Final Grand Slam Track Event Called Off Due to Economic Challenges

The debut season of the Grand Slam Track (GST) league, spearheaded by Olympic legend Michael Johnson, will conclude earlier than planned, with the final leg in Los Angeles officially cancelled due to financial pressures.

The Los Angeles meet, originally scheduled for 27–29 June at Drake Stadium, will no longer take place. Instead, organisers are shifting focus toward preparations for the 2026 season.

“In light of significant shifts in the global economic climate over the past year, we’ve made the strategic decision to prioritise the league’s long-term viability,” said Johnson, GST’s founder and commissioner, in a statement on Thursday. “Our energy is now fully directed at building a stronger foundation for next season.”

The inaugural GST season kicked off in Kingston, Jamaica where it faced challenges with ticket sales before moving on to Miami and Philadelphia. Despite the premature end, organisers have hailed the three completed events as a solid foundation for the future. Sources suggest that new financial backers will soon be revealed to support the league’s sophomore season.

Johnson, a four-time Olympic gold medallist, acknowledged the weight of the decision but expressed pride in what the league has already accomplished.

“This was not an easy call, but it reflects our confidence in what we’ve achieved. Our mission to reinvent professional track racing remains as bold as ever,” he said. “From the beginning, we knew this season would be a learning curve. Adjustments are part of the journey, and tough decisions like this one are necessary to ensure the league’s future.”

GST’s unique format featured some of the sport’s top talent, including British Olympians Daryll Neita and Matthew Hudson-Smith, and reigning 1500m world champion Josh Kerr. Athletes competed in six distinct categories, such as Short Sprints, with each category comprising eight athletes who competed in both the 100m and 200m races on each event weekend.

One of the league’s standout features was its lucrative prize structure, offering up to $100,000 per race category winner, along with salaries for signed athletes an uncommon incentive in track and field.

Despite its promise, the GST’s debut season was not without setbacks. In Philadelphia, the event was shortened from three days to two, and American star Gabby Thomas reportedly faced abuse during the meet. Earlier in the season, Johnson himself expressed disappointment at the sparse turnout in Kingston.

Still, many athletes praised the innovative structure and ambition of the GST. British middle-distance runner Elliot Giles, who raced in Philadelphia, called it a “phenomenal” experience.

“The production, the excitement, the marketing it was all top-tier,” Giles told BBC Sport. “This is the kind of competition our sport needs. It’s similar to boxing, where new players and investors shake things up. That’s how growth happens.”

Among the season’s standout performers were American sprinters Kenny Bednarek and Melissa Jefferson-Wooden, both of whom dominated their events across all three meets to earn the title of GST Racers of the Year.Final Grand Slam Track Event Called Off Due to Economic Challenges

The debut season of the Grand Slam Track (GST) league, spearheaded by Olympic legend Michael Johnson, will conclude earlier than planned, with the final leg in Los Angeles officially cancelled due to financial pressures.

The Los Angeles meet, originally scheduled for 27–29 June at Drake Stadium, will no longer take place. Instead, organisers are shifting focus toward preparations for the 2026 season.

“In light of significant shifts in the global economic climate over the past year, we’ve made the strategic decision to prioritise the league’s long-term viability,” said Johnson, GST’s founder and commissioner, in a statement on Thursday. “Our energy is now fully directed at building a stronger foundation for next season.”

The inaugural GST season kicked off in Kingston, Jamaica where it faced challenges with ticket sales before moving on to Miami and Philadelphia. Despite the premature end, organisers have hailed the three completed events as a solid foundation for the future. Sources suggest that new financial backers will soon be revealed to support the league’s sophomore season.

Johnson, a four-time Olympic gold medallist, acknowledged the weight of the decision but expressed pride in what the league has already accomplished.

“This was not an easy call, but it reflects our confidence in what we’ve achieved. Our mission to reinvent professional track racing remains as bold as ever,” he said. “From the beginning, we knew this season would be a learning curve. Adjustments are part of the journey, and tough decisions like this one are necessary to ensure the league’s future.”

GST’s unique format featured some of the sport’s top talent, including British Olympians Daryll Neita and Matthew Hudson-Smith, and reigning 1500m world champion Josh Kerr. Athletes competed in six distinct categories, such as Short Sprints, with each category comprising eight athletes who competed in both the 100m and 200m races on each event weekend.

One of the league’s standout features was its lucrative prize structure, offering up to $100,000 per race category winner, along with salaries for signed athletes an uncommon incentive in track and field.

Despite its promise, the GST’s debut season was not without setbacks. In Philadelphia, the event was shortened from three days to two, and American star Gabby Thomas reportedly faced abuse during the meet. Earlier in the season, Johnson himself expressed disappointment at the sparse turnout in Kingston.

Still, many athletes praised the innovative structure and ambition of the GST. British middle-distance runner Elliot Giles, who raced in Philadelphia, called it a “phenomenal” experience.

“The production, the excitement, the marketing—it was all top-tier,” Giles told BBC Sport. “This is the kind of competition our sport needs. It’s similar to boxing, where new players and investors shake things up. That’s how growth happens.”

Among the season’s standout performers were American sprinters Kenny Bednarek and Melissa Jefferson-Wooden, both of whom dominated their events across all three meets to earn the title of GST Racers of the Year.