Track and field fans, get ready. A brand-new era in athletics is kicking off with Grand Slam Track (GST), an exciting new professional league created by four-time Olympic champion Michael Johnson. Designed to bring consistent, high-stakes competition to the sport, GST launches its first event in Kingston, Jamaica, from April 4–6, 2025.
Unlike traditional track meets, GST offers a fresh format that guarantees thrilling matchups, significant prize money, and a focus on pure racing (there will be no field events). This isn’t just another competition—it could be a game-changer for the sport.
A Bold New Approach to Track and Field
GST aims to fix some of the biggest issues in track and field today—mainly, the lack of frequent elite matchups and financial security for athletes. With $12.6 million in total prize money on the line, GST is ensuring that top athletes show up ready to compete.
Each event winner will take home $100,000, and even those finishing eighth will pocket $10,000. That’s a level of prize money unheard of in most meets.
Another big change? No pacers, no pacing lights—just raw, head-to-head, championship-style racing. This means every race will be a battle of strategy, speed, and endurance, making it potentially much more exciting for fans.
Kingston Slam: A Must-Watch Opener
The Kingston Slam will take place at Jamaica’s National Stadium, a venue steeped in track and field history. Over the course of three days, 96 athletes will race twice in their respective events, ensuring fans get to see top-tier competition from start to finish.
While some of Jamaica’s biggest sprint stars—like Elaine Thompson-Herah, Shericka Jackson, and Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce—won’t be competing, the lineup is still stacked with world-class talent.
Here’s a look at the full lineup of competitors for each event:
Men’s Short Sprints
Racers: Kenny Bednarek, Fred Kerley, Oblique Seville, Zharnel Hughes
Challengers: Courtney Lindsey, Ackeem Blake, Terrence Jones, Joseph Fahnbulleh
Women’s Short Sprints
Racers: Brittany Brown, Daryll Neita, Melissa Jefferson-Wooden
Challengers: Alana Reid, Jacious Sears, Tamara Clark, Favour Ofili, Kemba Nelson
Men’s Long Sprints
Racers: Quincy Hall, Muzala Samukonga, Matthew Hudson-Smith, Jereem Richards
Challengers: Busang Collen Kebinatshipi, Vernon Norwood, Chris Bailey, Deandre Watkin
Women’s Long Sprints
Racers: Gabby Thomas, Nickisha Pryce, Alexis Holmes, Marileidy Paulino, Salwa Eid Naser
Challengers: Dina Asher-Smith, Talitha Diggs, Stacey Ann Williams
Men’s Short Hurdles
Racers: Freddie Crittenden, Sasha Zhoya, Daniel Roberts
Challengers: Orlando Bennett, Hansle Parchment, Cordell Tinch, Cameron Murray, Dylan Beard
Women’s Short Hurdles
Racers: Ackera Nugent, Jasmine Camacho-Quinn, Masai Russell, Cyréna Samba-Mayela
Challengers: Danielle Williams, Grace Stark, Denisha Cartwright, Alia Armstrong
Men’s Long Hurdles
Racers: Clément Ducos, Alison Dos Santos, Caleb Dean, Roshawn Clarke
Challengers: Malik James-King, CJ Allen, Chris Robinson, Trevor Bassitt
Women’s Long Hurdles
Racers: Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, Shamier Little, Rushell Clayton, Jasmine Jones
Challengers: Shiann Salmon, Cathelijn Peeters, Andrenette Knight, Dalilah Muhammad
Men’s Short Distance
Racers: Cole Hocker, Josh Kerr, Yared Nuguse, Marco Arop
Challengers: Emmanuel Wanyonyi, Bryce Hoppel, Neil Gourley, Mohamed Attaoui
Women’s Short Distance
Racers: Jess Hull, Nikki Hiltz, Diribe Welteji, Mary Moraa
Challengers: Nelly Chepchirchir, Heather MacLean, Natoya Goule-Toppin, Susan Ejore
Men’s Long Distance
Racers: Grant Fisher, Ronald Kwemoi, Hagos Gebrhiwet
Challengers: Cooper Teare, Thierry Ndikumwenayo, Dominic Lobalu, Dylan Jacobs, Telahun Haile Bekele
Women’s Long Distance
Racers: Nozomi Tanaka, Tsige Gebreselama, Agnes Ngetich, Elise Cranny
Challengers: Hellen Ekalale, Whittni Morgan, Melissa Courtney-Bryant, Ejgayehu Taye
What’s Next for Grand Slam Track?
After Kingston, the GST series moves to Miramar, Florida (May 2–4), Philadelphia (June 6–8), and Los Angeles (July 18–20). Each event will feature fresh Challengers trying to take down the Racers, ensuring non-stop excitement all season.
You can catch all the action live on Peacock (U.S.), TNT Sports (UK/Ireland), and Eurosport (Europe/Asia), with more broadcast deals expected soon.
