Grand Slam Track
Upcoming season or competition: 2025 Grand Slam Track League | |
 | |
| Sport | Athletics |
|---|---|
| Founded | 2024 |
| Official website | Grand Slam Track |
Grand Slam Track is an upcoming professional track and field league that was announced in 2024 by American former Olympic champion sprinter Michael Johnson. The first season is due to run from April to September of 2025. After being initially announced in February 2024, the name of the league and other details were announced at a June 2024 press conference in Los Angeles hosted by John Anderson.[1]
Development
[edit]Former sprinter Michael Johnson, who had the idea for Grand Slam Track since the 1990s,[2] announced in February 2024 his intention to launch a track and field league in 2025, based on conversations he had with BBC colleague Garth Crooks. The league would include a series of events during the track season between April to September.[3] Johnson was reported to be investing money in the league.[4]
In April 2024, Johnson announced initial plans for the Grand Slam Track league, including a total of $30 million in funding from investors and strategic partners. Winners Alliance is reportedly the lead investor and operating partner.[5] Speaking at the 2024 World Athletics Indoor Championships, the President of World Athletics, Sebastian Coe, said on the league: "I welcome innovation. I also welcome external resource. If you’ve got a rising tide, everyone benefits".[6]
The League was working in 2024 with the companies Doubleday & Cartwright, Two Circles, and SRK Strategies, to respectively concentrate on the graphics, marketing and public relations for the Track and Field League.[1][7]
In May 2024, former middle distance runner Kyle Merber confirmed he was employed as Director of Athletes and Racing.[8]
Among the first athletes to sign-up for the events in June 2024 were double Olympic champion 400 m hurdler Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone and 2023 world champion & 2024 Olympic silver medalist in the 1500 m Josh Kerr.[9][10][11] In September 2024, it was confirmed that Cole Hocker & Yared Nuguse, the 2024 Olympic gold and bronze medalists respectively in the 1500 metres, had signed onto the league.[12] During this month sprinters Kenny Bednarek and Fred Kerley also signed onto the league.[13]
Aims
[edit]The announcement of the League in February 2024 came with the stated aims to increase and boost the sport of track and field in public consciousness and to promote the sport outside the tent-poles of popularity provided by the four-yearly cycle of Olympic Games.[14] One of the aims is for the Track and Field League to resemble other sports leagues, with global athletes.[15] The League is also designed to help athletes gain exposure and sponsorship opportunities.[16] As opposed to once every four years like the Olympic Games, the Grand Slam Track league will occur four times every year.[17] The League is designed this way to see rivals have more frequent head-to-head match-ups in high-stakes, fierce, and thrilling competitions.[2]
Broadcast
[edit]In February 2024, Michael Johnson said that Grand Slam Track has the goal to provide a TV-friendly product "to promote the sport’s biggest stars and draw new audiences through unique storytelling".[18]
Field events were not included in the League because only one event will be shown in the broadcast at a time, in a three hour television window.[2]
Premise
[edit]The league proposes four "grand slam" events, or meetings, a season from April to September, including one in Los Angeles, one in another American city, and two in international cities. In each "Grand Slam" event or meeting, there will be six event categories for males and females, listed below. Each event category will feature two disciplines that competitors will compete in over the course of a weekend.[2]
For each category, there will be eight competitors in total. Four of these will be the "Grand Slam Racers", who, at the beginning of the season, will make the starting list of each of the four Grand Slam events, for a total of 48 consistent athletes present in each slam (four racers in six categories, male and female). They are chosen based on their world rankings and merits and are among the best in the world. The other four competitors will be the "Grand Slam Challengers", who are emerging athletes and will be attempting to earn a spot as a Grand Slam Racer for the following season. The Challengers will vary between Grand Slam meetings based on recent performances and potential matchups.[2]
