Every four years, the sport of track and field comes to the forefront as the Olympic Games puts the biggest stars on the TVs of millions of viewers.
However, following that two-week boom, fans, athletes, and those involved at the higher level of the sport are left wondering where to go from there. And most of the time, we’re left scratching our head with nowhere to go.
That was, until now.
Earlier this year, Michael Johnson, a four-time US Olympic champion, announced the launch of Grand Slam Track, a professional track league, backed by Winners Alliance, aimed at elevating the sport’s global presence. Grand Slam Track is designed to engage a worldwide fanbase of 2.5 billion and offer unprecedented opportunities for fan interaction, sponsorship, and elite competition.
The league will be composed of four annual meets, each of which will feature over $12 million in prize money, totaling $12.6 million. This is in addition to base compensation and appearance fees for racers.
The inaugural Grand Slam Track season, slated for April 2025, will host four annual meets in various cities in the US and internationally, including Los Angeles, which will also serve as the league’s headquarters.
How Will The Grand Slam Track League Work?
Each year, 48 athletes will be designated as Grand Slam Track Racers. Selected by the Grand Slam Track Racing Committee, these athletes will compete in all four annual meets, receiving base compensation and being eligible for full prize money.
They will also benefit from a comprehensive support package, including content services, marketing support, and world-class athlete services.
Additionally, 48 Grand Slam Track Challengers will be invited to compete in individual meets, earning appearance fees based on recent performances and their potential to create exciting matchups.
Racers and Challengers will compete in six categories, each required to participate in two events per meet:
- Short sprints (100m/200m)
- Short hurdles (100H/110H/100m)
- Long sprints (200m/400m)
- Long hurdles (400H/400m)
- Short distance (800m/1500m)
- Long distance (3000m/5000m)
Final placements will be determined by combined finishing positions across the two events, with tiebreakers decided by the fastest combined time.
Grand Slam Track emphasizes head-to-head competition without the use of pacers. Each meet is scored independently, with no carryover of points or previous finishes. All meets will adhere to World Athletics regulations, ensuring that all marks are eligible for rankings and standards.
Confirmed Dates And Venues
The 2025 Schedule
The inaugural season of the GSTL in 2025 will feature four major events, known as “Slams,” held across various international venues. Each Slam will host a series of track and field events, culminating in a thrilling finale where the overall champions are crowned.
Key Dates and Events:
- Slam 1: April 4–6, 2025, at the National Stadium in Kingston, Jamaica.
- Slam 2: May 2–4, 2025, at the Ansin Sports Complex in Miami, Florida, USA.
- Slam 3: May 30–June 1, 2025, at Franklin Field in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.
- Slam 4: Dates to be announced, at Drake Stadium at UCLA in Los Angeles, California, USA.
Stay tuned for updates on broadcast schedules and ticket availability.
Venues: Where the Action Happens
The GSTL prides itself on hosting events at some of the most iconic and state-of-the-art track and field venues around the world. From historic stadiums to cutting-edge facilities, the league ensures a world-class experience for athletes and fans alike.
- National Stadium, Kingston, Jamaica: Known for its rich history and passionate crowd, the National Stadium has hosted numerous international competitions and is the home of Jamaican athletics.
- Ansin Sports Complex, Miami, Florida, USA: A modern track facility known for its fast surface and favorable weather conditions, making it ideal for record-breaking performances.
- Franklin Field, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA: The oldest stadium still operating for football games, Franklin Field is also home to the prestigious Penn Relays, attracting athletes from around the world.
- Drake Stadium at UCLA, Los Angeles, California, USA: A fan-favorite location that promises an electric atmosphere, Drake Stadium has a history of hosting major track and field events.
Prize Money and Incentives
One of the league’s biggest draws is its lucrative prize structure, which rewards athletes for exceptional performance throughout the season.
- Total Prize Pool: $12.6 million across the four meets.
- Event Winners: Each event within a Slam offers substantial prize money, with exact amounts varying by event and placement.
- Overall Champions: Athletes accumulating the highest points across all meets in their respective events will receive significant bonuses.
- Bonuses: Additional incentives are awarded for breaking records or achieving significant milestones during the competitions.
Meet The Grand Slam Track Athletes
The Grand Slam Track League (GSTL) has assembled an impressive roster of elite athletes for its inaugural 2025 season. Below is a comprehensive list of these athletes, along with detailed biographies highlighting their key achievements over the past four years.
Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone 🇺🇸
Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone is an American hurdler and sprinter specializing in the 400m hurdles. In 2021, she set a world record of 51.90 seconds at the U.S. Olympic Trials, breaking Dalilah Muhammad’s previous record. At the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, she lowered her record to 51.46 seconds to win gold. In 2022, McLaughlin-Levrone reset the world record twice, running 51.41 seconds at the U.S. Championships and 50.68 seconds at the World Championships in Eugene. She capped her dominance in 2024 by winning gold at the Paris Olympics with a time of 50.37 seconds.
Josh Kerr 🇬🇧
Josh Kerr is a British middle-distance runner who has been one of the standout performers in the 1500m over the past four years. At the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, Kerr won bronze with a personal best of 3:29.05. In 2023, he stunned the athletics world by winning gold at the World Championships in Budapest, defeating favorite Jakob Ingebrigtsen in a tactical and thrilling race. Kerr’s 2024 season included a silver medal at the Paris Olympics and multiple podium finishes in the Diamond League, where he consistently competed against the world’s best.
Fred Kerley 🇺🇸
Fred Kerley is an American sprinter who transitioned from the 400m to focus on the 100m and 200m. In 2021, he earned a silver medal in the 100m at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics with a time of 9.84 seconds. He became the 100m World Champion in 2022, running 9.86 seconds in Eugene, Oregon. Over the past two years, Kerley has remained a consistent presence on the Diamond League circuit, posting multiple sub-10-second times and earning podium finishes in major international meets.
Marileidy Paulino 🇩🇴
Marileidy Paulino is a 400m specialist who won silver medals in both the 400m and 4x400m mixed relay at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. She secured gold in the 400m at the 2022 World Championships and successfully defended her title at the 2023 World Championships in Budapest. In 2024, she won the Paris Olympics 400m final, further cementing her place at the top of the event.
Grant Fisher 🇺🇸
Grant Fisher is a record-breaking American distance runner who has excelled in the 5000m and 10,000m. In 2022, he set American records in both events with times of 12:53.73 and 26:33.84, respectively. Fisher narrowly missed the podium at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, finishing fourth in the 10,000m, and repeated this placement at the 2023 World Championships in the 5000m. He has remained a fixture in Diamond League finals, consistently finishing among the top competitors over the past four years.
Kenny Bednarek 🇺🇸
Kenny Bednarek is a 200m sprinter who achieved silver at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics with a time of 19.68 seconds, his personal best. In 2022, Bednarek claimed silver again at the World Championships in Eugene. Over the next two years, he remained a top performer in the Diamond League, frequently earning podium finishes. Bednarek also competed in the Paris 2024 Olympics, where he reached the finals, continuing his streak of consistent performances in global events.
Melissa Jefferson 🇺🇸
Melissa Jefferson is an American sprinter who emerged as a key contender in the 100m. She claimed the U.S. National Championship title in 2022 with a wind-aided time of 10.69 seconds. Jefferson represented the U.S. at the World Championships and consistently placed in the finals of international competitions. In 2023 and 2024, she continued to deliver strong performances, achieving sub-11-second times in Diamond League meets and further establishing herself on the global sprinting stage.
Daniel Roberts 🇺🇸
Daniel Roberts is an American hurdler specializing in the 110m hurdles. In 2022, Roberts won the U.S. Championships with a time of 13.03 seconds and represented the U.S. at the World Championships. Over the past two seasons, he has reached the finals in multiple international meets, including the Diamond League and World Championships, consistently recording sub-13.20-second performances and remaining one of the most competitive hurdlers on the circuit.
Jereem Richards 🇹🇹
Jereem Richards is a Trinidadian sprinter who competes in the 200m and 400m. In 2022, he won gold in the 400m at the World Indoor Championships, clocking a time of 45.00 seconds. Richards added another gold medal at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in the 400m. Over the next two years, he continued to perform well in the Diamond League, achieving podium finishes in both the 200m and 400m. In 2024, Richards represented Trinidad and Tobago at the Paris Olympics, reaching the finals in the 400m.
Agnes Ngetich 🇰🇪
Agnes Ngetich is a Kenyan distance runner specializing in the 10,000m and road racing. She won bronze at the 2023 World Cross Country Championships and achieved a personal best of 31:15 in the 10,000m in 2024. On the roads, Ngetich set a course record at the Brasov 10K with a time of 30:44. Over the past two years, she has transitioned between track and road races seamlessly, consistently earning top finishes in international competitions.
