Grand Slam Observe will get underway in Jamaica this weekend with Michael Johnson’s new competitors promising rivalries and unrivalled prize cash for athletics’ greatest names
MICHAEL Johnson is heralding the beginning of a brand new period when Grand Slam Observe debuts in Jamaica tonight.
And with unrivalled prize cash attracting lots of the sport’s greatest names, together with GB stars Josh Kerr and Matthew Hudson-Smith, hopes are that dash legend Johnson’s new enterprise can enhance a sport preventing an uphill battle for consideration.
GST will stage 4 separate three-day meets, starting in Kingston this weekend adopted by three subsequent occasions in america, with athletes throughout six completely different classes competing for a slice of a $12.6m (£10m) purse.
All will race twice throughout the weekend and factors will probably be awarded – similarly to F1 – for the primary eight finishers. Whoever has probably the most factors on the finish wins $100,000 whereas even fifth spot is price an affordable $20,000.
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Kerr, the primary Brit to enroll, has additionally mentioned the 48 Racers dedicated for your entire season are receiving look charges that exceed the prize cash – although the Edinburgh man isn’t in a position to discuss particular numbers.
They are going to be joined by 48 visitors, often known as Challengers, at every meet and among the many males’s center distance occasions this weekend Jakob Ingebrigtsen is the one massive title absent.
Not that world data are anticipated over the following three months. Johnson desires Grand Slam’s focus to be on head-to-head battles, viewing the collection as a possibility to develop rivalries and storylines.
And in contrast to the long-established Diamond League, which is upping its prize cash this summer season in response to Grand Slam, there will probably be no pacemakers.
The motion will probably be broadcast in 189 nations with TNT Sports activities snapping up the rights for the UK however tickets stay for every single day of competitors and there’s some wholesome skepticism.
UK Athletics held talks with Johnson and firm about internet hosting a meet however a mutual determination was made to attend and see how the debut marketing campaign develops throughout the Atlantic.
Olympic champions Keely Hodgkinson and Noah Lyles, in the meantime, are amongst these watching with curiosity to see how profitable the enterprise is earlier than probably committing in future.
However in every week the place Tokyo Olympian Ben Connor highlighted the game’s precarious monetary state when opting in opposition to competing for Britain after being requested to pay his personal approach, Johnson’s massive cash operation is already shaking issues up earlier than a beginning gun is fired.
The Grand Slam classes
Quick Sprints: 100m & 200m
Quick Hurdles: 100m(F) / 110m(M) Hurdles & 100m Flat
Lengthy Sprints: 200m & 400m
Lengthy Hurdles: 400m Hurdles & 400m Flat
Quick Distance: 800m & 1,500m
Lengthy Distance: 3,000m & 5,000m
Prize cash
First place: $100,000
Second place: $50,000
Third place: $30,000
Fourth place: $25,000
Fifth place: $20,000
Sixth place: $15,000
Seventh place: $12,500
Eighth place: $10,000
