What is Grand Slam Track? Michael Johnson’s revolutionary athletics league with $400k on the line that Noah Lyles could star in
Michael Johnson has promised to revolutionize the landscape of athletics with Grand Slam Track. Launched in June 2024, the lucrative new league aims to bring together the world’s elite runners and offer them a platform unlike anything we have seen before. Michael Johnson’s ‘Athletics Super League’ has $30m backing to supercharge the sportAP “I love this sport,” four-time Olympic gold medallist Johnson said, discussing his thinking behind the new venture. “But I have had time to reconcile the fact that if we continue to just do the same thing, tell people that ‘you should love this’ or ‘you should understand this’ – that doesn’t work. “Grand Slam Track is track, that is what we’re doing. I am going to save what I think I can save. I think I can save track.” With the new league set to arrive in 2025, and some big promises from Johnson, here’s everything you need to know. What is Grand Slam Track? Grand Slam Track (GST) will aim to become the be ‘premier global professional track league’ that will feature matchups between the fastest stars in the sport. The league will host four annual ‘Slams’ taking place on a weekend between April and September, with eight ‘Racers’ competing in one of 12 event groups. At the beginning of each season, four racers per group will make the starting roster to contest each Slam. The next four racers in each group will be known as the ‘Challengers’, whose performances will help them qualify for the head-to-head clashes. Each athlete will compete twice over the weekend with the best combined placing determining the Slam champion. Who are the racers and what are the races? Male and female athletes will be split into the following groups:Short Sprints – 100m and 200m eventsLong Sprints – 200m and 400m eventsShort Hurdles – 100m/110m Hurdles and 100m flat eventsLong Hurdles – 400m Hurdles and 400m flat eventsShort Distance – 800m and 1500m eventsLong Distance – 3000m and 5000m events Half of the competitors will qualify as GST Racers and half will be GST Challengers, seeking to secure a spot next season as a GST Racer. Fred Kerley has committed to GSTGetty Each group will compete in two events (listed above) and the winner of combined results will win the Slam for each group. Athletes will receive points for their finishing position in each of their two races. From 1st to 8th place the points are distributed as: 10-8-6-5-4-3-2-1. The Racer who finishes with the highest total number of points after the completion of both events will be crowned Slam champion with prize money being paid out to each corresponding place. In the event of a tie, the lowest combined time will be used to determine the winner. When will the season take place and where will the races be held? Four premier GST competitions will take place annually from April to September. Johnson is hoping to revolutionise athletics with GSTEPA Three of the first four host cities are in the United States, with races in Miami, Philadelphia and Los Angeles following the opening meet in Kingston, Jamaica. How much prize money is at stake? GST boasts the highest combined prize pool for a season of track racing ever, offering athletes the chance to win $400,000 in total prize money over the course of a season. The prize money per slam is as follows:1st – $100,0002nd – $50,0003rd – $30,0004th – $25,0005th – $20,0006th – $15,0007th – $12,5008th – $10,000 Who will be competing in Grand Slam Track? Each year, 48 athletes will be named to the GST League each year as GST Racers. According to GST, these athletes are selected by the racing committee ‘based on a combination of factors to include the fastest and best racers in each race group, with a focus on fierce rivalries and thrilling competitive racing’. GST Racers commit to racing in all four Slams per year. They will receive an annual appearance fee compensation for racing in each Slam and are eligible for full prize money. In addition to the annual roster, 48 additional athletes are selected on a Slam-by-Slam basis to challenge GST Racers. Challengers are chosen by the racing committee based on a combination of factors including recent performances, as well as the most intriguing athletes and matchups. Gabby Thomas and Daryll Neita have signed with GSTAFP Who has already signed up? GST aims to bring together the world’s best athletes, and so far, some massive names have already signed up. The male athletes include:Short Sprints – Kenny Bednarek, Fred KerleyShort Hurdles – Devon Allen, Daniel RobertsLong Sprints – Muzala Samukonga, Quincy Hall, Matthew Hudson-Smith, Jereem RichardsLong Hurdles – Alison Dos Santos, Clement Ducos, Roshawn ClarkeShort Distance – Josh Kerr, Yared Nuguse, Cole Hocker, Marco AropLong Distance – Grant Fisher, Ronald Kwemoi, Luis Grijalva The female athletes include:Short Sprints – Melissa
Michael Johnson has promised to revolutionize the landscape of athletics with Grand Slam Track.
Launched in June 2024, the lucrative new league aims to bring together the world’s elite runners and offer them a platform unlike anything we have seen before.
“I love this sport,” four-time Olympic gold medallist Johnson said, discussing his thinking behind the new venture.
