If you’re a track and field fan from the USA, chances are, you’re having the time of your life right now. After a stellar display of grit and skill by the athletes of the country in Paris earlier this year, the popularity of track and field is at its zenith. To keep up with the fans’ demands, a number of tournaments have also lined up to keep supplying the excitement. And everyone’s looking for their piece of the action.

When Olympic veteran Michael Johnson announced his ambitious project named Grand Slam Track in February 2024, the community quickly started speculating what it could bring to the table for the sport. But it seems like some athletes are willing to put their skin on the line to convince Johnson to broaden his horizons even further.

Long jumper Will Williams took to X on October 13 to pitch his ideas to the Olympic gold medalist sprinter. Sharing news of Grand Slam Track recently signing Quincy Hall, Williams claimed the upcoming event should offer more options to athletes who aren’t track stars. To show that he’s willing to fight to prove his point, the 29-year-old Texas A&M alum also promised to take on the athletes who have already joined hands with Johnson.

“Sign me to a wild card contract and when I beat any of the sprinters signed to run,” boasted Williams emphatically. With that, he also put forth his demands should he actually bag a win. “I get paid double and you have to add the long jump! ” the 2022 NACAC gold medalist track and field star made his wishes clear.

However, Williams will have his work cut for him. Challenging a 400m specialist as a 100m runner isn’t the brightest move, some would opine. On the other hand, the incredible growth that track and field has been experiencing in recent months might have prompted him to cash in his chips.

Williams reflects the sentiments of the track and field community

At the 2024 Olympics, watching stars like Noah Lyles, Kenny Bednarek, Gabby Thomas, and others was an experience that fans wanted more of. Subsequently after the Games, the Diamond League managed to retain the momentum to some degree. However, with the Athletics World Championships slated for 2025, fans clamored for something to keep them occupied in the meantime. Rising up to the occasion were Alexis Ohanian and Michael Johnson. Both of them cited the shambling conditions of the sport and expressed their wishes to bring a change to the situation.

Reddit co-founder Ohanian announced the Athlos NYC, a female-only track and field event that took place at the Icahn Stadium in New York last month. With promises of paying the winning runners $60,000, Ohanian sent a ripple across the community. Furthermore, his collaboration with Olympic gold medalist Gabby Thomas only upped the ante for the fans. The Harvard graduate also hailed Serena Williams’ husband for his dedication in elevating women’s sports saying, “He didn’t know anything about track, and now he’s using track lingo when he’s talking about, you know, our sport in the races, which I really appreciate.”

Noting its resounding success, Williams might be thinking of jumping on the bandwagon as well. And he’s looking at Michael Johnson to do so. Grand Slam Track has signed four-time Olympic gold medalist Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone as its first athlete, and Will Williams wants his number to come up as well. Do you think he’ll be lucky enough to draw Johnson’s attention with his boastful words? Tell us below.