By Paul Hof-Mahoney
December 19, 2024
Grand Slam Track has announced the signings of Brittany Brown, Freddie Crittenden, Zharnel Hughes and Diribe Welteji to complete their pool of 48 Racers for the inaugural 2025 season.
Here’s what you need to know:
- These four athletes are the final pieces to completing the roster of athletes, known as Racers, that will be competing at each of the four meets in Michael Johnson’s new league.
- The 2025 Slams are set for Kingston, Miami, Philadelphia and Los Angeles. Athletes will contest two races over the three-day Slam, and the athlete in each event group with the most cumulative points will take home a $100,000 payday.
- Brown and Hughes will be racing in the women’s and men’s short sprints (100m/200m), respectively. Crittenden will contest the short hurdles (110mH/100m) and Welteji will race in the short distance (800m/1500m) category.
What these signings mean for the league:
Brittany Brown
- Brown was one of the most consistent sprinters on the global stage. On top of running a 200m PB of 21.90, Brown took home wins at ATHLOS and the Rome and Oslo Diamond Leagues, as well as the Diamond League Final in Brussels. Most significantly, she was able to secure an Olympic bronze medal over the half-lap distance.
- While the 200m was her stronger event in 2024, don’t sleep on Brown’s 100m chops. She made Team USA last summer and finished 7th in the 100m final in Budapest. Her PB of 10.90 came in the final at U.S. Championships last summer, but she also ran a wind-aided 10.66 (+3.2) in early 2022.
- Facing off with Brown four times next year in this race group will be 200m Olympic champion Gabby Thomas, 100m Olympic bronze medalist Melissa Jefferson, and 200m European silver medalist Daryll Neita.
Justin Britton / @justinbritton
Freddie Crittenden
- After not making his first U.S. team for a major championships until he was 28, Crittenden has now made back-to-back global finals and has cemented himself as one of the top hurdlers in the world. He finished less than a tenth of a second off the podium in Budapest last August and followed that up with a 6th-place finish in Paris. He ran a PB of 12.93 in the final of the U.S. Olympic Trials which ties him for 13th on the all-time list.
- Crittenden’s 100m speed is the biggest question mark out of any of the Racers in this category. He only has three 100m performances on his World Athletics profile. All three of which came in September 2020 and the fastest was only a 10.78 run in Slovakia.
- The other Racers in this category include Olympic silver medalist Daniel Roberts, the third-fastest man in 110H history, Devon Allen, and world junior record holder Sasha Zhoya.
Kevin Morris / @KevMoFoto
Zharnel Hughes
- A 2024 season hampered by injuries, including a hamstring issue that forced him to pull out of the 200m heats in Paris, was not reflective of the best that Hughes can be. If you look back to a 2023 season where he set British records in the 100m (9.83) and 200m (19.73), not to mention his World Championship bronze over 100m, it’s clear that his addition to the Racer roster is a significant one.
- Hughes has made a strong career contesting both the 100m and 200m over the last several years, competing in both distances at the 2023 and 2019 World Championships. He should have no problem with the format of the Slams and be a true threat in both events.
- Hughes will be joined in the short sprints category by 2022 100m World champion Fred Kerley, two-time Olympic 200m silver medalist Kenny Bednarek, and Olympic 100m finalist Oblique Seville.
Kevin Morris / @KevMoFoto
Diribe Welteji
- Since her first major championship appearance in Doha as a 17-year-old, Welteji has been one of the premier mid-distance talents in the world. Originally a stronger 800m runner, she has found her groove in the 1500m. She took silver in Budapest last year and finished 4th in Paris, running a PB of 3:52.75 which placed her at 12th on the all-time list. She’s also the world record holder in the road mile (4:20.98) and the fourth-fastest woman ever in the indoor 1500m (3:55.47).
- Welteji has an 800m PB of 1:57.02, which came when she finished 4th at the World Championships in 2022. She is the only athlete in this Racer category to have competed in both the 800m and 1500m at a major championship.
- The other three short distance Racers are 1500m Olympic silver medalist Jess Hull, 2023 800m World champion Mary Moraa, and 1500m World Indoor silver medalist Nikki Hiltz.
Kevin Morris / @KevMoFoto
What they had to say:
Brown (via press release): “I’m so excited to be a part of Grand Slam Track. This is a groundbreaking league that’s going to revolutionize the sport for fans and athletes alike. I can’t wait to compete against the fastest Racers in the world, and put on a show for the fans. This is a new era for track, and I’m proud to be a part of it.”
Crittenden (via press release): "Joining Grand Slam Track is an incredibly exciting moment for me. I'm proud of my accomplishments in this sport, but I'm always striving for more. With the launch of Grand Slam Track, I'm excited to compete against the best athletes in the world and showcase my skills on the biggest stage possible."
Hughes (via press release): “I'm driven by the desire to be the best, to inspire others, and to leave a lasting legacy. The future of our sport is bright, and with the global popularity of track, I think now is the right time to join Grand Slam Track. I can’t wait to get started, and bring my speed to all four Slams. I look forward to seeing the other Racers on the track, and finding out who the fastest of all is."
Welteji (via press release): "Every race is an opportunity to push my limits and inspire the next generation of runners. I'm grateful for the support of my family, coaches, and fans, and I'm excited to continue making strides in my career. With the launch of Grand Slam Track, I'm eager to compete against the world's best and elevate the sport of middle-distance running, whilst representing Ethiopia on the biggest stage."
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Paul Hof-Mahoney
Paul is currently a student at the University of Florida (Go Gators) and is incredibly excited to be making his way into the track and field scene. He loves getting the opportunity to showcase the fascinating storylines that build up year-over-year across all events (but especially the throws).
