrick Magyer wrote a piece for Linked in, titled Grand Slam Flop. It showed that there is absolutely a group that wants MJ to fail.
This is Coffee with Larry ! See you tomorrow!