Michael Johnson salutes Jamaica ahead of Grand Slam Track spectacle
AS Jamaica’s National Stadium was confirmed a host venue for the inaugural Grand Slam Track (GST), the league’s founder Michael Johnson says the Caribbean island’s rich racing tradition makes it “a perfect fit”.
GST, a track-specific professional competition, is scheduled to roll out in 2025 with the staging of four race meets, each in a different city. The concept is derived from tennis, which has four majors in a seasonal schedule.
The National Stadium is scheduled to open the GST season with a three-day meet from April 4-6, read the league’s latest press release.
“Jamaica has such a strong history in this sport. The talent and love for the sport here make it a perfect fit for what we’re building,” said the legendary American and four-time Olympic Games champion Johnson, who is also the league commissioner.
“It’s going to be an incredible event, and we’re proud to have Kingston [Jamaica’s capital] as one of our four slams in our inaugural season to kick this whole thing off,” added the former 200m and 400m world record holder.
The conceptualisers of the made-for-television racing festival want to fuse high-quality displays on the track with cultural entertainment to showcase the uniqueness of each host city.
A GST team, led by Venue Director Don Lockerbie, made recent site visits to the National Stadium.
The stadium, built over 60 years ago, has long been earmarked for major renovation. In October the Jamaican Government announced that redevelopment work on the stadium is to begin in 2025.
There is concern in some quarters about the condition of the running track and the lighting infrastructure.
In March, overnight work on the track by the stadium’s operators, Independence Park Limited, during the staging of Boys’ and Girls’ Athletics Championships forced a significant delay on the fourth and penultimate day.
Many deemed the stadium lights to have been substandard during the high school championships. The venue was further placed under the microscope after lighting issues arose for World Cup-qualifying football and Concacaf men’s and women’s club matches.
Jamaica’s Minister of Sport Olivia Grange said the country will be ready to host “track fans from across the globe” for the historic GST season opener.
“This is a chance for us to be part of something huge, bringing top athletes to our track and helping the sport [to] grow in a new and exciting way,” she added in the release.
Jamaica Athletics Administrative Association President Garth Gayle was said to have been instrumental in facilitating talks for the country to be a host venue.
He said Jamaica’s athletics history was influential regarding the final decision.
“As the local governing body for the sport we see this as a testament to our past and present athletes whose achievements and legacy have established Jamaica as the track capital of the world.
“This event also marks an important milestone for the development of our future athletes who will benefit from the opportunity to see the world’s greatest track stars up close and personal on a local calendar,” said Jamaica’s athletics boss.
The star-studded cast of athletes contracted to compete in Grand Slam Track’s 2025 campaign is highlighted by the otherworldly American Women’s 400m Hurdles world record holder and Olympic gold medallist Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone.
The global line-up comprises Jamaican flavour in the form of 400m Hurdles World Championships bronze medallist Rushell Clayton, national 100m Hurdles record holder Ackera Nugent, and world Under-20 Men’s 400m Hurdles record holder Roshawn Clarke.
Other big-name signings to date include Marileidy Paulino, Fred Kerley, Jasmine Camacho-Quinn and Alison Dos Santos.
GST organisers had long declared Los Angeles, United States, as one of the host cities, and stated in the press release that the other two stops are to be announced this week.
The release said tickets for the Jamaica leg are to go on sale on December 6, 2024. It did not state the cost for entry.
From left: Grand Slam Track Venue Director Don Lockerbie, Chief Technology Officer Rina Thakker, and President and Chief Operating Officer Steve Gera pause for a photo during a recent visit to Jamaica.
JOHNSON … the talent and love for the sport here make it a perfect fit for what we’re building
Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone (Photo: AP)
