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12 June, 2025

By Grand Slam Track

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Kenny Bednarek & Melissa Jefferson-Wooden crowned inaugural “Racers of the Year;” upcoming Los Angeles Slam postponed until 2026 season.

Los Angeles, CA (June 12, 2025) — Grand Slam Track™, the global home of professional track competition, founded to bring new energy and opportunity to the sport, today announced the conclusion of its transformational 2025 pilot season. Kenny Bednarek & Melissa Jefferson-Wooden are the inaugural Grand Slam Track™ Racers of the Year, having won three-straight Slam Championships each. The league now turns its attention to building out the 2026 calendar of events to bring Grand Slam Track™ to fans around the world. The previously scheduled Los Angeles Slam has been postponed until the 2026 season.

“The decision to conclude the inaugural Grand Slam Track™ season is not taken lightly, but one rooted in a belief that we have successfully achieved the objectives we set out to in this pilot season, and the importance of looking towards 2026 and beyond,” said Michael Johnson, Founder and Commissioner of Grand Slam Track™. “We launched with a bold vision to reimagine professional track racing and we could not be more excited about what we have accomplished so far, delivering amazing races to a rabid fan base. As we’ve said all along, we were going to have learnings, make adjustments, and continue to improve. Sometimes we have to make moves that aren’t comfortable, but what’s most important is the future and sustainability of the league.”

“The global economic landscape has shifted dramatically in the past year, and this business decision has been made to ensure our long-term stability as the world’s premier track league. Our attention is now on 2026, with our eyes set on continuing to deliver the best-in-class storytelling, content, and competition that we have become known for in our debut year,” continued Johnson. “We are in conversations with potential host cities - many of whom have already thrown their names in the hat - to build out an exciting calendar of events for our fans across the globe. We are committed to calling Los Angeles home, and look forward to hosting a Slam in LA as part of the 2026 season.”

“I want to thank all of the incredible athletes who participated in Grand Slam Track™ this season. They are true trailblazers, and will always be known as history-makers in our sport. Congratulations to Kenny and Melissa for writing their names into history as our first ever ‘Racers of the Year.’ They have been great ambassadors for our league, and I look forward to seeing them back competing in Grand Slam Track™ in 2026 and beyond,” concluded Johnson.

Today’s announcement concludes the inaugural Grand Slam Track™ season after three successful Slams in Kingston, Jamaica; Miami, Florida; and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Full refunds will be issued to fans who bought tickets for the 2025 Slam in Los Angeles, which will no longer take place. Refunds will process automatically, and be received within 10-14 business days. Fans with questions on this process should contact the UCLA Box Office directly at [email protected]

Numerous household names had standout moments in the league’s debut season, including Gabby Thomas storming to a Slam Championship in the Women’s Long Sprints in Kingston, Kenny Bednarek sweeping all six races contested in the Men’s Short Sprints, and Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone’s utter dominance in the Women’s Long Hurdles Race Group. Masai Russell ran an American record time in the 100mH (12.17) at the Miami Slam, whilst Melissa Jefferson-Wooden held off Thomas twice in great battles in the Women’s Short Sprints. Grant Fisher also won back-to-back Men’s Long Distance Slam Championships in Kingston and Miami.

“For me, to be a part of the inaugural season of Grand Slam Track™, and be a part of change in our sport, is something that I’ll never have regrets about,” said three-time Slam Champion and 2025 Grand Slam Track™ Women’s Racer of the Year Melissa Jefferson-Wooden. “Change is not always easy or accepted, and I’m happy that Michael Johnson found a way to take a leap of faith and build something for the future of our sport. Grand Slam Track™ gives me a platform to not only mature as an athlete, but be someone who is not afraid of challenges, who can embrace change, and have fun in doing so. I can’t wait to be back competing in Grand Slam Track™ in 2026.”

