GRAND SLAM TRACK™ Declares Signings of Nikki Hiltz, Grant Fisher, & Ronald Kwemoi
Roster of Racers continues to develop with elite observe expertise from internationally
New York, NY (October fifteenth, 2024) – Grand Slam Observe™, the brand new international dwelling {of professional} observe competitors, launched earlier this 12 months by four-time US Olympic Champion Michael Johnson, right now formally introduced the signings of a trio of Olympic distance runners: Nikki Hiltz, Grant Fisher, and Ronald Kwemoi. All three competed on the Paris Olympics this previous summer time, with Kwemoi claiming silver within the males’s 5000m, and Fisher choosing up two bronze medals within the males’s 5000m and 10000m. All three Racers will compete in all 4 Grand Slam Observe™ Slams in 2025, which means followers are assured to see these superstars tackle their rivals in excessive stakes competitors 4 occasions subsequent 12 months.
The Armory, New York, NY, USA, picture by Kevin Morris
“We’re persevering with so as to add prime tier expertise to our roster of Grand Slam Observe™ Racers,” mentioned Michael Johnson, the league’s founder and Commissioner. “With Nikki, Grant, and Ronald, we’re assured elite efficiency and nice personalities, and we’re delighted to welcome all of them formally into the Grand Slam Observe™ household. Nikki is a cornerstone of the 1500m circuit, and Grant and Ronald know one another very effectively from their extremely shut end within the 5000m in Paris. I’m sure observe followers around the globe will probably be excited on the prospect of understanding they will see these rivals face off on the observe 4 occasions a 12 months in Grand Slam Observe™.”
Hiltz, from Santa Cruz, California, ran collegiately for the Oregon Geese and the Arkansas Razorbacks, and is a 6-time NCAA Division I All-American. With Oregon, Hiltz received a Nationwide Championship and a Pac-12 Championship, each in 2015. They maintain the American document within the mile, and received each the 2023 & 2024 US 1500m championship. This 12 months, Hiltz received the silver medal on the 2024 World Indoor Championships and competed within the 1500m on the Paris Olympics, qualifying to the ultimate the place they completed in seventh place.
“I’m ecstatic to be part of Grand Slam Observe™,” mentioned Hiltz. “The chance to compete in commonly scheduled elite meets like these Slams is a good step ahead for us as athletes, and I’m sure followers will love the idea. MJ defined the imaginative and prescient to me and it was apparent that being concerned on this was a no brainer. I can’t wait to get began.”
Fisher was born in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, however raised in Grand Blanc, Michigan, and represents the USA. The Stanford College product took dwelling two bronze medals this previous summer time at his second Olympic Video games, stepping onto the rostrum for each the 5000m and 10000m. Collegiately, Fisher was honored eleven occasions with NCAA Division I All-American recognition, and received two particular person Pac-12 Cross Nation championships, plus the Pac-12 1500m title, and the outside 5000m nationwide championship in 2017.
“I’m thrilled to be a part of Grand Slam Observe™, which I consider is the way forward for our sport,” mentioned Fisher. “Looking forward to 2025, the chance to compete in 4 high-level Slams towards the quickest males on the earth marks a serious shift for observe and area. Constructing on the momentum from the Olympics, this provides us Racers an thrilling probability to face off commonly, with large prizes and bragging rights at stake. I can’t wait to hit the observe subsequent 12 months and see who’s actually the very best.”
Kwemoi, from Mount Elgon District, Bungoma County, Kenya, received the silver medal within the 5000m in Paris. He’s the primary Kenyan athlete to signal with Grand Slam Observe™. Earlier in his profession, Kwemoi was a 1500m specialist, and nonetheless holds the world U20 document in that occasion. Now, he has transitioned into longer distances and can search to dominate his competitors in Grand Slam Observe™.
“I’m very excited to be the primary athlete representing my nation of Kenya in Grand Slam Observe™,” mentioned Kwemoi. “I wish to proceed to check myself towards the very best runners on the earth, and Grand Slam Observe™ is the right stage for that. This league is a good undertaking to be part of, and it will likely be very thrilling when the Slams start subsequent 12 months.”
