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. Despite the loss in Rome, Cordell Tinch remains the man to beat in the high hurdles this season. Back-to-back wins in Xiamen and Keqiao to kick off the Diamond League. His performance in Keqiao was particularly jaw-dropping. Stopping the clock at 12.87 seconds, making him the fourth-fastest 110m hurdler in history. But if the Rome photo finish proved anything, it’s that nothing is guaranteed in this event. Veterans like Daniel Roberts are capable of turning the tide at any given meet.

Roberts, an Olympic silver and world bronze medalist, has already racked up multiple Diamond League wins in the last two seasons and remains a threat to reclaim his spot at the top. All of this drama is playing out on the grand stage of the Wanda Diamond League. The premier one-day meet series in global track and field. With 15 stops across the season, the series brings together the sport’s biggest names and brightest rising stars. And in Rome, Jason Joseph rose higher than anyone expected, snatching victory from a field stacked with American talent.

Jason Joseph returns to peak form as Grant Holloway’s uncertainty casts a shadow

The Rome Diamond League marked more than just a stunning win for Jason Joseph. It signaled the Swiss hurdler’s long-awaited return to form. The last time Joseph hit this level was two years ago when he shattered the Swiss national record with a 13.07 performance and captured his first Diamond League victory. This time, he powered from behind with another late-race surge, staying calm under pressure and delivering a technically sharp second half. “I was able to call up what I was capable of in training,” Joseph told SRF, proud of how he kept his composure despite the intensity of the field. Now, with the 2025 World Championships on the horizon, Joseph seems to have found his rhythm again, building off his 2023 World Championship final appearance in Budapest.

Meanwhile, one major name has been noticeably absent from the conversation: Grant Holloway. The reigning Olympic champion suffered a shocking upset in his 2025 season opener in Xiamen, where he stumbled over the final hurdle and finished dead last as Cordell Tinch pulled off a breakout victory. What initially looked like just a rough start quickly spiraled into something more concerning. Holloway, who also claimed the 2025 World Indoor title in the 60m hurdles, was suddenly removed from the entry list for the following meet in Shanghai. In his place, Eric Edwards stepped in. Talented in his own right, but nowhere near the dominant aura that Holloway once brought to every starting line.

Now, with his absence from the Rome Diamond League as well, Holloway’s continued silence is raising more questions than answers. Fans and analysts alike are beginning to wonder whether this is just a brief recovery period or a sign of deeper struggles. For an athlete who once seemed untouchable in the 110m hurdles, the abrupt shift has left a noticeable gap in the field. As Eric Edwards and other rising names try to fill that void, the track world remains on edge. Waiting for the return of a champion and watching as new contenders like Jason Joseph rise to seize their moment in the spotlight.