Kingston, Jamaica, is set to come alive on April 4th, 2025, as the Grand Slam Track Series takes centre stage at the National Stadium where some of the world's fastest athletes will go head-to-head for record prize money.
Grand Slam Track has secured a groundbreaking broadcast partnership, confirming The CW Network as its exclusive U.S. broadcast home and Peacock as the exclusive streaming platform for its highly anticipated inaugural season. The series, which kicks off in Kingston, Jamaica, from April 4-6, 2025, will also feature meets in Miami, Philadelphia, and Los Angeles, delivering elite track and field action across multiple major markets.
The countdown to the inaugural Grand Slam Track Meet has begun, with Jamaica's National Stadium set to host the first leg of the four-meet series in April 2025, just five days after the conclusion of the ISSA GraceKennedy Boys and Girls Championships. On Thursday, Don Lockerbie, Venue Director for Grand Slam Track, met with members of the Inter-Secondary Schools Sports Association (ISSA) at the National Stadium to discuss plans for the event and potential collaboration between the two entities.
Excitement for the inaugural Grand Slam Track series continues to mount, with Head of Athletes Relations Morolake Akinosun revealing that the first Challenger has been signed for the Kingston leg of the competition. The meet, scheduled for April at Jamaica’s National Stadium, will be the first of four stops in the groundbreaking series.
The CW Network, NBC Sports, and Grand Slam Track™, the global home of professional track competition launched in 2024 by four-time Olympic Champion Michael Johnson, has announced a groundbreaking three-way partnership that confirms The CW Network will be the exclusive U.S. broadcast home of Grand Slam Track™, and that Peacock will be the exclusive streaming home of Grand Slam Track™, presenting all four Slams of the inaugural 2025 season live. A highlights special featuring the best moments from the inaugural Grand Slam Track™ season will also air on NBC on May 10.
Set to kick off in April 2025, the league will feature a prize fund of USD$12.6 million spread over four events annually. Two of these events will be hosted in the United States. Each year, 48 athletes will be contracted to the league, competing in two events per meet across the four meetings, dubbed "Slams."
"We're revolutionizing the track landscape," said Johnson. "They deserve to be compensated. The structure of the sport in the past has not compensated those athletes to take that risk to go and compete against the best athletes in the sport."
The league has already attracted top-tier talent, with American Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, the Olympic and World Champion, and world record holder in the 400m hurdles, being the first athlete to join. "I firmly believe that this is the step forward that track needs to take it to another level," McLaughlin-Levrone stated.
Grand Slam Track will feature a unique format where each meet hosts 96 athletes, split into two categories: GST Racers and GST Challengers. The 48 core GST Racers, divided equally among six event groups for both men and women, will compete in all four Slams each year. They will receive an annual base compensation and can earn additional prize money. The GST Racing Committee, which selects these athletes, focuses on global championship titles, top rankings, global following, and existing rivalries.
The other 48 athletes at each Slam, known as GST Challengers, will be selected based on recent performances and intriguing matchups. They will be paid appearance fees per event and are also eligible for full prize money. Both Racers and Challengers will compete in two events over three days during each Slam.
The event categories are designed to showcase the versatility and skills of the world's best athletes, including short sprints (100m and 200m), short hurdles (100m hurdles for women or 110m hurdles for men, and 100m), long sprints (200m and 400m), long hurdles (400m hurdles and 400m), short distance (800m and 1500m), and long-distance (3000m and 5000m). Athletes' placements in each event are critical as their scores across two events will determine their final ranking for that Slam. The scoring system awards ten points for first place, eight points for second, six points for third, five points for fourth, four points for fifth, three points for sixth, two points for seventh, and one point for eighth place. In the event of a tie, the quickest combined time across the two events will decide the Slam winner.
Johnson's Grand Slam Track is poised to create a significant shift in the track and field world, providing athletes with better financial rewards and a platform to showcase their talents against the best in the world. With substantial backing and a well-thought-out structure, GST is set to become a premier destination for elite runners globally, promising thrilling competitions and redefining the sport's financial landscape.
Morolake Akinosun, Head of Athletes Relations for Grand Slam Track, has expressed confidence that despite the early start to the Grand Slam Track season in April, athletes will deliver world-class performances. Akinosun addressed concerns regarding the timing of the inaugural meet, which falls at a point in the season when many athletes, especially those from the Western Hemisphere, are still transitioning from indoor competition or just beginning their outdoor training programs.
British sprinter Zharnel Hughes has been confirmed as one of the Racers for the 2025 Grand Slam Track season, which kicks off in Jamaica in April. Hughes, who trains in Jamaica and holds British records in the 100m (9.83 seconds) and 200m (19.73 seconds), brings a wealth of experience and speed to the innovative track and field series.
As the Grand Slam Track Series prepares to kick off in Kingston on April 4th, 2025, Orlando Bennett is counting his blessings. The talented hurdler is eager to face off against the world's best, and he's feeling grateful for the opportunity.
Grand Slam Track™, the global home of professional track competition, launched by four-time Olympic Champion Michael Johnson, officially announced the first group of Challengers signed to compete in the Kingston Slam, April 4-6th, at the National Stadium, Kingston, Jamaica.
Grand Slam Track™ has unveiled the highly anticipated Racer Groups for its inaugural season, which will begin at Kingston’s National Stadium this April. The groundbreaking series will then make stops in Miami, Philadelphia, and Los Angeles, showcasing a thrilling lineup of elite athletes competing for prize money, pride, and the coveted title of Slam champion.
Dancehall star Teejay has secured another major achievement in his career as his hit single "Drift" has been officially licensed by Grand Slam Track, the high-profile track and field event spearheaded by four-time Olympic champion Michael Johnson. This latest accomplishment is yet another global win for Jamaican music, further solidifying Teejay’s growing influence on the international stage.
With the Grand Slam Track Series set to debut at the National Stadium in Kingston from April 4-6, 2025, just five days after the ISSA GraceKennedy Boys and Girls Championships, the big question remains—will Jamaican fans turn out?