Sprint great Michael Johnson launching ‘Grand Slam Track’ league with $100K first prizes
Associated PressSprinting great Michael Johnson is launching a track league that looks to assemble nearly 100 of the sport’s top performers four times a year to compete for $12.6 million in prize money over its first season. Grand Slam Track plans to sign 48 athletes, known as “GST Racers,” to contracts, then to use appearance fees to bring another 48 athletes — “GST Challengers” — to each meet. “Michael has done a great job putting this together, and just knowing that the future of track and field can grow exponentially and that athletes will have the opportunity to grow the sport and it’s in a place that’s ready to do that,” McLaughlin-Levrone said. “I’m excited to be a part of that in whatever capacity I can be.” Johnson said organizers chose the “Grand Slam” title to give the league the same feel as, say, tennis or golf, which each have four majors that stand out among a yearlong schedule.
History of this topic
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China Daily
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LA Times
Grand Slam Track is what has been needed in athletics – Michael Johnson
The IndependentOlympic track and field seeing dollar signs with splashy cash infusions into the sport
Associated Press
Sprint great Michael Johnson launching 'Grand Slam Track' league with $100K first prizes
The Independent
Michael Johnson signs up Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone to new Grand Slam Track venture
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