Grand Slam Track announces Racer event groups for Sprints

Grand Slam Track announces Racer event groups for Sprints

Organizers of Grand Slam Track, the new track competition touted as the new global home of professional track competition, launched last year by four-time US Olympic Champion Michael Johnson have announced the Racer event groups for the fast-approaching inaugural season of competition.

These racers, according to Johnson, are selected by the competition’s Racing Committee ‘based on a combination of factors to include the fastest and best racers in each race group, with a focus on fierce rivalries and thrilling competitive racing.’

At each Slam, short sprinters will contest the 100m and 200m, while long sprinters will compete in the 200m and 400m. In each event group, four Racers will take on four challengers in pursuit of prize money, pride, and the title of Slam champion.

Racers for the women’s short sprints are Brittany Brown, Daryll Neita, triple Olympic gold medalist, Gabby Thomas and Melissa Jefferson while for the men we have former World 100m champion, Fred Kerley, Diamond League champion in the 200m, Kenny Bednarek, Jamaican Oblique Seville and Great Britain’s Zharnel Hughes.

Reigning World and Olympic 400m champion, Marileidy Paulino of the Dominican Republic tops the list of the four racers in the long sprints. Others are Alexis Holmes, Nickisha Pryce and Nigeria-born Bharani and 2019 World 400m champion, Salwa Eid Naser.

For the men’s long sprint, Jereem Richards will battle it out with Matthew Hudson-Smith of Great Britain, Muzala Samukonga of Zambia and USA’s Quincy Hall.

These Racers, according to the organizers, have committed to ‘racing in all four Slams per year. They will receive an annual base compensation for racing in each Slam, are eligible for full prize money and will receive annual contracts.