Grand Slam Track

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Grand Slam Track
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Sport Athletics
Founded2024
Official website Grand Slam Track

Grand Slam Track is a professional track and field league, first announced in 2024 by American former Olympic champion sprinter Michael Johnson. The first season ran from April to June 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]

Contents

Development

Former sprinter Michael Johnson, who had 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. It was announced that the league would include a series of events during the track season between April and September, though events ended up only running through June. [3] [4] Johnson, along with billionaire hedge fund manager Bill Ackman, were reported to be investing millions of their own money in the league. [5] [6]

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 four-yearly cycle of Olympic Games. [7] One of the aims is for the Track and Field League to resemble other sports leagues, with global athletes. [8] As opposed to once every four years like the Olympic Games, the Grand Slam Track league will occur four times every year. [4]

In May 2024, former middle-distance runner Kyle Merber confirmed he was employed as Senior Director of Racing. [9] Olympic champion and former sprinter Morolake Akinosun was announced as the Head of Athlete Relations in September 2024.

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 and 2024 Olympic silver medalist in the 1500 m Josh Kerr. [10] [11] [12] In September 2024, it was confirmed that Cole Hocker and Yared Nuguse, the 2024 Olympic gold and bronze medalists respectively in the 1500 metres, had signed onto the league. [13] During this month sprinters Kenny Bednarek and Fred Kerley also signed onto the league. [14]

On 13 September 2024, LetsRun.com reported that the Grand Slam Track meet locations would be in Los Angeles, New York City, Kingston, Jamaica, and Birmingham, with the events being held during two weeks in April and two weeks in May, noting that they had not yet confirmed the information with a second source. [15] In November 2024, Grand Slam Track officially announced the four locations as Kingston, Los Angeles, Miramar, and Philadelphia. [16]

By 19 December 2024, the entire set of racers for the 2025 season was announced. The roster included 13 individual global gold medalists, although notable omissions included Noah Lyles and Sha'Carri Richardson. [17] [18]

On 12 June 2025, it was announced that the Los Angeles Slam was cancelled for various reasons, including the current "geopolitical climate of LA" and a "poor lease agreement with UCLA". [19] On 18 June 2025, Grand Slam Track announced a partnership with Sundial Media and Technology Group. [20]

Financial challenges

Following the conclusion of the 2025 season, as of July 2025, the league has yet to pay the City of Miramar for the rental of the Ansin Sports Complex for the duration of the Miami Slam. It has also been reported that the league still owes $13 million in prize money and appearance fees to athletes, though Kingston Slam appearance fees have been paid out. Prize money payouts are scheduled from the end of July through to the end of September, and will include the honoring of Los Angeles appearance fees. Some athletes, including Gabby Thomas, Emmanuel Wanyonyi, Alison dos Santos, and Grant Fisher have commented about not having yet received payment. [21] [22] [23] Sebastian Coe commented that World Athletics was monitoring outstanding athlete payments from Grand Slam Track. [24] In an interview on July 24, Michael Johnson stated the league was facing a difficult financial situation, in part caused by excessive spending. Furthermore, a key investor withdrew an eight-figure commitment shortly after the Kingston Slam. [25] [26]

On July 31, it was reported that the prize money payments scheduled for the end of July, roughly $3 million, were not paid. [27] In August, Michael Johnson apologized for missing the payment deadline and stated the 2026 season will not occur unless a solution is found. [28]

Overview

The league has four "slams," also known as meets, which take place in a season from April through June. [4] In each slam, there are six event categories for males and females, listed below. Each event category features two disciplines that athletes will compete in over the course of a weekend. [2]

For each category, there are eight competitors in total. Four of these are the "Grand Slam Racers," who, at the beginning of the season, 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 are the "Grand Slam Challengers," who are emerging athletes and are attempting to earn a spot as a Grand Slam Racer for the following season. The Challengers will vary between Grand Slam events based on recent performances and potential matchups. [2]

From first to eighth place, points are distributed as follows for each individual event: 12, 8, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, and 1. [a] The athlete with the best combined score between the two events in their category is deemed the winner, or Slam champion, of that specific meet. Should there be a tie, the highest individual finishing placement between the two will win the Slam. If the tie persists, then the lowest combined time is utilized as a tiebreaker. [2]

