Track and field is about to get even more exciting starting next year! Michael Johnson announced that the Grand Slam Track will launch in 2025. The league will focus on showcasing the best of distance runners and sprinters across four marquee meets. “Grand Slam Track is going to take our sport to new heights, and we want you to come along for the ride,” he stated. Even though we have a couple of months before the league graces our screens, the anticipation has recently reached a new high.

Fans have been following every update by the official X account. However, on September 25, they announced the addition of 3 more racers to their already stellar lineup. “ONLY THE FASTEST. Welcome to the Grand Slam Track family, Masai Russell, Cyréna Samba-Mayela, and Jasmine Camacho-Quinn.” During the official release, Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone was the first racer they announced. But since then, they have about 10 racers signed up for the league. Isn’t that exciting?

How do they decide who these racers will be? GST will feature four Slams, two of which will be in the States, while the rest will take place internationally. Each Slam would host 96 athletes, and 48 would be considered GST’s core Racers. The Racing Committee considers athletes based on whether they rank in the top 10 of their event, their global championship titles and medals, and more.

Masai Russell arguably pulled off a stellar race at Stade de France. Her time of 12.33 seconds clinched the 100m hurdles Olympic gold medalist title in front of a rousing crowd. But the hurdler turned heads during the Olympic Trials with a blistering 12.25 seconds, catapulting to the 5th position on the all-time 100m hurdles list. 

On the other hand, Jasmine Camacho-Quinn has continued to medal at the last 4 global championships. This year, the defending champion had to settle for a 3rd-place finish in Zurich with 12.36 seconds on the clock. But she went on to win 12 out of 16 meets this year. With a personal best of 12.26 seconds, she’s now 7th on the all-time list. How do the fans feel about this addition?

Track and Field fans are over the moon with Grand Slam Track’s announcement

GST’s primary focus has been pushing its athletes to the forefront all year round. The league’s total prize pool of $12.6 million garnered a lot of attention, proving that they mean business. But even though the inaugural event is months away, fans are ecstatic about the unique experience they’ve promised.

One fan exclaimed, “I can not wait to see Grand Slam Tracks roster once their first season starts. 🤯” This year has been exciting with the 2024 Paris Olympics and the Diamond League meets. There’s nothing better than watching the best of the best dominate on the track. So, we understand why this particular fan is excited. 

Even though Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone was the first GST racer announced, their current roster truly feels like a dream come true. Apart from Masai Russell, Cyréna Samba-Mayela, and Jasmine Camacho-Quinn, it includes Kenny Bednarek, Fred Kerley, Cole Hocker, Josh Kerr, Yared Nuguse, and Melissa Jefferson.

A fan stated, “THIS IS HUGE Women’s 100mH is the most competitive event in the sport right now and we’ve got 3 of the best now huge pull.” The event currently holds an incredible amount of talent, given how much happens in a short time. Another fan agreed, “Oh now we cooking for that 100m hurdles lineup.” Russell, Samba-Mayela, and Camacho-Quinn have proved their mettle on the world’s biggest stage. It’s a given that fans will be excited to watch their potential at the Grand Slam Track. 

With just one glance at their stellar roster, we can attest that Michael Johnson means business. By putting the best of the best on the track, the excitement for GST is already off the charts. If this is what the lineup for the 100m hurdles looks like, it will be interesting to watch who joins the Olympic trio. With one spot remaining, Ackera Nugent, Tobi Amusan, Alaysha Johnson, Keni Harrison, Tonea Marshall, or Danielle Williams could possibly take the spot.

One fan confessed, “I’ve watched Masai run through the good and bad times and I’m very very happy for her 🥇👏.” The hurdler has faced several ups and downs since she decided to go pro. Watching the 24-year-old redeem herself at the Olympics must have been rewarding for this fan. 

Several fans remember Russell’s heartbreaking exit from the 2023 World Championships in Budapest. What happened? Determined to claim the world title, the Olympian stepped onto the track. However, her foot hit the 2nd hurdle, the title slipping right through her grasp. Since then, Russell has redeemed herself, making her inclusion in the league feel like the icing on the cake.

Another fan pointed out, “Grand Slam Track has signed the full 2024 Olympic podium from two events now — the women’s 100m hurdles and the men’s 1500m.” We can see how exciting it would be for fans to watch the podium finishers lock horns a year later on the track. In fact, the women’s 100m hurdles podium winners have done that several times in 2024 alone!

The only time Russell has bested Camacho-Quinn this season was at the 2024 Paris Olympics final. The duo have come face-to-face seven times alone in 2024. The 100m hurdles Olympic gold medalist has faced Samba-Mayela four times, having lost to her in only one of the events. However, Camacho-Quinn has faced the 100m hurdles Olympic silver medalist nine times in her career, having won six. What does the Grand Slam Track have in store for us? We will just have to wait and watch.