“It’s an incredible honor to be named Racer of the Year by Grand Slam Track™. I’m proud to be the only undefeated athlete in the league this season, and grateful for the opportunity to be a part of something special,” said three-time Slam Champion and 2025 Grand Slam Track™ Men’s Racer of the Year Kenny Bednarek. “This league has given me the stage to showcase my talent in both the 100m and 200m, especially the 100m, where I’ve finally been able to show my full potential. To receive this award and be part of history means a lot. Thank you to Michael Johnson and the entire Grand Slam Track™ team for the recognition. There’s so much more ahead. The best is yet to come and I can’t wait to continue being Mr. Grand Slam in 2026.”

Grand Slam Track™ also provided a platform for many of the world’s young, up-and-coming, and international stars to shine. Sasha Zhoya entertained the crowd in Kingston with his dance moves following winning the Slam there, before American Trey Cunningham electrified to take the Men’s Short Hurdles title away from Zhoya in Miami. Alison dos Santos won the first two Slams in the Men’s Long Hurdles, further establishing him as one of the most dominant forces in global hurdling.

The Grand Slam Track™ model also enabled Challengers like Jacory Patterson and Dylan Beard to have breakthrough moments, earning $50,000 each from the Slams in Kingston and Miami. Beard works a day job at Walmart, and Patterson works nights for UPS loading and unloading delivery trucks - emphasizing the need for a league like Grand Slam Track™ to help ensure the fastest humans in the world are able to train like professional athletes. Patterson has signed an endorsement deal with a major sportswear brand since his successful appearance at the Miami Slam. Opportunities to be Challengers were grabbed with both hands by other stars too. Tia Jones received a last-minute call up to the Kingston Slam, won the 100mH, and was just 0.02s behind Masai Russell’s American record time in Miami. Many other track and field leagues and individual meets around the world followed the Grand Slam Track™ model, and announced they were raising their prize money for competitors, establishing Grand Slam Track™ as a revolutionary, disruptor league within the sports world.

Grand Slam Track™ showcased its adaptability and willingness to listen to feedback from competitors and fans alike by making a successful mid-season change to a two-day format for the Philadelphia Slam. All Slams moving forward will continue to follow this scheduling format. Grand Slam Track™ also received plaudits from fans around the world, journalists covering the league, and the competitors who took part. The first three Slams were broadcast in more than 200 countries and territories worldwide, part of the largest broadcast deal ever negotiated within the sport. The Grand Slam Track™ broadcast itself also drew positive recognition, with the assembled all-star cast of broadcasters, coupled with new and innovative camera angles and production techniques. Fans lauded the head-to-head competition element, enabling them to see their favorite Racers compete many more times than they usually would have this early in the season. Competitors also spoke to the media about the quality of the Slams, how their needs were cared for by Grand Slam Track™ staff, and the overwhelmingly positive experience they had with the league.

Grand Slam Track™ would like to thank the Racers & Challengers who embraced the vision and made history by competing in the inaugural season, and the fans who followed along and supported this new frontier of track competition. Grand Slam Track™ would also like to thank all partners and sponsors who helped deliver three incredible Slams in 2025. Grand Slam Track™ remains committed to finding further strategic partners who share the same vision of transforming the sport of track, and looks forward to returning for the 2026 season. Grand Slam Track™ will have no further comment at this time, but will provide updates on plans for the 2026 season in due course.

About Grand Slam Track™

Grand Slam Track™ is the global home of elite track competition founded by four-time Olympic champion Michael Johnson. The league is redefining the landscape of track with a focus on head-to-head competition between the fastest humans on the planet: fostering rivalries, celebrating racing, and putting fans first. The league features a roster of 48 Racers signed to compete in all annual Slams and includes superstars like Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, Gabby Thomas, Melissa Jefferson-Wooden, Grant Fisher, Josh Kerr, Marileidy Paulino, and many more. These Racers compete against 48 Challengers, who vary per Slam; each Slam features the largest and deepest prize purse in the history of the sport. The inaugural Grand Slam Track™ season in 2025 saw Slams take place in Kingston, Jamaica; Miami; Philadelphia. For more information, visit grandslamtrack.com.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION:

Ben Sosenko

[email protected]

Callum Squires

[email protected]

On behalf of Grand Slam Track