At the conclusion of the season, one male and one female athlete are crowned the "Racer of the Year" based on their cumulative points earned across all four Slams. [2]

Event categories

Event CategoryFirst EventSecond 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 [note 1] 3000 m 5000 m

Prize money

The Grand Slam Track league offers a chance for athletes, should they win each of the four [note 2] Slams in their event category, to win upwards of US$400,000 [note 3] in a single season. [2] [note 4]

PlacePrize money per slam
1st$100,000
2nd$50,000
3rd$30,000
4th$25,000
5th$20,000
6th$15,000
7th$12,500
8th$10,000

Broadcast

In February 2025, Grand Slam Track announced agreements with The CW, an over-the-air network, and the streaming service Peacock in the United States. All events stream on Peacock, while The CW airs weekend coverage. NBC, whose parent company owns Peacock, also airs a highlight special. [31]

Editions

The league officially launched in June 2024, prior to its 2025 debut season. [32]

SeasonInfo Kingston Slam Miami Slam Philadelphia Slam Los Angeles Slam
2025 Venue, City, Country Independence Park, Kingston, Jamaica Ansin Sports Complex, Miami, USA Franklin Field, Philadelphia, USA Drake Stadium, Los Angeles, USA
DateApril 4–6May 2–4May 31 – June 1Cancelled [33] [note 5]

Slam winners

Key:(R) = Racer / (C) = Challenger

2025 season

Men

Event Category Kingston Miami Philadelphia Racer of the Year [34]
Short SprintsFlag of the United States.svg  Kenny Bednarek  (USA)(R)Flag of the United States.svg  Kenny Bednarek  (USA)(R)
Short HurdlesFlag of France.svg  Sasha Zhoya  (FRA)(R)Flag of the United States.svg  Trey Cunningham  (USA)(C)Flag of the United States.svg  Jamal Britt  (USA)(C)
Long SprintsFlag of the United Kingdom.svg  Matthew Hudson-Smith  (GBR)(R)Flag of Trinidad and Tobago.svg  Jereem Richards  (TTO)(R)Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  Matthew Hudson-Smith  (GBR)(R)
Long HurdlesFlag of Brazil.svg  Alison dos Santos  (BRA)(R)Flag of the United States.svg  Trevor Bassitt  (USA)(C)
Short DistanceFlag of Kenya.svg  Emmanuel Wanyonyi  (KEN)(C)Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  Josh Kerr  (GBR)(R)Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Marco Arop  (CAN)(R)
Long DistanceFlag of the United States.svg  Grant Fisher  (USA)(R)Flag of the United States.svg  Nico Young  (USA)(C)

Women

Event Category Kingston Miami Philadelphia Racer of the Year [35]
Short SprintsFlag of the United States.svg  Melissa Jefferson-Wooden  (USA)(R)Flag of the United States.svg  Melissa Jefferson-Wooden  (USA)(R)
Short HurdlesFlag of Jamaica.svg  Danielle Williams  (JAM)(C)Flag of Jamaica.svg  Ackera Nugent  (JAM)(R)
Long SprintsFlag of the United States.svg  Gabrielle Thomas  (USA)(R)Flag of the Dominican Republic.svg  Marileidy Paulino  (DOM)(R)
Long HurdlesFlag of the United States.svg  Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone  (USA)(R)Flag of the United States.svg  Jasmine Jones  (USA)(R)
Short DistanceFlag of Ethiopia.svg  Diribe Welteji  (ETH)(R)Flag of Ethiopia.svg  Freweyni Hailu  (ETH)(C)Flag of Ethiopia.svg  Diribe Welteji  (ETH)(R)
Long DistanceFlag of Ethiopia.svg  Ejgayehu Taye  (ETH)(C)Flag of Kenya.svg  Agnes Jebet Ngetich  (KEN)(R)Flag of Kenya.svg  Agnes Jebet Ngetich  (KEN)(R)

