GRAND SLAM TRACK™ Announces Signing of US Olympic Sprint Rivals Fred Kerley & Kenny Bednarek

Both took home medals at Paris Olympics; Join fellow Team USA medalists Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, Cole Hocker, and Yared Nuguse in committing to new league shaking up the sport globally.

New York, NY (September 12th, 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 US Olympic Sprinters Fred Kerley and Kenny Bednarek. The two American Olympic heroes are fan-favorites around the world. Bednarek took home the 200m silver medal at the Paris Olympic Games this past summer, whilst Kerley won the bronze in the 100m. Grand Slam Track™ fans around the world will now get to see two of the biggest names in global sprinting compete in high stakes competition against the best in the world four times a year, starting in 2025.

“This is a great day for Grand Slam Track™,” said Michael Johnson, the league’s founder and Commissioner. “We’ve been saying GST is for “only the fastest,” and bringing Fred and Kenny into the fold is exemplary of that fact. These two electrify every time they step onto the track, and I can’t wait to see them entertain thousands of fans at each of our Slams, and millions more watching around the world. I’m delighted to add two more excellent sprinters to our roster of Racers, and am already anticipating their first appearances in Grand Slam Track™ next year.”

Kerley, a native Texan, ran collegiately for South Plains College and Texas A&M University, where he did the indoors/outdoors double at the 2017 NCAA Championships, winning the National Championship in both the 400m and the 4x400m for the Aggies at both meets. Professionally, he won silver in the 100m at the 2021 Olympic Games in Tokyo, before grabbing bronze in the same event this past summer at the Paris Olympic Games. He is also a World Champion in the 100m, 4x100m, and 4x400m, and is the only person in history to run sub-9.80 seconds in the 100m, sub-19.80 seconds in the 200m, and sub-43.80 seconds in the 400m.

“When I first heard about Grand Slam Track, I knew it was something I wanted to be part of," said Kerley. “I love competing and think the fans will really enjoy this new Track format. The fans will get to see the best of the best race against each other regularly and we have a platform to showcase our talents and continue building our fanbase all around the world. I’m excited to be part of Grand Slam Track™”.

Bednarek, who hails from Rice Lake, Wisconsin, is a two-time Olympic silver medalist, and world championship runner up, in the 200m. Having excelled at Indian Hills Community College in Ottumwa, Iowa, he turned pro in 2019 and has been blazing down home straights ever since. Having began his career as a 400m runner, Bednarek transitioned to focus on the 200m, and has excelled in that event ever since. He ran a personal best of 19.59 at the 2024 US Olympic Trials in Eugene, Oregon, and followed that up with his stellar performance in Paris, finishing ahead of presumptive favorite and Team USA teammate Noah Lyles to claim silver.

“The Grand Slam League is a great initiative by Michael Johnson,” said Bednarek. “It's an incredible opportunity to compete at the highest level with some of the best athletes in the sport. I love the head to head concept, emphasis on storytelling, showcasing personalities and a good opportunity for athletes to feature their talent. This league brings a fresh perspective to track and field. I'm looking forward to testing my limits, improving my performance, and putting on a show for the fans. It’s going to be exciting for all those watching and participating.”

Each year, 48 athletes will be named to the league as GST Racers. Kerley & Bednarek join their Team USA teammates Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, Cole Hocker, Yared Nuguse, plus Team GB’s Josh Kerr as the first six of these 48 to be announced. 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. GST 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 GST Racers will receive annual contracts, access to the GST 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. GST 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 GST Challengers and will be paid a set appearance fee to compete at individual Slams. GST 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