Annually, 48 athletes will probably be named to the league as Grand Slam Observe™ Racers. Hiltz, Fisher, and Kwemoi be a part of a stacked roster of skills introduced to date in Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, Melissa Jefferson, Masai Russell, Quincy Corridor, Fred Kerley, Kenny Bednarek, Cole Hocker, Yared Nuguse, Josh Kerr, Matthew Hudson-Smith, Cyrena Samba-Mayela, Jasmine Camacho-Quinn, Alison Dos Santos, Muzala Samukonga, and Clement Ducos. The 48 Racers are chosen by the Grand Slam Observe™ Racing Committee primarily based on a mixture of things to incorporate the quickest and finest racers in every race group, with a give attention to fierce rivalries and thrilling aggressive racing. Grand Slam Observe™ Racers decide to racing in all 4 Slams per 12 months. They’ll obtain an annual base compensation for racing in every Slam and are eligible for full prize cash. These Grand Slam Observe™ Racers will obtain annual contracts, entry to the Grand Slam Observe™ content material and information providers staff, inclusion within the league collective, group licensing and new income alternatives, plus entry to world class athlete help providers all through the season. Grand Slam Observe™ Racers are compensated underneath contract to race and promote the league and obtain extra advertising and marketing and branding help.
The remaining 48 racers will probably be generally known as Grand Slam Observe™ Challengers and will probably be paid a set look payment to compete at particular person Slams. Grand Slam Observe™ Challengers are chosen by the Grand Slam Observe™ Racing Committee primarily based on a mixture of things together with latest performances, and essentially the most intriguing athletes and matchups.
Racers and Challengers will probably be assigned to compete in one of many following classes, and can all race in two occasions throughout every Slam: quick sprints (100m/200m), quick hurdles (100H or 110H/100m), lengthy sprints (200m/400m), lengthy hurdles (400H/400m), quick distance (800m/1500m), or lengthy distance (3000m/5000m). All opponents’ ultimate placement rating will probably be decided by their mixed ending order between the 2 races. Within the occasion of a tie throughout the 2 occasions, it will likely be the athlete who had the quickest mixed time throughout the 2 races who will probably be deemed the winner. The winner of every Slam group will take dwelling $100,000 in prize cash, and the eighth place competitor will earn $10,000. Grand Slam Observe™ could have a complete of $12.6m of prize cash that will probably be awarded throughout the slams annually along with the bottom compensation and look charges paid to racers.
The main target of Grand Slam Observe™ is on face to face competitors, not profitable occasions. There will probably be no rabbits or pacing lights. Every Slam is equally as vital as some other, could have its personal prize purse, and will probably be independently scored, with factors and former finishes not carrying over to the next Slams. All racers will compete twice over the three-day occasion, and all Slam occasions will meet World Athletics laws, with achieved marks being eligible for rankings and requirements.
Racers will compete in their very own sponsored kits, with out conventional hip numbers or bibs. Racers and Challengers are inspired to work with their sponsors to create custom-made kits, in their very own desired fashion. Grand Slam Observe™ has no affiliation or sponsorship settlement with any shoe firm; all shoe firms are thought-about to be vital stakeholders and companions within the promotion of our racers.
Grand Slam Observe™ has secured greater than $30 million in monetary commitments from buyers and strategic companions for the launch of the league. Winners Alliance, a worldwide, athlete-centric
industrial resolution and Johnson’s working accomplice, was the lead investor within the first fundraising shut for the brand new enterprise. The funding within the league will support in Johnson’s final aim: to develop higher engagement with followers by selling observe and area’s largest stars and reaching new audiences with distinctive, revolutionary storytelling.
Ticket gross sales info will probably be launched sooner or later. For additional info, please observe @GrandSlamTrack on all social media platforms, and go to grandslamtrack.com.
About Michael Johnson
Born in Dallas, Texas, Michael Johnson is a Corridor of Fame observe and area star, universally acknowledged as one of many biggest sprinters of all time. He received 4 Olympic gold medals and eight World Championships throughout his profession, and held world and Olympic data in each the 200m and 400m races. On the 1996 Olympic Video games in Atlanta, Johnson grew to become the primary and solely male athlete to win the Gold medal in each the 200m and 400m on the similar Olympics. Since retiring from lively competitors, Johnson has grow to be a serial entrepreneur and investor, in addition to extremely wanted efficiency mindset speaker and an award profitable tv commentator. Johnson has been a pundit for the BBC’s protection of each Olympics Video games since Athens 2004, and stays a key voice on, and advocate for the game. Johnson was inducted into the USA Observe and Area Corridor of Fame in 2004.