League records

Key:(R) = Racer / (C) = Challenger

Men

EventRecordAthleteNationDateSlamRef
100 m9.86 (+0.8 m/s) Kenny Bednarek (R)Flag of the United States.svg United States1 June 2025 2025 Philadelphia [36]
200 m19.84 (+0.2 m/s) Kenny Bednarek (R)Flag of the United States.svg United States4 May 2025 2025 Miami [37]
400 m43.98 Jacory Patterson (C)Flag of the United States.svg United States3 May 2025 2025 Miami
800 m1:43.38 Marco Arop (R)Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Canada31 May 2025 2025 Philadelphia [36]
1500 m3:34.44 Josh Kerr (R)Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Great Britain1 June 2025 2025 Philadelphia
3000 m7:51.55 Hagos Gebrhiwet (R)Flag of Ethiopia.svg Ethiopia6 April 2025 2025 Kingston [38]
5000 m13:40.32 Grant Fisher (R)Flag of the United States.svg United States4 May 2025 2025 Miami [37]
110 m hurdles13.00 (+1.4 m/s) Trey Cunningham (C)Flag of the United States.svg United States3 May 2025 2025 Miami
400 m hurdles47.61 Alison dos Santos (R)Flag of Brazil.svg Brazil4 April 2025 2025 Kingston [38]

Women

EventRecordAthleteNationDateSlamRef
100 m10.73 (+1.3 m/s) Melissa Jefferson-Wooden (R)Flag of the United States.svg United States1 June 2025 2025 Philadelphia [36]
200 m21.95 (+1.1 m/s) Gabrielle Thomas (R)Flag of the United States.svg United States3 May 2025 2025 Miami [37]
400 m48.67 Salwa Eid Naser (R)Flag of Bahrain.svg Bahrain5 April 2025 2025 Kingston [38]
800 m1:58.23 Nikki Hiltz (R)Flag of the United States.svg United States4 April 2025 2025 Kingston
1500 m3:58.04 Diribe Welteji (R)Flag of Ethiopia.svg Ethiopia31 May 2025 2025 Philadelphia [36]
3000 m8:22.72 Hirut Meshesha (C)Flag of Ethiopia.svg Ethiopia4 May 2025 2025 Miami [38]
5000 m14:25.80 Agnes Jebet Ngetich (R)Flag of Kenya.svg Kenya2 May 2025 2025 Miami [37]
100 m hurdles12.17 (+2.0 m/s) Masai Russell (R)Flag of the United States.svg United States2 May 2025 2025 Miami
400 m hurdles52.07 Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone (R)Flag of the United States.svg United States3 May 2025 2025 Miami

Notes

  1. Changed to 3000 m only at the 2025 Philadelphia Slam
  2. Three for 2025 season
  3. US$300,000.00 for 2025 season
  4. At the 2025 Philadelphia Slam, prize money was halved for the Long Distance event category, since only one event was contested.
  5. Originally scheduled for June 27–29
  1. Points were originally announced in 2024 as 10, 8, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, and 1, but by 2025 before the first Slam, the points system was changed to award 12 points to the winner instead of 10. [29] [30]