Tsigie Gebreselama 🇪🇹
Tsigie Gebreselama is an Ethiopian long-distance runner who competes in the 5000m and 10,000m. She won silver at the 2022 World Cross Country Championships and has frequently finished in the top five in Diamond League 5000m races. In 2024, Gebreselama set a personal best of 14:33.47 in the 5000m and represented Ethiopia at the Paris Olympics, where she advanced to the finals in both her events.
Nikki Hiltz 🇺🇸
Nikki Hiltz is an American middle-distance runner specializing in the 1500m and mile. In 2023, they became the U.S. Champion in the 1500m, finishing with a commanding kick to secure the national title. Hiltz has competed in several World Championships, reaching the finals in 2023 with a season-best time of 3:57.94. Hiltz also set a personal best of 1:58.42 in the 800m during the 2023 season, showcasing versatility across middle-distance events. Throughout 2024, they were a consistent top performer in Diamond League competitions, frequently finishing in podium positions in both the 1500m and mile, while also representing the U.S. at the Paris Olympics. Hiltz is known for their strong tactical racing and ability to finish races with a burst of speed.
Yared Nuguse 🇺🇸
Yared Nuguse is an American middle-distance runner who holds national records in both the mile and the 1500m. In 2023, Nuguse broke the American indoor mile record, running 3:47.38 at the Millrose Games. Later that year, he set the American outdoor 1500m record with a time of 3:29.02 at the Monaco Diamond League. Nuguse consistently reached finals in the World Championships and recorded multiple podium finishes in the Diamond League across the 1500m and mile during the 2023 and 2024 seasons.
Jess Hull 🇦🇺
Jess Hull is an Australian middle-distance runner who has broken numerous records for her country in the 1500m, 3000m, and mile. In 2023, Hull made history as the first Australian woman to break the four-minute barrier in the 1500m, setting a national record of 3:57.29 at the Monaco Diamond League. She also broke the Oceania indoor mile record that year, running 4:19.89 at the Millrose Games. Hull has competed in both the World Championships and the Paris 2024 Olympics, consistently reaching finals in the 1500m. She also set a personal best of 8:31.80 in the 3000m in 2024.
Luis Grijalva 🇬🇹
Luis Grijalva, a Guatemalan distance runner, has emerged as one of the top 5000m athletes in the world. He made his international breakthrough at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, finishing fourth in the 5000m final with a national record of 13:10.09. In 2023, he competed at the World Championships, making the final and recording another national record with a time of 12:56.63 in a Diamond League race. In 2024, Grijalva further lowered his record to 12:52.97, becoming one of the fastest runners in history.
Devon Allen 🇺🇸
Devon Allen competes in the 110m hurdles and posted a season’s best of 12.99 seconds in 2023, consistently ranking among the top hurdlers. A two-time Olympian, Allen has made numerous World Championship and Diamond League finals while pursuing a career in professional football alongside his track endeavors.
Rushell Clayton 🇯🇲
Rushell Clayton is a Jamaican 400m hurdler who has consistently delivered strong performances in major international competitions. She won bronze at the 2019 World Championships and added another bronze medal at the 2023 World Championships in Budapest with a personal best of 52.60 seconds. In 2024, Clayton won the Oslo Diamond League with a season-best time of 52.51 seconds and represented Jamaica at the Paris Olympics, reaching the final in her signature event.
Marco Arop 🇨🇦
Marco Arop is a Canadian middle-distance runner who has become a dominant force in the 800m. In 2023, he won gold at the World Championships in Budapest with a perfectly executed race, taking control in the final stretch. At the Paris 2024 Olympics, Arop secured silver, further cementing his place as one of the best in the world. His 2023 season included multiple wins in the Diamond League, and he set a personal best of 1:42.85 in Monaco, one of the fastest times in the event that year.
Shamier Little 🇺🇸
Shamier Little is an American 400m hurdler who has also competed in the flat 400m with great success. In 2023, she won multiple Diamond League races, including the Monaco and Stockholm meets, with season-best times under 53 seconds in the hurdles. Little reached the finals at the 2023 World Championships and competed in the Paris 2024 Olympics. Her ability to excel in both hurdles and sprints has kept her as a consistent presence in top-tier events over the past four years.
Jasmine Jones 🇺🇸
Jasmine Jones is an American hurdler who specializes in the 100m hurdles. A standout collegiate athlete at the University of Southern California, she transitioned to the professional circuit in 2023. Jones set a personal best of 12.40 seconds in the 100m hurdles during the NCAA Championships in 2022 and continued her strong form in international competitions. In 2024, Jones made her Diamond League debut, consistently achieving top-five finishes and improving her international ranking. Her rise in the 100m hurdles has positioned her as one of the top emerging athletes in the event.
