Grand Slam Track: Dates, athletes, format, venues, prize fund and more

The brainchild of four-time Olympic champion Michael Johnson, Grand Slam Track is a brand new professional athletics league.

With a bold promise to reinvigorate athletics and an ambitious goal to capture the younger generation, Grand Slam Track will feature an elite field of runners who will compete across four 'slams' for a substantial prize pot.

Grand Slam Track dates

Grand Slam Track begins on Friday 4th April and takes place across four different weekends, culminating on Sunday 29th June.

Grand Slam Track schedule & venues

Consisting of four meetings between April and June, Grand Slam Track commences in Jamaica before heading to the United States for the remaining three rounds.

Kingston, Jamaica

• Friday 4 April (23:00 BST)
• Saturday 5 April (23:00 BST)
• Sunday 6 April (20:00 BST)

Miami, USA

• Friday 2 May (22:00 BST)
• Saturday 3 May (22:00 BST)
• Sunday 4 May (20:00 BST)

Philadelphia, USA

• Friday 30 May (21:00 BST)
• Saturday 31 May (21:00 BST)
• Sunday 1 June (20:00 BST)

Los Angeles, USA

• Friday 27 June (00:00 BST - Saturday 28th)
• Saturday 28 June (00:00 BST - Sunday 29th)
• Sunday 29 June (20:00 BST)

Grand Slam Track format

Grand Slam track is divided into six event categories and the athletes race across the same two disciplines at every meeting.

The categories are:

• Short sprints (100m and 200m)
• Short hurdles (100m and 100/110m hurdles)
• Short distance (800m and 1500m)
• Long sprints (200m and 400m)
• Long hurdles (400m hurdles and 400m)
• Long distance (3000m and 5000m)

A total of 48 racers, four men and four women in each category, are committed to run in all four 'slams'.

They will be challenged by the challengers, of which there is four in each category. These challengers will alter at each event in light of performances and potential match-ups.

There is a points based system implemented where competitors earn points based on their finishing position in a race.

At the end of the campaign, the athlete with the most cumulative points in their category is named 'Racer of the Year'.

Grand Slam Track points system

1. 12 points
2. 8 points
3. 6 points
4. 5 points
5. 4 points
6. 3 points
7. 2 points
8. 1 point

Grand Slam Track athletes

While there are a number of high-profile athletes missing, including reigning 100m Olympic champion Noah Lyles, Johnson and his associates have still been able to draw a number of stars to the league.

The men's shorts sprints will be contested by Kenny Bednarek, Fred Kerley, Oblique Seville and Zharnel Hughes, while Matthwew Hudson-Smith will feature in the men's long sprints against Quincy Hall.

Josh Kerr will reacquaint himself with his Olympic conqueror Cole Hocker, although there will be no renewed rivalry with Jakob Ingebrigtsen.

In the women's short sprints, British star Daryll Neita will be vying for glory against American duo Brittany Brown and Melissa Jefferson-Wooden.

200m Olympic champion Gabby Thomas will contest the women's long sprints and she will be challenged by Dina Asher-Smith.

Grand Slam Track prize fund

A lucrative $12.6 million prize fund is on offer in the inaugural season of the Grand Slam Track.

Athletes will be paid participation fees at each meeting and their share of the prize fund will be dictated by performances.

The winner of a race group at a slam will receive $100k (£77k), with second place taking home $50k (£39k).

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