“But I have had time to reconcile the fact that if we continue to just do the same thing, tell people that ‘you should love this’ or ‘you should understand this’ – that doesn’t work.
“Grand Slam Track is track, that is what we’re doing. I am going to save what I think I can save. I think I can save track.”
With the new league set to arrive in 2025, and some big promises from Johnson, here’s everything you need to know.
What is Grand Slam Track?
Grand Slam Track (GST) will aim to become the be ‘premier global professional track league’ that will feature matchups between the fastest stars in the sport.
The league will host four annual ‘Slams’ taking place on a weekend between April and September, with eight ‘Racers’ competing in one of 12 event groups.
At the beginning of each season, four racers per group will make the starting roster to contest each Slam. The next four racers in each group will be known as the ‘Challengers’, whose performances will help them qualify for the head-to-head clashes.
Each athlete will compete twice over the weekend with the best combined placing determining the Slam champion.
Who are the racers and what are the races?
Male and female athletes will be split into the following groups:
Short Sprints – 100m and 200m events
Long Sprints – 200m and 400m events
Short Hurdles – 100m/110m Hurdles and 100m flat events
Long Hurdles – 400m Hurdles and 400m flat events
Short Distance – 800m and 1500m events
Long Distance – 3000m and 5000m events
Half of the competitors will qualify as GST Racers and half will be GST Challengers, seeking to secure a spot next season as a GST Racer.
Each group will compete in two events (listed above) and the winner of combined results will win the Slam for each group.
Athletes will receive points for their finishing position in each of their two races.
From 1st to 8th place the points are distributed as: 10-8-6-5-4-3-2-1.
The Racer who finishes with the highest total number of points after the completion of both events will be crowned Slam champion with prize money being paid out to each corresponding place.
In the event of a tie, the lowest combined time will be used to determine the winner.
When will the season take place and where will the races be held?
Four premier GST competitions will take place annually from April to September.
Three of the first four host cities are in the United States, with races in Miami, Philadelphia and Los Angeles following the opening meet in Kingston, Jamaica.
How much prize money is at stake?
GST boasts the highest combined prize pool for a season of track racing ever, offering athletes the chance to win $400,000 in total prize money over the course of a season.
The prize money per slam is as follows:
1st – $100,000
2nd – $50,000
3rd – $30,000
4th – $25,000
5th – $20,000
6th – $15,000
7th – $12,500
8th – $10,000
Who will be competing in Grand Slam Track?
Each year, 48 athletes will be named to the GST League each year as GST Racers.
According to GST, these athletes are selected by the racing committee ‘based on a combination of factors to include the fastest and best racers in each race group, with a focus on fierce rivalries and thrilling competitive racing’.
GST Racers commit to racing in all four Slams per year. They will receive an annual appearance fee compensation for racing in each Slam and are eligible for full prize money.
In addition to the annual roster, 48 additional athletes are selected on a Slam-by-Slam basis to challenge GST Racers.
Challengers are chosen by the racing committee based on a combination of factors including recent performances, as well as the most intriguing athletes and matchups.
Who has already signed up?
GST aims to bring together the world’s best athletes, and so far, some massive names have already signed up.
The male athletes include:
Short Sprints – Kenny Bednarek, Fred Kerley
Short Hurdles – Devon Allen, Daniel Roberts
Long Sprints – Muzala Samukonga, Quincy Hall, Matthew Hudson-Smith, Jereem Richards
Long Hurdles – Alison Dos Santos, Clement Ducos, Roshawn Clarke
Short Distance – Josh Kerr, Yared Nuguse, Cole Hocker, Marco Arop
Long Distance – Grant Fisher, Ronald Kwemoi, Luis Grijalva
The female athletes include:
Short Sprints – Melissa Jefferson, Daryll Neita, Gabby Thomas
Short Hurdles – Masai Russell, Cyrena Samba-Mayela, Jasmine Camacho-Quinn, Ackera Nugent
Long Sprints – Marileidy Paulino, Salwa Eid Naser
Long Hurdles – Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, Jasmine Jones, Rushell Clayton, Shamier Little
Short Distance – Nikki Hiltz, Jess Hull, Mary Moraa
Long Distance – Agnes Ngetich, Tsigie Gebreselama, Elise Cranny, Nozomi Tanaka
Will Olympic 100m champion Noah Lyles join the league?
As of writing, Noah Lyles has not committed to joining GST. There are two spots in the short sprints still up for grabs, but he has previously admitted that the lack of a major broadcasting deal is a sticking point for him.
“I just need to see a TV provider,” Lyles said on the prospect of him joining, back in September.
“The problem with our sport right now is that we have great performances, but nobody’s able to see them. So, until I hear about a TV sponsor, I don’t know that I can make a decision yet.”
