MIAMI, Florida – Jamaican sprint hurdler Ackera Nugent received the perfect birthday gift by taking home US$100 000 after winning the women’s 100 metres to secure the Grand Slam Track title here over the weekend.
Ackera NugentNugent, who celebrated her 23rd birthday last Tuesday, ended the meet on 18 points after she captured the 100 metres in 11.09 seconds to go along with her third-place finish in the 100 metre hurdles on Friday.
Her teammate Megan Tapper was second in a time of 11.33, with the United States’ Kendra Harrison third in 11.35.
The victory saw her finish as the top athlete, just ahead of Masai Russell, who ended on 17 points and Tapper (12 points).
Nugent said she was determined to win the grand prize as a belated birthday present.
“Between Kingston and now, I got more outdoor training because I came from China just a week before and I was able to come out here and put it together,” she said after the race.
“I didn’t get what I wanted in the hurdles, but I just know that I just needed to stay focused because I told myself I needed the $100k for 23.”
