By Chris Chavez
September 12, 2024
100m Olympic bronze medalist Fred Kerley and 200m Olympic silver medalist Kenny Bednarek have signed as Racers ahead of the inaugural season of Grand Slam Track in 2025.
Here’s what you need to know:
– Kerley and Bednarek are the first two male sprinters to sign on to Michael Johnson’s professional track league. On the women’s sprints side, the league launched with the announcement that Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone had signed on for the new venture.
– Kerley and Bednarek will primarily race in the “short sprints” category (100m and 200m) at four Slams a year. The winner of the $100,000 prize is based on their combined points total for the two events.
– They join 1500m Olympic medalists Cole Hocker, Josh Kerr, and Yared Nuguse (who will mainly race in the “short distance” category – 800m and 1500) as five of the 48 Racers signed to the league. The other competitors in each category will be Challengers, contracted meet-to-meet based on recent performances and rivalries. Both Racers and Challengers are eligible for full prize money.
– Two Racer spots remain in the short sprinters category. Not currently signed on are 100m Olympic champion Noah Lyles and 200m Olympic champion Letsile Tebogo. Lyles made an appearance on the Nightcap podcast with Shannon Sharpe and Chad Ochocino and said he’s awaiting broadcast partner details before signing with the league. No official broadcast or streaming partner has been announced for Grand Slam Track yet.
What They Had To Say:
Commissioner Michael Johnson (via press release): “This is a great day for Grand Slam Track. We’ve been saying GST is for ‘only the fastest’” and bringing Fred and Kenny into the fold is exemplary of that fact. These two electrify every time they step onto the track, and I can’t wait to see them entertain thousands of fans at each of our Slams, and millions more watching around the world. I’m delighted to add two more excellent sprinters to our roster of Racers, and am already anticipating their first appearances in Grand Slam Track next year.”
Kerley (via press release): “When I first heard about Grand Slam Track, I knew it was something I wanted to be part of. I love competing and think the fans will really enjoy this new Track format. The fans will get to see the best of the best race against each other regularly and we have a platform to showcase our talents and continue building our fanbase all around the world. I’m excited to be part of Grand Slam Track.”
Bednarek (via press release): “The Grand Slam League is a great initiative by Michael Johnson. It's an incredible opportunity to compete at the highest level with some of the best athletes in the sport. I love the head to head concept, emphasis on storytelling, showcasing personalities and a good opportunity for athletes to feature their talent. This league brings a fresh perspective to track and field. I'm looking forward to testing my limits, improving my performance, and putting on a show for the fans. It’s going to be exciting for all those watching and participating.”
Photo by Kevin Morris / @KevMoFoto
Why Kerley Makes Sense
- 100m Season’s Best: 9.81 (Tied for No. 4 in the World for 2024)
- 200m Season’s Best: 19.81 (No. 7 in the World for 2024)
2024 has been quite a rebound year for Kerley after failing to make the 2023 World Championship 100m final to defend his world title, but it has not been perfect. He made a coaching switch in the off-season to work with Quincy Watts in California, got off to a slow start to the year, parted ways with Asics (who he signed a major deal with in 2023) and headed into the U.S. Olympic Trials without having broken 10 seconds for 100 meters. However, his bet on himself paid off as he took third in the U.S. Olympic Trials 100m final and trained through July to prepare for the Paris Olympics.
In Paris, he progressed through the rounds and notched a season’s best of 9.81 to take third behind the photo finish between Noah Lyles and Kishane Thompson. It was the fastest 100m performance since July 2022.
Kerley has also run three solid 200m races this year and holds a season’s best of 19.81 from his fourth place finish at the Zurich Diamond League. Afterward, he told CITIUS MAG that he “hadn’t peaked yet.” It was the fourth-best performance of his career and he’s inching closer to his 19.76 personal best from Sept. 2021.
In 2023, Kerley was all about “Phase Double Gold” and winning the 100m and 200m at the World Championships. Although it failed to happen, Grand Slam Track now provides him an opportunity to showcase his versatility across both events and prepare to make both teams for the 2025 World Championships in Paris. Kerley made both teams for the U.S. in 2022 but only managed to reach the semifinals in the 200m that year. In Zurich, he said, “once I get more repetition, I’ll be deadly.” There are four opportunities to become a killer before Tokyo.
