Get ready, track and field fandom; professional athletics just got a whole lot more exciting! The launch of legendary sprinter Michael Johnson’s brainchild, Grand Slam Track, could be a game changer. The isn’t just any other league! It is a league that focuses on year-round competition and fan engagement. This doesn’t solve all the woes of the track and field community, but it is definitely a start to building a culture of consistency.

Grand Slam Track makes big promises. The competition will see 96 racers across 12 distances across a full season. Imagine the thrill of it all when it is no longer every four years. The rivalries that are to be born, the friendships that are likely to be forged, and above all, the whole new level of competition it will bring! 2025 promises to be a thrilling year for track and field. However, new competition also means new systems are in place.

How does Grand Slam Track scoring work?

Now that the hype is through the roof, let’s look at how the scoring is going to work for Grand Slam Track 2025. First off, there are six groups for both male and female athletes, each organized by event type. Every athlete participating will be allowed to compete in two races. The races are tailored to their specific categories. This will include both short sprints of 100 and 200m and long distances like 3000m and 5000m.

When it comes to scoring, Grand Slam gets exciting. Finishing positions in each race determine the points awarded. They are distributed 10-8-6-5-4-3-2-1 for places 1st to 8th. With 1st place earning 10 points, 2nd place getting 8, and so on, down to 1 point for 8th place. The athlete with the highest total points after both events claim the Slam Champion title.

The winners also take home serious prize money alongside the title. $100,000 is decided to be given to the winner of each Slam! But wait, it gets even better! Let’s say two athletes hit a tie. Then it is all about speed! The athlete with the lowest combined time across both races gets the edge. For example, if Athlete 1 and Athlete 2 end up with the same points, the one who crosses the finish line fastest will win that top spot.

Who’s set to compete at the Grand Slam Track?

Nitty-gritty of scoring aside, the lineup for Grand Slam Track makes it a whole lot more exciting. Kicking off the Grand Slam Track roster is none other than Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone! The Paris Olympics gold medalist and world record holder for the 400m hurdles was the first of 48 elite athletes to sign on. Who would want to miss the Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone magic on track?

But soon, British Olympic medalist Josh Kerr joined Sydney. Josh comes with his own set of laurels, including a world record in the indoor two miles, a 2023 World Championship title in the 1500m, and even an Olympic bronze medal from Tokyo 2020. These two legends are only the tip of the iceberg! Joining Sydney and Josh, are Cole Hocker and Yared Nuguse.

Cole and Yared made headlines recently during the 1500m Olympics finals. Hocker went on to take the gold, while Nuguse took home the bronze. Any idea who took the silver? It was none other than Josh Kerr himself. Just imagine the rematch the world will witness at the Grand Slam Track! Regardless of who wins the gold, it is going to be a race that will go down in history.

To make the mix a bit more interesting, they’ll be racing alongside some serious track royalty! The reigning World Champion in the 100m and showstopper, Fred Kerley, also joins the ensemble. Kenny Bednarek is on a redemption spree and will be taking the track once again. And the spree seems to be going well; Kenny, after his Silver in Paris, has already set the tone by making a comeback. At the 2024 Diamond League, Kenny went on to win gold in 200m, beating the man who took his Olympic gold.

The competition is fierce. And to make it a bit harder, Melissa Jefferson, the rising star who won gold in the 4x100m relay at the Paris Olympics, will also be joining. With a line-up like this, the Grand Slam Track is shaping up to be a can’t-miss spectacle. Get ready to cheer for your favorite athletes in 2025—because this is going to be a wild ride!