Andrew Coscoran is in the mix for a $100,000 pay day after winning the 3,000m event at the Miami Grand Slam Track meet on Friday in a time of 8:17.56, beating out American Grant Fisher and England's George Mills.
It was a heavily tactical race, hence the slow time, so it all came down to a final-lap dust-up in the home straight. Grand Slam Track distance event do not have pacemakers.
Coscoran's finish was fast and perfectly timed to just edge it at the line, beating double Paris Games bronze medallist (5,000m and 10,000m) Fisher by 0.04 of a second, with double European 5,000m silver medallist (indoors and out) Mills in third.
There are four Grand Slams which take place over the course of the year: Kingston, Miami, Philadelphia and LA. The circuit was created by four-times Olympic gold medallist Michael Johnson and is a direct challenge to the Diamond League, long the standard-bearer for the sport worldwide.
Each Grand Slam race has eight competitors - all selected by the Grand Slam Track Racing Committee.
Competitors race in two events per Slam, with the athlete who has accumulated the highest points total across both events winning the top prize. If two people have the same amount of points, it would come down to who has the best overall cumulative time.
Coscoran gained 12 points for his 3,000m win, and will race again on Sunday night (9.44pm Irish time) in the 5,000m knowing a top-two finish will guarantee him at least $50,000.
If he comes first overall he pockets $100k, second nets $50k, with third place worth $30k.
Additional reporting: Reuters
