GRAND SLAM TRACK™ Announces Signings of Marileidy Paulino, Jess Hull, Daniel Roberts, Shamier Little, Marco Arop, Devon Allen, Jasmine Jones, Jereem Richards, Luis Grijalva, & Rushell Clayton.

Group features Olympians and champions from the Dominican Republic, Australia, United States, Canada, Trinidad and Tobago, Guatemala, and Jamaica.

New York, NY (October 22nd, 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 signings of 10 Racers: Marileidy Paulino, Jess Hull, Daniel Roberts, Shamier Little, Marco Arop, Devon Allen, Jasmine Jones, Jereem Richards, Luis Grijalva, and Rushell Clayton. These athletes, who have all competed at the highest levels of track, will bring their talents to the inaugural Grand Slam Track™ season in 2025, racing in all four Slams.

“I’m proud to welcome this incredible group of athletes to Grand Slam Track™,” said Michael Johnson, the league’s founder and Commissioner. “They’ve all proven themselves on the world’s biggest stages, but this league gives them a chance to face each other consistently and bring something new to the sport. I can’t wait to see how they step up and take their performances even further. We continue to add the fastest talent from all over the world, and we’re so excited for fans to see what we’ve built, starting in 2025.”

Marileidy Paulino, from the Dominican Republic, made history at the Paris 2024 Olympics by breaking the women’s 400m Olympic record and becoming the first woman from her country to win an Olympic gold medal. As the world’s number one-ranked 400m runner, Paulino has cemented her place as one of the sport’s dominant forces, with additional accolades including gold at the 2023 World Championships, silver at the 2022 World Championships, and silver at the Tokyo Olympic Games.

“For me, it’s about making my country proud and continuing to raise the bar,” said Paulino. “Grand Slam Track™ is a new chapter for me, and I’m ready to keep showing what hard work and heart can do. This is a great opportunity for us as athletes to continue to make our sport shine on a global stage.”

Jess Hull, from Australia, took silver in the 1500m at the Paris 2024 Olympics and holds multiple Oceanian records, including in the 1500m and 3000m. She also holds the world record in the 2000m. Hull’s ability to perform under pressure has made her one of the top middle-distance runners in the world.

“I’ve always loved racing on the biggest stages, and Grand Slam Track™ feels like a perfect fit for where I am in my career,” said Hull. “I’m looking forward to pushing my limits and seeing how far I can go alongside some amazing competitors. I’m proud and excited to represent Australia in this league, and look forward to seeing our fans at all four Slams in 2025.”

Shamier Little brought home gold in the women’s 4x400m relay at the Paris 2024 Olympics for Team USA, and added a silver in the mixed relay. With two World Championships silver medals in the 400m hurdles and multiple national titles, Little is a formidable competitor with a strong track record of success.

​​“Every time I step on the track, it’s personal,” said Little. “I’m not just racing against others, I’m racing against myself. That’s what I love about Grand Slam Track™. It’s going to bring out the best in all of us. See you all on the track.”

Daniel Roberts, an American hurdler, took silver in the 110m hurdles at the Paris 2024 Olympics and bronze at the 2023 World Championships. A three-time U.S. champion, Roberts has consistently competed at the highest level in his discipline. 

“Track has been my life for as long as I can remember, and it’s about always moving forward,” said Roberts. “Grand Slam Track™ feels like the right place to keep evolving as an athlete, and I’m ready to embrace that. I’m grateful for this opportunity and am ready to keep taking my sport to new heights.”

Marco Arop, a Canadian middle-distance runner, captured gold in the 800m at the 2023 World Championships and followed it up with a silver medal at the Paris 2024 Olympics. His national and area record of 1:41.20 places him among the fastest 800m runners of all time.

“Running has always been about finding that next gear, and with Grand Slam Track™, I’ll have more chances to tap into that,” said Arop. “It’s about constant growth and seeing where my training can take me. I’m incredibly excited to get this thing going; Grand Slam Track™ season can’t come soon enough.”

Devon Allen is a dual-sport athlete who specializes in the 110m hurdles and also has a professional football career. With a personal best of 12.84 seconds, he holds the third-fastest time in history for the event. Allen, a two-time Olympic finalist and a two-time World Championships finalist, is set to make his return to track competition with Grand Slam Track™ following a stint in the NFL with the Philadelphia Eagles. 

“Whether I’m on the field or on the track, I love competition,” said Allen. “Grand Slam Track™ gives me a way to return to racing and face some of the best athletes out there. I’m thankful to MJ and the team for calling me back to the track. I’m ready to get back to what I love, and test myself against the other fastest men in the world.”

Jasmine Jones has made her mark on the international stage, competing for the United States in the 400m hurdles at the Paris 2024 Olympics, where she advanced to the final and set a personal best of 52.29 seconds. That time made her the fifth fastest woman in the history of that event. A former NCAA champion, Jones continues to rise through the ranks with impressive performances.

“I’ve always been about proving to myself that I can keep pushing past what I thought was possible,” said Jones. “Grand Slam Track™ gives me the chance to put myself out there again and again, and that’s the kind of challenge I live for. This is a great opportunity for all of us as Racers to build our own brands, and elevate our sport to new heights. I can’t wait to get started.”

Jereem Richards from Trinidad and Tobago, specializes in the 200m and 400m. Richards won gold in the 400m at the 2022 World Indoor Championships. A two-time Olympian, he has earned international  titles and medals for his country as an individual and as part of relay teams. “Every race is a chance to tell a story about where I’ve come from and where I’m going,” said Richards. “Grand Slam Track™ is the perfect platform for that. It’s not just about winning; it’s about showing the world my journey, one race at a time. I’m delighted to be able to represent Trinidad and Tobago in Grand Slam Track™, and I look forward to showing the world what I’ve got.”

Luis Grijalva is a Guatemalan long distance runner who has represented his country at two Olympic Games. A two-time World Championships finalist, he also holds 10 national records across a range of distances from the 1500m to the 10,000m. Grijalva competed for Northern Arizona University, where he earned multiple All-American honors. “Grand Slam Track™ is a great opportunity to compete at a high level and continue improving with each race,” said Grijalva. “I’ve always performed my best against strong competition, and I'm looking forward to seeing what I can achieve at all four Slams. I can't wait for the fans to see us in action.”

Rushell Clayton, a Jamaican 400m hurdler, joins Grand Slam Track™ as a two-time bronze medalist at the World Championships (2019, 2023). She is the second-fastest Jamaican of all time in the 400m hurdles, and the first since 2011 to break 53 seconds. She most recently placed fifth in the 400m hurdles at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games.

“I've worked so hard to get to this point and I'm ready to give Grand Slam Track™ my all in every single race,”said Clayton. “I’m focused and ready to be part of making history. This is just the beginning.”

Each year, 48 athletes will be named to the league as Grand Slam Track™ Racers. Today’s group of announced Racers takes the tally of signees to 30, along with already announced stars from across the world of track like Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, 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, and Clement Ducos. The 48 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 racers 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 racers 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. 

Racers 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.

Ticket sales information will be released in due course. 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