Fast Times and Big Dimes: Welcome to the Grand Slam
With a lot of effort and little payback, track and field athletes put in the work but do not earn half of what the WNBA or other sports earn. And we’ve all heard the cliche– if I’m running, it’s because something is chasing me– but seriously, isn’t the sport essentially conditioning for every other sport? If Sportsish were in charge, we would increase salaries. Not to worry, though, to change this, a new track and field league has been introduced: The Grand Slam Track League.
All thumbs up from Nikki with their 1:58.23 800m opener | Source: @grandslamtrack on instagram.com
Last Saturday in Kingston, Jamaica, we got a glimpse of what this league has to offer: fast times and speedy runners. With a total prize pool of $12.6 million, individual race winners can earn $100,000, creating a strong financial incentive that attracts athletes from around the globe and intensifies competition. The league's founder, Michael Johnson, a four-time Olympic gold medalist in track, aims to elevate the sport by drawing in more fans and increasing revenue.
Disco distance dance for Yared running under the lights | Source: @grandslamtrack on instagram.com
And so far, we have seen it– with spectacularly speedy times from Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone in the 400-meter hurdles with a 52.76 to Gabby Thomas with a terrific 200-meter time of 22.62, these athletes are showing glimpses of what's to come. More races mean more records will soon be broken.
Gabby and Sydney showing smiles and speed | Source: @grandslamtrack on instagram.com
The league will feature four “slams” hosted by different cities: Kingston (which we’ve just seen), Miami (May 2nd through the 4th), Philadelphia, and Los Angeles. The meet, which includes sprinting and long-distance events, spans three days and features preliminary rounds and finals.
So…where can you watch? The Grand Slam Track is on Peacock but will also air on The CW. The CW will broadcast its events in 189 countries, and with its aim to broaden the popularity of the sport, we think it will do just that.
Don’t worry, the league is easy on the eyes! | Source: @grandslamtrack on instagram.com
In this new league, there will be laps, legends, a whole lot of loot, and new track lovers.