American Track and Field Stars Humbled in Grant Holloway’s Absence as 26-Year-Old Steals Photo Finish Win

When Michael Johnson launched the Grand Slam Track series, he envisioned a revival. An elite showcase that would elevate track and field back to mainstream glory. But what he likely didn’t anticipate was just how quickly some of America’s biggest names would begin to slip away from that spotlight. Quincy Hall, billed as a headliner, pulled out of the Miami meet with what his agent called a “slight niggle.” His replacement? Steven Gardiner. And as fans scanned the start list for other U.S. stars like Grant Holloway, there was only silence.

Holloway, a perennial favorite in the sprint hurdles, was nowhere to be found. While Holloway’s absence left a glaring void, it also opened the door for a surprising twist. As the race unfolded without one of Team USA’s most bankable stars, like Cordell Tinch and Dylan Beard, a lesser-known 26-year-old Swiss star stole the show, edging out the competition in a dramatic photo finish that stunned the crowd and redefined the moment.

For a meet designed to celebrate the best of the best, it was a humbling reality check for American hopefuls. In the absence of Grant Holloway, it was Switzerland’s Jason Joseph who seized the spotlight with a razor-thin victory in the men’s 110m hurdles at the Rome Diamond League. Joseph clocked 13.14 seconds.

His season’s best to edge out American Cordell Tinch by just three-thousandths of a second in a thrilling photo finish. Tinch had surged ahead coming off the final hurdle, but Joseph’s perfectly timed dip at the line flipped the script. Dylan Beard of the U.S. claimed third in 13.28. Meanwhile, Jamaica’s Orlando Bennett followed close behind in fourth with a season-best 13.29.

The narrow margin at the top and the shuffle in the finishing order served as a stark reminder: without Holloway, the race was wide open—and it was Joseph who grabbed his moment.

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