In the wee hours of November 11, Michael Johnson dropped an update on his X handle. He shared a clip of his pet project, Grand Slam Track’s promotional video, and added a few lines in the caption. The post was certainly attention-grabbing, especially since it revealed Jamaica as the destination for the track contest. Johnson added to the hype with his lines, “Can’t wait for this! I literally couldn’t wait, so where am I today? KINGSTON!”

But Johnson didn’t step into Jamaica just to tease his decades-long US-Jamaican track rivalry. He was there to soak up the Jamaican vibe firsthand. Was it that special this time? He had his words ready. Another Jamaican legend also shared her thoughts about the selection.

Yes, the Grand Slam Track League has chosen Kingston as the venue for the upcoming Spring contest. The schedule shows that the Slam will land at National Stadium in Kingston for the three-day event—April 4, 5, and 6. According to Johnson, there’s no better place than Jamaica to host the inaugural GST edition. “Jamaica deserves to be recognized for its contributions to the sport,” he said. As a veteran track and field athlete, he knows the atmosphere at Jamaican contests well. But what about those who’ve never experienced it firsthand? Count Chris Chavez in that group.

During an interview, the CEO of Citius Mag admitted that he had never watched a Jamaican meet live. However, due to his involvement with the Grand Slam Track League, he was eager to dive deeper into its dynamics. To get the full experience, he turned to Jamaican athlete Rushell Clayton. In their tête-à-tête, Clayton shared what it’s like, saying, “It’s going to be loud and fun.” Clayton’s moments on the Jamaican tracks have clearly left an impression, and her words offered Chavez a glimpse of the excitement to come.

Well, folks, Clayton exactly knew the need. That knowledge led her to reveal further. In the friendly chat with Chavez, she disclosed a few more things about the Jamaican fanfare. “There are these horns that they use and it’s just loud. You can hear it from miles away and the crowd is so loud and engaging. They’ll be cheering for everyone so nobody will feel left out,” the 32-year-old explained. Nonetheless, Jamaican fans’ loud cheering can do something that fans of other nationalities may not attend. What can that be? 

Rushell Clayton explained it as, “Imagine you standing on a track as a foreigner and an entire country is cheering for you, not really knowing who you are, but they’re just excited because the track is so much fun and everybody’s included.” That could be a treat for everyone, appearing in the Grand Slam Track. Isn’t it? However, Clayton is already excited. 

She has her deal ready in the contest, entering as a hurdler. Now the entire contest has chosen Jamaica as the prized venue. She teased a bit by commenting, “It’s just fun and exciting. Imagine loud noise.” Yet, have we missed something in the discussion? By announcing Jamaica, its second venue after Los Angeles, hasn’t Michael Johnson solved a major issue already? Let’s explore that part. 

Michael Johnson’s Grand Slam Track concentrates on solving a few issues 

Since the beginning, Michael Johnson and his companions have brainstormed about making the Grand Slam Track a wholesome affair. The reality of it is prevalent in the names of entries into the league. It has almost all the athletes, barring the difference in nationalities. So on the game days, there might not be any undisputed reigning of any particular national flag bearers. Furthermore, the league has tried to nip the bud, an issue that dampened the Athlos NYC 2024. 

This year at Athlos NYC, everything mostly went smoothly—but a few issues still cropped up. One of them was the limited options for non-American athletes, which caused some hiccups, especially with language barriers, according to OwenM. However, Alexis Ohanian has promised improvements for the next edition. Meanwhile, over at the Grand Slam Track, the organizers are already planning for inclusivity in its debut season by choosing a country where athletes from around the world will be welcomed and treated equally. Now, isn’t that a smart move?

Michael Johnson himself has said, “We are thrilled to be bringing Grand Slam Track to Kingston. Jamaica has such a strong history in this sport. The talent and the love for the sport here make it a perfect fit for what we’re building.” Sounds like a big statement, doesn’t it? Does it hint at something even bigger? Let us know what you think!