In 2025, the world of track and field welcomed a ground-breaking addition to its competitive landscape: Grand Slam Track (GST) , a professional track league spearheaded by legendary American sprinter Michael Johnson. Launched with the ambition to elevate the sport’s visibility and financial rewards, GST has quickly become a focal point for athletes, fans, and industry stakeholders. With its inaugural season underway, the league is poised to reshape how track is perceived and consumed globally.
The Formation of Grand Slam Track
The idea for Grand Slam Track germinated in the mind of Michael Johnson as early as the 1990s, during the height of his competitive career. Frustrated by the sport’s reliance on the Olympic cycle for mainstream attention, Johnson envisioned a league that would showcase track’s biggest stars consistently, fostering rivalries and narratives akin to those in sports like Formula 1 or the UFC. In February 2024, he announced his intent to launch GST, backed by $30 million in funding from investors and Winners Alliance, a firm specializing in athlete revenue development. The league’s official unveiling came in June 2024 at a Los Angeles press conference hosted by broadcaster John Anderson, where the name “Grand Slam Track” and its four-meet structure were revealed.
GST’s format is innovative: 96 athletes (48 contracted “Racers” and 48 “Challengers”) compete in four “Slams” across six event categories—Short Sprints (100m/200m), Long Sprints (200m/400m), Short Hurdles (100mH/110mH and 100m), Long Hurdles (400mH/400m), Short Distance (800m/1500m), and Long Distance (3000m/5000m). Athletes race twice over three days, earning points based on their finishing positions (12 for 1st, down to 1 for 8th). The athlete with the highest combined points in their category wins the Slam, with tiebreakers based on individual placements or combined times. The season culminates with male and female “Racer of the Year” titles awarded to the top point-earners across all Slams.
The league’s stated mission is to boost track’s public consciousness, provide athletes with consistent high-stakes competition, and create a fan-friendly product with no overlapping events or field disciplines. By focusing solely on track, GST aims to deliver a streamlined, high-energy spectacle.
Michael Johnson: The Visionary and His Legacy
Michael Johnson, a four-time Olympic gold medalist (1992, 1996, 2000) and eight-time world champion, is one of track’s most iconic figures. Known for his golden shoes and dominant performances in the 200m and 400m—where he once held world records—Johnson’s competitive legacy is matched by his post-retirement influence. As a BBC pundit and advocate for athletics, he has long critiqued the sport’s inability to sustain interest outside major championships. His involvement in Los Angeles’ successful 2028 Olympic bid further underscores his commitment to track’s growth.Johnson’s vision for GST reflects his understanding of both athletics and business. He has emphasized that start-ups like GST require time to become profitable, dismissing concerns about immediate financial viability. His partnership with Winners Alliance and media deals with The CW, Peacock, TNT Sports, SuperSport and Eurosport signal a robust foundation. Johnson’s mantra—“I think I can save track, not track and field”—acknowledges the deliberate exclusion of field events, a decision that has sparked debate but aligns with his focus on high-intensity racing.
Cash Prizes: A Game-ChangerGrand Slam Track’s financial model is a major draw for athletes. With a total prize purse of $12.6 million across the four Slams, GST outpaces the Diamond League’s $9.2 million for 2025. Each Slam champion earns $100,000, with prizes scaling down to $10,000 for eighth place. A category winner who sweeps all four Slams could earn up to $400,000 in a season, not including base salaries for the 48 contracted Racers. This structure addresses a long-standing issue in track: inadequate compensation compared to other major sports.
The lucrative prizes have already made an impact. Athletes like Gabby Thomas, who won the Long Sprints category in Kingston, cited the $100,000 prize as a motivator, with the crowd’s energy amplifying the stakes. Johnson’s emphasis on rewarding athletes fairly aims to attract top talent and reduce financial struggles for competitors, many of whom face inconsistent earnings outside Olympic cycles.
