Grand Slam Track has never been just about the races—it’s been about the noise, controversy, and the never-ending storm of speculation. From the day it launched, GST has battled accusations, last-minute withdrawals, and whispers of favoritism. But this time, the controversy isn’t coming from boardrooms or trackside insiders. It’s coming straight from YouTube! Wait, what?
Grand Slam Track (GST), the premier professional track league founded by four-time Olympic champion Michael Johnson, recently announced four more elite challengers for the highly anticipated Kingston Slam, set for April 4–6 at Jamaica’s National Stadium. The latest additions include Kenya’s Emmanuel Wanyonyi (800m), Great Britain’s Dina Asher-Smith (200m), and Americans Bryce Hoppel (800m) and Jacious Sears (100m). They join a growing list of stars, including Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, Fred Kerley, Oblique Seville, and many more. But the list doesn’t end here, as there are some self-proclaimed challengers! Yes, that’s right! Confused?
Amid speculation about additional participants, GST issued a statement Tuesday on their official Instagram handle. “We cannot confirm nor deny some of the rumors that potential challengers are spreading on their YouTube channels about their participation in Kingston,” the league said in a statement Tuesday. “Full fields announcement coming very soon.” Well, it did not end here.
If you follow carefully, there was one more statement written in very small fonts and in all caps. But what did it say? “AND MAYBE THERE WILL BE ANOTHER SUB-13 MINUTE 5K GUY WHO IS A US CHAMPION AND WENT TO OREGON, WHO KNOWS?” So, who’s this guy? According the the comment section of the said post and out own research, it seems to be Cooper Teare. How you may ask?
Well, Cooper Teare is from University of Oregon. He runs 5000m and his best time is 12:57.97, that he achieved in February, 21, 2025 during Boston University DMR Challenge. Also, he is a Pan American U20 Championships bronze medalist.
The Grand Slam Track series isn’t just another meet; it is different of sorts. The Kingston Slam, running from April 4-6, marks the first stop in a four-part tour designed to redefine professional track racing. Think head-to-head battles between the best sprinters, hurdlers, and distance runners on the planet. It’s not about time trials or rabbit-led tactical races—it’s about winning, plain and simple.
And the stakes? Sky-high. With $100,000 up for grabs per event and a season-long prize pool bigger than any the sport has seen, every lane matters. The format is ruthless: eight competitors in each event group, four designated as Racers locked in for the season, and four Challengers fighting for a future slot. Two races per athlete; the highest combined score wins. No excuses. No second chances.
So, who’s racing in Kingston? That answer’s coming soon! In another world, Michael Johnson weighed in on a growing controversy of his own. As track fans speculated over Grand Slam Track’s roster, the eight-time world champion turned his attention to a different battleground—the European Indoor Championships.
Michael Johnson Weighs in on the Wavelight Debate
A month before his own league’s debut event in Kingston (April 4-6), former Olympic champion Michael Johnson stepped into a growing debate surrounding Wavelight technology at the 2025 European Athletics Indoor Championships (March 6-9). A fan took to X (formerly Twitter) to voice frustration: “Surely this is some sort of joke? I hope Wavelight’s use at Euro Indoors this weekend is limited to some sort of pre-race light show because it has no place in a major championship race. ”
Johnson wasted no time. He quote-posted the remark with a simple but pointed question: “Do fans want this?” And just like that, the debate erupted. The Wavelight system—an LED pacing technology embedded in the track—is designed to provide athletes with a visual reference for pacing while also making it easier for spectators to follow races. In theory, it enhances engagement. In reality? That’s where opinions diverge.
For track purists, it undermines the raw essence of racing as it shifts the focus from traditional race dynamics—such as pacing instincts, mid-race adjustments, and head-to-head competition—to an external technological aid, reducing it to a programmed exercise in following lights rather than strategy, tactics, and instinct. For others, it’s a necessary evolution in a sport that has long struggled to hold mainstream attention.
Johnson, a vocal advocate for track and field’s growth, raised the fundamental question: Is this innovation for the athletes or the fans? And if it’s for the fans, is it actually improving the experience?
As Apeldoorn prepares to be the first major championship to integrate Wavelight in competition, one thing is clear—the debate is just getting started.
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