GRAND SLAM TRACK™ Announces Signings of Nickisha Pryce, Alexis Holmes, Hagos Gebrhiwet, Oblique Seville, & Sasha Zhoya.

Group of global superstars signed as Racers to compete in all four Slams of inaugural 2025 Season 

New York, NY (December 10, 2024) - Grand Slam Track™, the new global home of professional track competition, launched earlier this year by four-time US Olympic Champion Michael Johnson, today officially announced the signing of Nickisha Pryce, Alexis Holmes, Hagos Gebrhiwet, Oblique Seville, and Sasha Zhoya. Representing Jamaica, the United States, Ethiopia, and France, these elite Racers will compete in all four Slam events during the league’s upcoming season. Their inclusion highlights Grand Slam Track™’s commitment to showcasing the world’s best talent, bringing fans an exciting and diverse lineup for the inaugural season. 

“Grand Slam Track™ is creating a platform where the best of the best come together to push the limits of speed and endurance,” said Michael Johnson, the league’s founder and Commissioner. “The level of competition this league is attracting is unmatched, and with these five incredible athletes joining the roster, fans are in for an unforgettable experience. From Kingston to Miami, Philadelphia, and Los Angeles, we’re bringing the ultimate Festival of Speed to the fans, and I can’t wait to see what these Racers will accomplish as they take on the world’s top competition. We’re delighted to welcome Nickisha, Alexis, Hagos, Oblique, and Sasha into the Grand Slam Track™ family.”

Fans are now able to buy tickets for the Slams in Kingston, Miami, Philadelphia, and Los Angeles knowing that these five Racers will be in attendance and racing twice during each weekend. Tickets for all four Slams are on sale now. For more information, please visit https://grandslamtrack.com/events  

Nickisha Pryce is a Jamaican sprinter who won 400m national titles in 2023 and 2024. Pryce had a strong collegiate career that culminated in her becoming the 2024 NCAA 400m Champion, breaking the NCAA record and Jamaican national record with her 48.89-second performance.   She further improved her national record to 48.57 seconds at the London Diamond League and competed in the 400m semi-finals at the 2024 Summer Olympics. Pryce was also a silver medalist at the 2023 World Championships in Budapest as part of the 4x400m relay team.

"Joining Grand Slam Track™ is a dream come true for me," said Pryce. "I've spent years working toward competing at the highest level, and this is the perfect opportunity to push myself even further. I'm excited for the challenge and ready to bring my best to every race. The road ahead will be tough, but I believe I have the strength to rise to it and accomplish even more, both on and off the track."

Alexis Holmes is an American sprinter who anchored the gold-medal winning 4x400m relay team at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris. The quartet of Holmes, Shamier Little, Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, and Gabby Thomas set the national record in that event with their time of 3:15.27. All four athletes are signed as Racers for the 2025 Grand Slam Track season. Holmes also played a key role in setting the then-world record in the mixed 4x400m relay at the 2023 World Championships in Budapest. After winning the U.S. national indoor 400m title in 2024, she went on to earn the bronze medal in the 400m at the 2024 World Indoor Championships in Glasgow, clocking an indoor personal best of 50.24 seconds. Holmes finished sixth in the 400m final at the Paris Olympics with a personal best time of 49.77 seconds.

"I'm really excited to be part of Grand Slam Track™. I’m a competitor, and I love the idea of lining up with the best of the best," said Holmes. "In my first two years as a pro, I’ve had a lot of success on the world & Olympic stage, but I’m not satisfied. I think Grand Slam Track™ will be a great opportunity to continue showcasing my tenacity, growth & hard work this season.” 

Hagos Gebrhiwet is an Ethiopian long-distance legend. Over the years, Gebrhiwet has collected multiple global medals, including silver at the 2013 World Championships in Moscow, bronze at the 2015 World Championships in Beijing, and bronze at the 2016 Rio Olympics. Gebrhiwet also secured gold at the 2023 World Road Running Championships in the 5km. In 2024, he broke the Ethiopian national record in the 5000m with a stunning 12:36.73 performance at the Bislett Games in Oslo, the second-fastest time in history. Gebrhiwet finished fifth in the 5000m at the 2024 Paris Olympics.

"For me, Grand Slam Track™ is more than just a competition—it's an opportunity to redefine what’s possible. I’ve had a career full of high points, but every race is a new challenge,” said Gebrhiwet. “The athletes in this league are among the very best, and the level of competition will push me to evolve and adapt. My focus has always been on endurance, pacing, and strategy, and competing in this format will allow me to sharpen those aspects like never before. I know that success in Grand Slam Track™ will require me to perform at my absolute peak, and that’s what excites me.”

Oblique Seville is a Jamaican sprinter renowned for his prowess in the 100m and 200m. After securing a spot on the Jamaican Olympic team in 2021, Seville competed in the Tokyo Olympics, advancing to the 100m semi-finals. His ascent continued with fourth-place finishes in the 100m at the 2022 and 2023 World Championships, and a bronze medal as part of the 4x100m relay team at the 2023 World Championships in Budapest. He also tied the Jamaican national record in the 60m during the 2023 indoor season in a time of 6.42 seconds. In 2024, Seville clocked a world-leading 9.82 seconds at the Racers Grand Prix in Kingston and ended the season with a personal best of 9.81 seconds from the Paris Olympics, where he was a finalist. With his focus firmly on breaking more records, Seville is already recognised as one of the world's top sprinters.

“I’ve always known that to be the best, you have to compete with the best, and the opportunity to do that in Grand Slam Track™ is exactly what I’ve been preparing for,” said Seville. “The races in this series will be a perfect platform to test my speed, consistency, and ability to perform under pressure. I’m excited to show the world that I can compete at the highest level and continue breaking records. The challenge of Grand Slam Track™ excites me because it’s more than just about personal success—it’s about competing at the pinnacle of the sport and pushing the limits of what’s possible."