From first to eighth place, points will be distributed as follows for each individual event: 10, 8, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, and 1. The athlete with the best combined score between the two events in their category will be deemed the winner, or Slam champion, of that specific meeting. Should there be a tie, the lowest combined time will be utilised as a tiebreaker.[2]
| Event Category | First Event | Second Event |
|---|---|---|
| Short Sprints | 100 m | 200 m |
| Short Hurdles | 100 m hurdles (W) 110 m hurdles (M) |
100 m flat |
| Long Sprints | 200 m | 400 m |
| Long Hurdles | 400 m hurdles | 400 m flat |
| Short Distance | 800 m | 1500 m |
| Long Distance | 3000 m | 5000 m |
Editions
[edit]The league officially launched in June 2024, prior to a planned debut season in 2025.[19]
| Season | Info | Slam 1 | Slam 2 | Slam 3 | Slam 4 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Venue, City, Country | TBA | TBA | TBA | TBA |
| Date | TBA | TBA | TBA | TBA |
Grand Slam Track Athletes
[edit]2025 Season
[edit]Men
[edit]| Event Category | GST Racers | GST Challengers |
|---|---|---|
| Short Sprints |
|
Slam 1: TBA Slam 2: TBA Slam 3: TBA Slam 4: TBA |
| Short Hurdles | TBA | Slam 1: TBA Slam 2: TBA Slam 3: TBA Slam 4: TBA |
| Long Sprints | TBA | Slam 1: TBA Slam 2: TBA Slam 3: TBA Slam 4: TBA |
| Long Hurdles | TBA | Slam 1: TBA Slam 2: TBA Slam 3: TBA Slam 4: TBA |
| Short Distance |
|
Slam 1: TBA Slam 2: TBA Slam 3: TBA Slam 4: TBA |
| Long Distance | TBA | Slam 1: TBA Slam 2: TBA Slam 3: TBA Slam 4: TBA |
Women
[edit]| Event Category | GST Racers | GST Challengers |
|---|---|---|
| Short Sprints | TBA | Slam 1: TBA Slam 2: TBA Slam 3: TBA Slam 4: TBA |
| Short Hurdles | TBA | Slam 1: TBA Slam 2: TBA Slam 3: TBA Slam 4: TBA |
| Long Sprints | TBA | Slam 1: TBA Slam 2: TBA Slam 3: TBA Slam 4: TBA |
| Long Hurdles |
|
Slam 1: TBA Slam 2: TBA Slam 3: TBA Slam 4: TBA |
| Short Distance | TBA | Slam 1: TBA Slam 2: TBA Slam 3: TBA Slam 4: TBA |
| Long Distance | TBA | Slam 1: TBA Slam 2: TBA Slam 3: TBA Slam 4: TBA |
Slam Champions
[edit]2025 Season
[edit]Men
[edit]| Event Category | Slam 1 | Slam 2 | Slam 3 | Slam 4 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Short Sprints | TBD | |||
| Short Hurdles | ||||
| Long Sprints | ||||
| Long Hurdles | ||||
| Short Distance | ||||
| Long Distance | ||||
Women
[edit]| Event Category | Slam 1 | Slam 2 | Slam 3 | Slam 4 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Short Sprints | TBD | |||
| Short Hurdles | ||||
| Long Sprints | ||||
| Long Hurdles | ||||
| Short Distance | ||||
| Long Distance | ||||
League Records
[edit]Men
[edit]| Event Category | Event | Athlete | Time | Nationality | Racer or Challenger? | Date / Season | Slam |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Short Sprints | 100 m | TBD | |||||
| 200 m | |||||||
| Short Hurdles | 110 m hurdles | ||||||
| 100 m flat | |||||||
| Long Sprints | 200 m | ||||||
| 400 m | |||||||
| Long Hurdles | 400 m hurdles | ||||||
| 400 m flat | |||||||
| Short Distance | 800 m | ||||||
| 1500 m | |||||||
| Long Distance | 3000 m | ||||||
| 5000 m | |||||||
Women
[edit]| Event Category | Event | Athlete | Time | Nationality | Racer or Challenger? | Date / Season | Slam |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Short Sprints | 100 m | TBD | |||||
| 200 m | |||||||
| Short Hurdles | 100 m hurdles | ||||||
| 100 m flat | |||||||
| Long Sprints | 200 m | ||||||
| 400 m | |||||||
| Long Hurdles | 400 m hurdles | ||||||
| 400 m flat | |||||||
| Short Distance | 800 m | ||||||
| 1500 m | |||||||
| Long Distance | 3000 m | ||||||
| 5000 m | |||||||
Prize Money
[edit]The Grand Slam Track league offers a chance for athletes, should they win each of the four Slams in their event category, to win upwards of $400,000.00 USD in a single season.[2]
| Place | Prize Money Per Slam |
|---|---|
| 1st | $100,000.00 |
| 2nd | $50,000.00 |
| 3rd | $30,000.00 |
| 4th | $25,000.00 |
| 5th | $20,000.00 |
| 6th | $15,000.00 |
| 7th | $12,500.00 |
| 8th | $10,000.00 |
References
[edit]- ^ a b Jan, Paras (25 April 2024). "Michael Johnson Secures $30 Million For A New Track And Field League". Forbes. Retrieved 2 May 2024.
