Grand Slam Track, the new pro league founded by Olympic icon Michael Johnson, continues to build its roster ahead of the Miami Slam, the second stop on its four-meet calendar.
With six more high-profile “Challengers” announced—including Olympic medalists and rising stars—the May 2–4 event at Miramar’s Ansin Sports Complex is shaping up to be one a most talent-stacked meet.
But as the league prepares for its U.S. debut, questions remain about the long-term viability and execution of the Grand Slam Track experiment, following a debut in Kingston, Jamaica, that drew both praise and skepticism.
READ MORE: Inside the Highs, Lows, and Lessons of Grand Slam Track’s Inaugural Meet in Kingston
New Additions For Miami
The latest athletes added to the Miami Slam include:
- Anna Hall (USA) – 2023 World silver medalist in the heptathlon, expected to run the 400m hurdles.
- Andre De Grasse (Canada) – 2020 Olympic 200m champion.
- Timothy Cheruiyot (Kenya) – Olympic silver medalist and 2019 World 1500m champion.
- Amber Anning (UK) – 2025 World Indoor champion in the 400m.
- Kendra Harrison (USA) – American record holder and Olympic silver medalist in the 100m hurdles.
- Claudia Hollingsworth (Australia) – 2024 U20 silver medalist in the 800m.
These additions expand an already deep roster that includes Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, Fred Kerley, Gabby Thomas, Grant Fisher, and Josh Kerr.
Format Innovation Meets Mixed Reception
The Grand Slam Track league promised a streamlined format: direct matchups, no preliminary rounds, and a season-long storyline featuring “Racers” (core athletes) and “Challengers” (event-based invitees).
It’s a concept that takes cues from professional tennis and combat sports, designed for TV and global audiences.
But after the Kingston Slam—held March 29–30 at the National Stadium—some of the league’s growing pains were evident.
Crowd Size and Energy
Despite a strong athlete lineup and Jamaica’s deep track culture, the meet drew a modest crowd. Live footage showed swaths of empty seats, especially outside the sprint events featuring local stars like Oblique Seville and Ackera Nugent. Social media posts and forum threads pointed out the discrepancy between the league’s stated ambition and its on-the-ground reception.
“The product is good. But a track meet without a roaring crowd feels hollow, no matter how many medals are on the line,” one Reddit user commented on r/TrackandField after the Kingston event.
TV-First Format: Smooth or Stiff?
Some praised the pace of the meet—few delays, fewer events, and no long heats or qualifying rounds. But others noted that it lacked the atmosphere and rhythm of more traditional competitions.
“You got the sense this was built for highlight reels more than fans in the stands,” said one observer in a LetsRun post-meet thread. “Cool in theory, but you miss the build-up.”
Athlete reaction was also mixed. While several praised the league’s financial incentives and clear branding, others quietly questioned the points system and how it would translate to broader career goals.
Stakes for Miami
Miami now becomes a critical test for Grand Slam Track—not just to showcase elite competition, but to demonstrate growth in audience engagement and logistical execution.
The Ansin Sports Complex, while modern and fast, lacks the prestige of Diamond League venues. But it could provide a clean slate if the league can boost local attendance and tighten its production.
The new athlete additions may help.
De Grasse’s inclusion adds firepower to a sprint field that already includes Kenny Bednarek and Fred Kerley. Cheruiyot vs. Nuguse and Kerr in the 1500m brings a global rivalry into the spotlight. And the return of Kendra Harrison adds a layer of intrigue in a U.S.-heavy hurdles field.
Still, for all the big names, Miami will need to deliver a better sense of live energy and stakes if the Grand Slam model is going to catch on.
Part of that may come down to how well the league communicates the broader storylines—and how effectively it balances elite performance with fan connection.
After Miami, the league will head to New York in June before concluding with the Grand Final in Los Angeles.