Kerley is also among the best trash talkers in the sport and makes it fun for track fans to be curious about what he’ll do next. Even with his 9.76 PB for 100m, he’s been vocal about the 100m world record and promised to break it “next time I touch the track” (whatever that means).
He will compete in the 100m and 200m in the Brussels Diamond League final this weekend.
Why Kenny Bednarek Makes Sense
Bednarek has cemented himself as one of the best 200m runners of the past Olympic cycle, having earned silver medals at the Tokyo Olympics, 2022 World Championships and Paris Olympics. This year, he also took a major step forward to establish himself as one of the best 100m runners in America by finishing second at the U.S. Olympic Trials with a personal best of 9.87s.
Bednarek is one of three men (Lyles and Tebogo are the others) to make the 100m and 200m Olympic finals. He ended up 7th in the Olympic 100m final and then ran 19.62 to finish second to Tebogo in the 200m final.
Post-Olympics, Bednarek put together a pair of podium finishes in Silesia and Zurich and lowered his personal best to 19.57 (now tied at No. 5 on the U.S. all-time list with Justin Gatlin) to secure his spot in the Diamond League final this weekend.
Who Could Fill The Other Two Racer Spots?
Noah Lyles – For the league to bill itself as a home for “Only The Fastest”, it would make sense to have the reigning 100m Olympic and World champion and reigning 200m World champion and two-time Olympic bronze medalist.
How he stacks up vs. Kerley and Bednarek:
– Lyles is 2–2 against Kerley in the 100m over his career. He has only ever raced Kerley in a 100m once outside of a U.S. or global championship.
– Lyles is 4–2 against Bednarek in the 100m over his career. He is 4–0 against him since 2022.
– Lyles is 3–0 against Kerley in the 200m over his career. He has only ever raced Kerley in a 200m once outside of a U.S. or global championship.
– Lyles is 11–2 against Bednarek in the 200m over his career. Lyles’ two 200m losses against Bednarek came in the last two Olympic finals. He has only raced Bednarek twice in a 200m outside of a U.S. or global championship.
Lyles will likely command one of the biggest contracts for the league. In 2024, he only appeared in one Diamond League meet (London before the Olympics) since he decided to shut his season down after Paris. If he managed to sweep all four Slams, he would make $400,000 which could also be enticing.
With Grand Slam Track’s schedule primarily focusing on the earlier part of the May to September window, the strength of his racing schedule would be a massive step up from the competition he faced at meets like the Tom Jones Invitational, Bermuda Grand Prix and New York City Grand Prix, where he often won handily against not much competition.
Photo by Kevin Morris / @KevMoFoto
Letsile Tebogo – The 21-year-old star has not been shy about saying that his motivation to compete after Paris has stemmed from the money that comes with his appearance fee and winnings at the Lausanne, Rome, Silesia and Zurich Diamond League meets. Much like Lyles, he could also be a strong contender to battle for the $400,000 if he swept all four Slams.
How he stacks up vs. Kerley and Bednarek:
– Tebogo is 1–3 against Kerley in the 100m over his career.
– Tebogo is 3–0 against Bednarek in the 100m over his career.
– Tebogo is 2–0 against Kerley in the 200m over his career.
– Tebogo is 5–0 against Bednarek in the 200m over his career.
Photo by Diamond League AG
Who Else Could Make Sense But More Likely As Challengers:
Kishane Thompson – This was a long awaited breakout season for the Jamaican sprint star. There had been constant buzz from the island about his talent but injury setbacks kept him from reaching the global championship stage until this year. All throughout June and July, Thompson looked like a gold medal contender for the 100m and he got as close as one could but ended up on the wrong side of a photo finish in the Olympic final.
The injury bug bit again as Thompson withdrew from the Silesia Diamond League due to a hamstring issue and has not competed since the Games. Those injury concerns may be what keeps him from being a Racer and could instead lead him to be contracted as a Challenger for each Slam.