Value to the Athletics IndustryGrand Slam Track’s arrival has sparked a competitive response from the Diamond League, which increased its 2025 prize money, and complements other initiatives like the women’s-only Athlos meet. By guaranteeing consistent appearances from contracted Racers, GST fosters rivalries and narratives that resonate with fans, addressing the sport’s “viewership problem” in non-Olympic years. Its broadcast reach—covering 189 countries via Peacock, The CW, TNT Sports, SuperSport and Eurosport—ensures global exposure.
The league’s format, requiring athletes to compete in two events, adds intrigue by testing versatility. For example, an 800m specialist like Emmanuel Wanyonyi racing the 1500m creates unexpected outcomes, engaging fans with “fantasy track” scenarios. GST’s focus on head-to-head competition and live performance data aims to attract younger audiences, with co-founder Gera targeting “the youngest fanbase of any sports league” within five years.
However, the exclusion of field events has drawn criticism. Athletes like European long jump champion Jazmin Sawyers argue that GST cannot fully revolutionize athletics without embracing the sport’s entirety. Despite this, World Athletics president Sebastian Coe has endorsed GST’s innovation, granting it official sanctioning. The league’s financial and competitive incentives have already forced industry stakeholders to adapt, signaling its potential to reshape track’s ecosystem.
2025 Kingston Slam: Results and Notable Performances
The inaugural Kingston Slam, held April 4–6, 2025, at Jamaica’s National Stadium, marked GST’s debut. The three-day event featured 96 athletes across 12 categories, with races broadcast live on Peacock (US), TNT Sports (UK), SuperSport and Eurosport (Europe/Asia). The schedule was structured to avoid overlapping events, ensuring fan focus on each race.
Slam Winners and Top 3 Results
Men’s Short Sprints:
100m:
1st: Kenny Bednarek – 10.07s
2nd: Oblique Seville – 10.08s
3rd: Zharnel Hughes – 10.13s
200m:
1st: Kenny Bednarek – 20.07s
2nd: Zharnel Hughes – 20.37s
3rd: Fred Kerley – 20.39s
Men’s 110m Hurdles:
1st: Dylan Beard – 13.29s
2nd: Sasha Zhoya – 13.34s
3rd: Freddie Crittenden – 13.35s
Men’s 400m Hurdles:
1st: Alison dos Santos – 47.61s
2nd: Roshawn Clarke – 48.20s
3rd: Caleb Dean – 48.58s
Men’s Middle Distance:
800m:1st: Marco Arop – 1:45.13
2nd: Emmanuel Wanyonyi – 1:46.44
3rd: Bryce Hoppel – 1:47.02
1500m:
1st: Emmanuel Wanyonyi – 3:35.18
2nd: Yared Nuguse – 3:35.36
3rd: Cole Hocker – 3:35.52
Men’s Long Distance:
3000m:1st: Hagos Gebrhiwet – 7:51.55
2nd: Telahun Haile Bekele – 8:00.68
3rd: Grant Fisher – 8:03.85
5000m:
1st: Grant Fisher – 14:39.14
2nd: Cooper Teare – 14:39.31
3rd: Dylan Jacobs – 14:39.56
Women’s Long Sprints:
200m:
1st: Gabrielle Thomas – 22.62s
2nd: Marileidy Paulino – 22.93s
3rd: Dina Asher-Smith – 22.96s
400m:
1: Salwa Eid Naser – 48.67s
2nd: Gabrielle Thomas – 49.14s
3rd: Marileidy Paulino – 49.35s
Women’s Short Distance:
800m:1st: Nikki Hiltz – 1:58.23
2nd: Diribe Welteji – 1:58.45
3rd: Jessica Hull – 1:58.58
1500m:1st: Diribe Welteji – 4:04.51
2nd: Nikki Hiltz – 4:05.39
3rd: Melissa Courtney-Bryant – 4:05.45
Notable Athletes and Highlights
The Kingston Slam attracted 13 individual global gold medalists, including:
Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone : The 400mH Olympic champion and world record holder, whose rare competitive appearances made her GST signing a coup
Cole Hocker, Josh Kerr, Yared Nuguse : The Paris 2024 1500m podium reunited, though upstaged by Wanyonyi.