Sasha Zhoya is a French hurdler who has taken the world by storm in both the 60m hurdles and 110m hurdles. A three-time national champion and an Olympian at this summer’s Games in Paris, Zhoya was also a finalist at the 2023 World Championships in Budapest. Zhoya has set multiple junior world records in his events. He earned a historic mark in 2019 by breaking the U18 world record in the 110m hurdles (91.4cm) with a time of 12.87 seconds. In 2021, he clinched gold at the World U20 Championships in Nairobi, setting a new U20 record with his 12.72-second win in the 110m hurdles (99cm). Zhoya’s success continued in 2023, as he won both the European U23 Championships and the French National Championships. In 2024, he claimed the Diamond League 110m hurdles title in Brussels, following victories in Paris and Rome.

“What excites me about competing in Grand Slam Track™ is that it brings together the world’s best athletes, and that’s where I want to be—competing at the highest level and continuing to learn from those around me,” said Zhoya. “I’m fully committed to making the most of every race, setting new records, and achieving my goals. The future of hurdling is bright, and I’m excited to be a part of it."

Each year, 48 athletes will be named to the league as Grand Slam Track™ Racers. The addition of these five stars takes the tally of announced Racers as signees to 43. The roster of Racers already announced features stars from across the world of track like Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, Gabby Thomas, Melissa Jefferson, Masai Russell, Quincy Hall, Fred Kerley, Kenny Bednarek, Cole Hocker, Yared Nuguse, Grant Fisher, Josh Kerr, Matthew Hudson-Smith, Ackera Nugent, Roshawn Clarke, Nikki Hiltz, Cyrena Samba-Mayela, Jasmine Camacho-Quinn, Alison Dos Santos, Ronald Kwemoi, Muzala Samukonga, Clement Ducos, Marileidy Paulino, Jess Hull, Daniel Roberts, Shamier Little, Marco Arop, Devon Allen, Jasmine Jones, Jereem Richards, Luis Grijalva, Rushell Clayton, Elise Cranny, Nozomi Tanaka, Salwa Eid Naser, Daryll Neita, Mary Moraa, Agnes Ngetich, & Tsigie Gebreselama. These racers are selected by the Grand Slam Track™ 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. Grand Slam Track™ Racers commit to racing in all four Slams per year. They will receive an annual base compensation for racing in each Slam and are eligible for full prize money. These Grand Slam Track™ Racers will receive annual contracts, access to the Grand Slam Track™content and data services team, inclusion in the league collective, group licensing and new revenue opportunities, plus access to world class athlete support services throughout the season. Grand Slam Track™ Racers are compensated under contract to race and promote the league and receive additional marketing and branding support.

The remaining 48 competitors will be known as Grand Slam Track™ Challengers and will be paid a set appearance fee to compete at individual Slams. Grand Slam Track™ Challengers are chosen by the Grand Slam Track™ Racing Committee based on a combination of factors including recent performances, and the most intriguing athletes and matchups. 

Racers and Challengers will be assigned to compete in one of the following categories, and will all race in two events during each Slam: short sprints (100m/200m), short hurdles (100H or 110H/100m), long sprints (200m/400m), long hurdles (400H/400m), short distance (800m/1500m), or long distance (3000m/5000m). All competitors’ final placement score will be determined by their combined finishing order between the two races. In the event of a tie across the two events, it will be the athlete who had the quickest combined time across the two races who will be deemed the winner. The winner of each Slam group will take home $100,000 in prize money, and the 8th place competitor will earn $10,000. Grand Slam Track™ will have a total of $12.6m of prize money that will be awarded across the slams each year in addition to the base compensation and appearance fees paid to racers. 

The focus of Grand Slam Track™ is on head to head competition, not winning times. There will be no rabbits or pacing lights. Each Slam is equally as important as any other, will have its own prize purse, and will be independently scored, with points and previous finishes not carrying over to the following Slams. All competitors will compete twice over the three-day event, and all Slam events will meet World Athletics regulations, with achieved marks being eligible for rankings and standards. 

Competitors will compete in their own sponsored kits, without traditional hip numbers or bibs. Racers and Challengers are encouraged to work with their sponsors to create customized kits, in their own desired style. Grand Slam Track™ has no affiliation or sponsorship agreement with any shoe company; all shoe companies are considered to be important stakeholders and partners in the promotion of our racers.

Grand Slam Track™ has secured more than $30 million in financial commitments from investors and strategic partners for the launch of the league. Winners Alliance, a global, athlete-centric commercial solution and Johnson’s operating partner, was the lead investor in the first fundraising close for the new venture. The investment in the league will aid in Johnson’s ultimate goal: to develop better engagement with fans by promoting track and field’s biggest stars and reaching new audiences with unique, innovative storytelling.

For further information, please follow @GrandSlamTrack on all social media platforms, and visit grandslamtrack.com.

About Michael Johnson

Born in Dallas, Texas, Michael Johnson is a Hall of Fame track and field star, universally recognized as one of the greatest sprinters of all time. He won four Olympic gold medals and eight World Championships across his career, and held world and Olympic records in both the 200m and 400m races. At the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta, Johnson became the first and only male athlete to win the Gold medal in both the 200m and 400m at the same Olympics. Since retiring from active competition, Johnson has become a serial entrepreneur and investor, as well as highly sought after performance mindset speaker and an award winning television commentator. Johnson has been a pundit for the BBC’s coverage of every Olympics Games since Athens 2004, and remains a key voice on, and advocate for the sport. Johnson was inducted into the United States Track and Field Hall of Fame in 2004.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION: Ben Sosenko [email protected]

Callum Squires [email protected] On behalf of Grand Slam Track