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.
Michael Johnson Gives Hope With Grand Slam Track League
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 $3 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 global cities, including Los Angeles, which will also serve as the league’s headquarters. The remaining host cities, including another US location and two international sites, will be announced later this summer.
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. The winner of each category at each meet will earn $100,000, with the eighth place earning $10,000.
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.
Which Athletes Have Been Confirmed So Far?
So far, Grand Slam Track has confirmed several top athletes, including Olympic medalists and World Champions.
Here’s a list of confirmed athletes and their events at the time of writing:
- Sydney McGlaughlin-Levrone: Long hurdles (400H/400m)
- Josh Kerr: Short distance (800m/1500m)
- Cole Hocker: Short distance (800m/1500m)
- Yared Naguse: Short distance (800m/1500m)
The recent signings of Cole Hocker and Yared Naguse add a new level of anticipation and excitement to the 800m/1500m races, with all three medalists from the 2024 Olympic 1500m race going up against one another.