- ^ a b c d e f g "Details and Information About Grand Slam Track". www.grandslamtrack.com. Retrieved 2024-09-05.
- ^ Axon, Rachel (April 23, 2024). "Michael Johnson secures funds for new track league". Sport Business Journal. Retrieved 2 May 2024.
- ^ Rashid Dar, Zahid (February 27, 2024). "Track Legend Michael Johnson Splurges $14 Million of Net Worth on Exclusive Project to Benefit Sport". Essentially Sports. Retrieved 2 May 2024.
- ^ Dragon, Tyler (25 April 2024). "Legendary US Olympic gold medalist Michael Johnson set to launch track and field league". USA Today. Retrieved 2 May 2024.
- ^ Wilson, Jeremy (4 March 2024). "Josh Kerr blasts 'crazy' athletics prize money – and backs Michael Johnson's breakaway league". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 2 May 2024.
- ^ Medow, Shawn (April 24, 2024). "Two Circles continues US push with role in Johnson's new track league". Sport Business. Retrieved 2 May 2024.
- ^ Meyers, Christaline (May 1, 2024). "Olympic Legend Michael Johnson's $30 Million-Backed 'Unnamed' Track League Secures Support From Decorated American Athlete". Essentially Sports. Retrieved 2 May 2024.
- ^ a b "World Champion Josh Kerr Confirmed For 2025 Grand Slam Track League". 2024-06-28. Retrieved 2024-06-30.
- ^ Zeigler, Martyn (27 June 2024). "lJosh Kerr signs up to Michael Johnson's new Grand Slam Track league". The Times. Retrieved 27 June 2024.
- ^ a b "Champion hurdler Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone first to sign with 'Grand Slam Track'". RTE. 18 June 2024. Retrieved 27 June 2024.
- ^ a b c Davern, John (2024-09-04). "Cole Hocker and Yared Nuguse Sign With Grand Slam Track". FloTrack. Retrieved 2024-09-05.
- ^ a b c Dragon, Tyler. "Michael Johnson's Grand Slam Track adds two more Olympic medalists". USA TODAY. Retrieved 2024-09-12.
- ^ Jackson, Eric (February 27, 2024). "MICHAEL JOHNSON, WINNERS ALLIANCE TO CREATE FAN-FOCUSED TRACK LEAGUE". Sportico.com. Retrieved 2 May 2024.
- ^ Hardy, Matt (27 February 2024). "Michael Johnson to co-found professional track and field league". City AM. Retrieved 2 May 2024.
- ^ "Olympic champion Michael Johnson starting new track league". ESPN. 28 February 2024. Retrieved 2 May 2024.
- ^ "Grand Slam Track | The new global league by legendary sprinter Michael Johnson". www.grandslamtrack.com. Retrieved 2024-09-05.
- ^ Carney, Abby (29 February 2024). "Olympic Legend Michael Johnson Is Launching a New Fan-Focused Track League". Runners World.
- ^ Sim, Josh (24 April 2024). "Michael Johnson raises more than US$30m for new track league". Sportsmedia.com. Retrieved 2 May 2024.