Gabby Thomas : A sprint star whose Long Sprints win highlighted GST’s ability to showcase versatile athletes.
Emmanuel Wanyonyi : The 800m Olympic champion’s 1500m upset was a defining moment, proving the format’s unpredictability.
Matthew Hudson-Smith : The British 400m silver medalist’s category win underscored GST’s international appeal.
Masai Russell : Led a stacked women’s Short Hurdles field, reinforcing GST’s depth in hurdles.
Despite a promising debut, the event faced challenges. The 35,000-seat National Stadium saw sparse crowds, with empty backstretch sections drawing criticism. Johnson acknowledged the need for better attendance but emphasized the engaged audience and smooth competition. Behind-the-scenes issues were noted but not publicized, with Johnson promising improvements.
Notable Absences and Reasons for Non-Participation
While GST secured a star-studded roster, several high-profile athletes opted out, including:
Noah Lyles and Sha’Carri Richardson : The Paris 2024 100m Olympic champion and women’s 100m world champion, respectively, were notable absences. Lyles questioned GST’s sponsorship model, seeking non-track sponsors like watch brands, and expressed scepticism about its financial sustainability. Both can command six-figure appearance fees for single-race Diamond League meets, making GST’s dual-race format less appealing, especially with injury risks and focus on later-season championships.
Jakob Ingebrigtsen : The Olympic 5000m champion and 1500m rival to Josh Kerr was absent, possibly due to scheduling conflicts or prioritizing World Championships preparation.
Femke Bol : The 400mH Olympic bronze medalist and McLaughlin-Levrone’s rival declined, with her coach citing concerns about early-season 400m/400mH doubles impacting her preparation.
Grant Holloway : The greatest 110m hurdler ever, per some analysts, skipped GST, likely due to similar concerns about the dual-race format.
Keely Hodgkinson and Athing Mu : The British 800m Olympic champion (recovering from injury) and Tokyo 800m champion, respectively, did not participate, possibly prioritizing recovery or other meets.
Mondo Duplantis : The pole vault superstar was excluded due to GST’s track-only focus, a decision criticized by field athletes like Jazmin Sawyers.
Reasons for non-participation often centered on the dual-race format’s physical demands, injury risks, and conflicts with athletes’ primary events or championship preparations (e.g., 2025 World Championships in Tokyo). The absence of field events also alienated some stars, limiting GST’s appeal to the broader athletics community.
The Miami Slam: May 2–4, 2025
The second GST event, the Miami Slam, is set for May 2–4, 2025, at the Ansin Sports Complex in Miramar, Florida, a smaller venue with a 5,000-seat capacity, addressing Kingston’s attendance issues. The event will follow the same format, with 96 athletes competing across the six categories over three days. All 48 contracted Racers, including Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, Gabby Thomas, Cole Hocker, Josh Kerr, Yared Nuguse, Matthew Hudson-Smith, and Masai Russell, are expected to return, barring injuries. The full Challenger roster has been announced, though specific names were not detailed in sources beyond Kingston’s participants like Dina Asher-Smith, Hansle Parchment, and Ackera Nugent, who may reappear based on performance and matchups.
Notable participants to watch include:
Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone : Her 400mH/400m dominance in Kingston sets high expectations for another showcase in Miami.
Emmanuel Wanyonyi : If he returns as a Challenger, his Short Distance upset could spark further surprises.
Nikki Hiltz : Fresh off a women’s 800m record in Kingston, Hiltz aims to solidify their Short Distance dominance.
Grant Fisher and Hagos Gebrhiwet : The Long Distance category will feature intense battles, with Fisher seeking a win against Gebrhiwet and Ronald Kwemoi.
The Miami Slam’s broadcast on Peacock, The CW, SuperSport and international partners ensures continued global reach. With a more intimate venue and lessons from Kingston, GST aims to boost fan engagement and refine its execution.
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