GRAND SLAM TRACK™ Broadcasts 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 Monitor™, the brand new world house {of professional} observe competitors, launched earlier this yr by four-time US Olympic Champion Michael Johnson, immediately 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 Monitor™ Slams in 2025, that means followers are assured to see these superstars tackle their rivals in excessive stakes competitors 4 instances subsequent yr.
The Armory, New York, NY, USA, picture by Kevin Morris
“We’re persevering with so as to add high tier expertise to our roster of Grand Slam Monitor™ 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 Monitor™ 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 all over the world can be excited on the prospect of understanding they’ll see these rivals face off on the observe 4 instances a yr in Grand Slam Monitor™.”
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 yr, 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 Monitor™,” mentioned Hiltz. “The chance to compete in frequently 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 house 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 instances 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 out of doors 5000m nationwide championship in 2017.
“I’m thrilled to be a part of Grand Slam Monitor™, which I consider is the way forward for our sport,” mentioned Fisher. “Waiting for 2025, the chance to compete in 4 high-level Slams towards the quickest males on the planet marks a serious shift for observe and discipline. Constructing on the momentum from the Olympics, this provides us Racers an thrilling likelihood to face off frequently, with large prizes and bragging rights at stake. I can’t wait to hit the observe subsequent yr and see who’s really the most effective.”
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 Monitor™. 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 Monitor™.
“I’m very excited to be the primary athlete representing my nation of Kenya in Grand Slam Monitor™,” mentioned Kwemoi. “I wish to proceed to check myself towards the most effective runners on the planet, and Grand Slam Monitor™ is the proper stage for that. This league is a good undertaking to be part of, and it is going to be very thrilling when the Slams start subsequent yr.”
Annually, 48 athletes can be named to the league as Grand Slam Monitor™ Racers. Hiltz, Fisher, and Kwemoi be part of a stacked roster of skills introduced to this point 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 Monitor™ Racing Committee based mostly on a mix 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 Monitor™ Racers decide to racing in all 4 Slams per yr. They’ll obtain an annual base compensation for racing in every Slam and are eligible for full prize cash. These Grand Slam Monitor™ Racers will obtain annual contracts, entry to the Grand Slam Monitor™ content material and knowledge companies group, inclusion within the league collective, group licensing and new income alternatives, plus entry to world class athlete help companies all through the season. Grand Slam Monitor™ Racers are compensated underneath contract to race and promote the league and obtain extra advertising and marketing and branding help.
The remaining 48 racers can be often called Grand Slam Monitor™ Challengers and can be paid a set look price to compete at particular person Slams. Grand Slam Monitor™ Challengers are chosen by the Grand Slam Monitor™ Racing Committee based mostly on a mix of things together with latest performances, and probably the most intriguing athletes and matchups.
Racers and Challengers can be assigned to compete in one of many following classes, and can all race in two occasions throughout every Slam: brief sprints (100m/200m), brief hurdles (100H or 110H/100m), lengthy sprints (200m/400m), lengthy hurdles (400H/400m), brief distance (800m/1500m), or lengthy distance (3000m/5000m). All rivals’ ultimate placement rating can be decided by their mixed ending order between the 2 races. Within the occasion of a tie throughout the 2 occasions, it is going to be the athlete who had the quickest mixed time throughout the 2 races who can be deemed the winner. The winner of every Slam group will take house $100,000 in prize cash, and the eighth place competitor will earn $10,000. Grand Slam Monitor™ can have a complete of $12.6m of prize cash that can be awarded throughout the slams annually along with the bottom compensation and look charges paid to racers.
The main focus of Grand Slam Monitor™ is on face to face competitors, not successful instances. There can be no rabbits or pacing lights. Every Slam is equally as essential as another, can have its personal prize purse, and can 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 personalized kits, in their very own desired model. Grand Slam Monitor™ has no affiliation or sponsorship settlement with any shoe firm; all shoe corporations are thought-about to be essential stakeholders and companions within the promotion of our racers.
Grand Slam Monitor™ has secured greater than $30 million in monetary commitments from traders and strategic companions for the launch of the league. Winners Alliance, a world, athlete-centric
business resolution and Johnson’s working companion, was the lead investor within the first fundraising shut for the brand new enterprise. The funding within the league will help in Johnson’s final objective: to develop higher engagement with followers by selling observe and discipline’s greatest stars and reaching new audiences with distinctive, modern storytelling.
Ticket gross sales data can be launched sooner or later. For additional data, 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 discipline star, universally acknowledged as one of many best 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 identical Olympics. Since retiring from energetic competitors, Johnson has develop into a serial entrepreneur and investor, in addition to extremely wanted efficiency mindset speaker and an award successful 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 Monitor and Area Corridor of Fame in 2004.