Thompson also lacks 200m experience. He has raced just one 200m in the last three outdoor campaigns and his personal best is only 20.92.
Oblique Seville – The 23-year-old Jamaican was trending in the right direction until he got to the Olympic 100m final, where he hurt himself and finished last in 9.91. He was fourth at the last two World Championships. Much like Thompson, he’s been so all-in on the 100m that he has not run a 200m since 2021.
In a league where rivalries are important, Seville or Thompson would bring the USA vs. Jamaica rivalry to the men’s shorts sprints side of Grand Slam Track.
Marcell Jacobs – Most track fans would have wished this league was in place in 2023 when the Jacobs and Kerley rivalry was at its most intriguing but injuries kept the Tokyo Olympic champion from getting in the blocks against the 2022 World champion. By the time they finally raced against one another at the Xiamen Diamond League in Sept. 2023, it was not very exciting as both guys failed to make the 100m final at the Budapest World Championships. Despite an emphasis on rivalries, the Kerley and Jacobs one is likely done as the American is 4–0 against Jacobs since the Tokyo Olympics.
Jacobs was rounding into form this season and finished a respectable fifth place in the Paris Olympic final in 9.85. If Jacobs wants to join Grand Slam Track, he’d have to train for the 200m since he has not contested it since 2018 and his personal best is only 20.61 – a time that wouldn’t make the NCAA Championship final.
Ferdinand Omanyala – The Kenyan star ran 9.79 at altitude at his Olympic Trials but came nowhere near that form at the Olympic Games and failed to make the 100m final. He has broken 10 seconds just three other times outside of Kenya. He has not run a 200m race outside of Africa since 2022 and only has a personal best of 20.33. Omanyala travels all around the world and competed in 11 countries in 2024 so he’s a good candidate to be Challenger.
Zharnel Hughes – While 2023 was a great year for Hughes as he came away with a World Championship bronze medal in the 100m and set the British records in the 100m in 9.83 and 200m in 19.73. He couldn’t find that form in 2024 as he never broke 10 seconds in the 100m and didn’t make the Olympic final. He did not run faster than 19.96 for 200m. A bright spot to the year was a bronze medal in the 4x100m relay. With some good performances early in the year, Hughes could set himself up for a few Challenger invites in 2025
Erriyon Knighton – Despite a late start to the outdoor season after an arbitration panel determined a positive test for a banned substance (trenbolone) came from contaminated meat, Knighton managed to finish third at the U.S. Olympic Trials to keep his Olympic hopes alive. Knighton is just 20 years old and has a pair of fourth place finishes at the last two Olympic 200m finals but two World championship medals from the last two years. The world knows how good he is in the 200m (19.49 PB) but we’ve yet to see his true potential in the 100m as his personal best remains 10.04 from April 2022.
Andre DeGrasse – If this league came around in 2021, DeGrasse would be a no-brainer. Although he’s medaled at the last three Olympics in the 200m or 4x100m, he has not set a personal best in the 100m or 200m since 2021. He did not make the 100m or 200m final in Paris.
Christian Coleman – The American 100m depth is what may lead to more international stars getting attention for the final Racer spot due to their individual performance at the Olympics despite the fact that Coleman has run faster (9.86 for 100m and 19.89 for 200m) than than the likes of Jacobs, Hughes and DeGrasse.
Coleman finished a heartbreaking fourth place in the 100m final at the U.S. Olympic Trials but was still part of the Olympic 4x100m team. However he left his second Olympics without a medal again due to a botched handoff with Bednarek in the final.
While he’s won world championship gold medals at 60m (2018 and 2024) and 100m (2019), people are quick to forget his 200m prowess, with three NCAA titles in that event in 2016 and 2017. This season, he ran a wind-legal 19.89 to also finish fourth in the 200m at the U.S. Olympic Trials, which was his fastest performance since 2017.
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Chris Chavez
Chris Chavez launched CITIUS MAG in 2016 as a passion project while working full-time for Sports Illustrated. He covered the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro and grew his humble blog into a multi-pronged media company. He completed all six World Marathon Majors and is an aspiring sub-five-minute miler.
