KINGSTON, Jamaica — The countdown to the highly anticipated Grand Slam Track is officially on, as tickets for the groundbreaking global track competition are now available. The event, created by legendary four-time U.S. Olympic Champion Michael Johnson, promises to bring an electrifying new format to the world of track and field, beginning in Kingston, Jamaica, in April 2025.
Grand Slam Track will feature elite athletes from around the world, competing in high-stakes, high-speed races across multiple U.S. cities, including Miami, Philadelphia, and Los Angeles. The Kingston leg of the competition offers tickets ranging from US$10 to US$60, making it accessible for track fans of all backgrounds.
The competition will be divided into two tiers of athletes: the Grand Slam Track Racers and the Grand Slam Track Challengers. Each year, 48 Racers will be selected, including global stars such as Jamaicans Ackera Nugent and Roshawn Clarke. Additionally, 48 Challengers will join the event on a rotating basis, handpicked by the Grand Slam Track Racing Committee. These Challengers will be chosen based on recent performances and exciting matchups, ensuring a dynamic and unpredictable experience for fans.
Competitors will race in two events each, spanning categories like short sprints (100m/200m), hurdles (100H/110H/400H), middle distance (800m/1500m), and long distance (3000m/5000m). Athletes’ combined results across the two events will determine their final rankings, with the fastest times serving as tiebreakers.
The stakes are high, with a generous prize pool of US$12.6 million distributed across the slams each year. The winner of each event will receive US$100,000, while the eighth-place finisher will earn US$10,000. These rewards, coupled with appearance fees, reflect Grand Slam Track’s commitment to recognizing and supporting the sport’s most talented athletes.
Designed to meet World Athletics’ regulations, all marks set during the competition will count towards official rankings, further boosting the prestige of this new event. Johnson’s vision for Grand Slam Track is clear: to enhance fan engagement, celebrate track and field’s stars, and revolutionize how the sport connects with global audiences through innovative storytelling.
As the sport enters this exciting new era, the first race in Kingston promises to be just the beginning of what will undoubtedly become one of track and field’s most exciting global competitions.