References

  1. Jan, Paras (April 25, 2024). "Michael Johnson Secures $30 Million For A New Track And Field League". Forbes. Retrieved May 2, 2024.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Details and Information About Grand Slam Track". www.grandslamtrack.com. Retrieved September 5, 2024.
  3. Axon, Rachel (April 23, 2024). "Michael Johnson secures funds for new track league". Sport Business Journal. Retrieved May 2, 2024.
  4. 1 2 3 "The new global league by legendary sprinter Michael Johnson". Grand Slam Track. Retrieved March 27, 2025.
  5. 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 May 2, 2024.
  6. Bachman, Rachel (June 18, 2024). "Michael Johnson Has a Plan to Save Track. He Wants to Make It More Like Tennis". The Wall Street Journal.
  7. Jackson, Eric (February 27, 2024). "Michael Johnson, Winners Alliance to Create Fan-Focused Track League". Sportico.com. Retrieved May 2, 2024.
  8. Hardy, Matt (February 27, 2024). "Michael Johnson to co-found professional track and field league". City AM. Retrieved May 2, 2024.
  9. 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 May 2, 2024.
  10. "World Champion Josh Kerr Confirmed For 2025 Grand Slam Track League". June 28, 2024. Retrieved June 30, 2024.
  11. Zeigler, Martyn (June 27, 2024). "lJosh Kerr signs up to Michael Johnson's new Grand Slam Track league". The Times. Retrieved June 27, 2024.
  12. "Champion hurdler Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone first to sign with 'Grand Slam Track'". RTE. June 18, 2024. Retrieved June 27, 2024.
  13. Davern, John (September 4, 2024). "Cole Hocker and Yared Nuguse Sign With Grand Slam Track". FloTrack. Retrieved September 5, 2024.
  14. Dragon, Tyler. "Michael Johnson's Grand Slam Track adds two more Olympic medalists". USA TODAY. Retrieved September 12, 2024.
  15. "SC: Jakob back on top, half on Sunday, Sha'carri fades, Blake beats Americans, Brussels Day 1" . LetsRun.com. September 13, 2024. Event occurs at 25:24.
  16. "Grand Slam Track Names Host Cities in U.S., Jamaica". sportico.com. November 15, 2024. Retrieved December 19, 2024.
  17. "Massive Track and Field Snub as Noah Lyles and Sha'Carri Richardson Absent From Major Announcement". essentiallysports.com. December 19, 2024. Retrieved December 19, 2024.
  18. "Grand Slam Track: All 30 athletes currently signed as Sha'Carri Richardson and Noah Lyles remain missing". pulsesports.ng. October 25, 2024. Retrieved December 19, 2024.
  19. Kaplan, Daniel (2025-06-12). "Grand Slam Track Cancels LA Meet as $30M Track Startup Wobbles". Front Office Sports. Retrieved 2025-06-12.
  20. "Grand Slam Track partners with Sundial Media and Technology Group - Jamaica Observer". www.jamaicaobserver.com. 2025-06-18. Retrieved 2025-07-15.
  21. Mull, Cory. "With Deadline Approaching, Grand Slam Track Still Owes Facility Rental Fee For Miami Meet". Forbes. Retrieved 2025-07-15.
  22. Fleming, Margaret (2025-07-03). "Grand Slam Track Still Owes Athletes $13 Million: Source". Front Office Sports. Retrieved 2025-07-15.
  23. LetsRun.com (2025-07-30). "Grant Fisher wants his Grand Slam Track money: "Tomorrow would be the last day before I think people get pretty upset."". LetsRun.com. Retrieved 2025-07-31.
  24. Bloom, Ben (2025-07-21). "World Athletics monitoring outstanding Grand Slam Track payments to athletes". The Guardian. ISSN   0261-3077 . Retrieved 2025-07-25.
  25. Mull, Cory. "Grand Slam Track Founder Michael Johnson Admits 'Major Cash Flow' Issues". Forbes. Retrieved 2025-07-25.
  26. LetsRun.com (2025-07-24). "Major Investor Pulls Out, Grand Slam Track In Financial Trouble". LetsRun.com. Retrieved 2025-07-26.
  27. Young, Dennis (2025-07-31). "Grand Slam Track Misses Deadline to Pay Athletes $3 Million". Front Office Sports. Retrieved 2025-08-14.
  28. "Johnson sorry for missed GS Track payments". ESPN.com. 2025-08-15. Retrieved 2025-08-21.
  29. "What and who is behind the new Grand Slam Track League?". Athletics Illustrated. October 24, 2024. Retrieved April 2, 2025.
  30. "What is Grand Slam Track? New athletics league explained". radiotimes.com . April 2, 2025. Retrieved April 2, 2025.
  31. "Grand Slam Track™, founded by four-time Olympic champion Michael Johnson, announces media rights partnerships with the Cw network and NBC Sports to present its inaugural season". NBC Sports Pressbox (Press release). The CW Network; NBC Sports. February 3, 2025. Archived from the original on February 13, 2025. Retrieved February 3, 2025.
  32. Sim, Josh (April 24, 2024). "Michael Johnson raises more than US$30m for new track league". Sportsmedia.com. Retrieved May 2, 2024.
  33. Kaplan, Daniel (2025-06-12). "Grand Slam Track Cancels LA Meet as $30M Track Startup Wobbles". Front Office Sports. Retrieved 2025-06-12.
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  35. "Grand Slam Track | The new global league by legendary sprinter Michael Johnson". www.grandslamtrack.com. Retrieved 2025-06-13.
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  37. 1 2 3 4 "Grand Slam Track Miami - Results". World Athletics. Retrieved May 6, 2025.
  38. 1 2 3 4 "Grand Slam Track Kingston - Results". World Athletics. Retrieved April 5, 2025.