)
The former American sprinter has claimed Noah Lyles and Sha’Carri Richardson are right to snub Grand Slam Track as the amount on offer for them is ‘disrespectful.’
Former US sprinter Monzavous "Rae" Edwards feels Noah Lyles and Sha’Carri Richardson are right to turn down an approach to join Michael Johnson’s Grand Slam Track due to the low amount of appearance fees on offer.
Lyles and Richardson are the two big names yet to sign up for the event that has the likes of Gabby Thomas, McLaughlin-Levrone, Masai Russell, Fred Kerley and Kenny Bednarek already locked in.
At Grand Slam Track, the runners will be awarded $100,000 for winning a race in each of the four Slams with the prize money going down to $10,000 which will be awarded to the eighth-placed finisher.
)
21:00 - 16.12.2024
'It could take three years, I just don’t know' – Keely Hodgkinson on her relentless pursuit of the world record
The Briton middle-distance runner has captivated the world with her remarkable journey from Olympic disappointment to ultimate triumph.
The Grand Slam Track meets will have 96 athletes in track events only: 48 seasonally-contracted “Racers” and 48 single-meet “Challengers” in a two-race format: Grand Slam Challengers will also be paid a set appearance fee besides the prize money.
Edwards, who goes by the name Raes Take online, has claimed that he has information the athletes who signed the contracts will be paid $10,000 in appearance fees per slam which he finds disrespectful for runners of Lyles’ and Richardson’s caliber.
“I’m not going to lie, I’m a little disappointed that the two most famous American track athletes outside of Track & Field, Noah and Sha’Carri, aren’t signed to Grand Slam. I would expect this if it were a European or Jamaican-based startup league. Actually… I take that back. I don’t think they would have not signed them either. I’m disappointed and confused about this,” he posted on X.
However, after a fan suggested that the two may have skipped the inaugural edition to see how it goes before signing up in 2026, Rae responded that he had received information to the contrary.
“I thought this too. Until I was told that they offered one of the most decorated sprinters of our time and in history only $40k to sign with them! I literally JUST found this out! The amount of disrespect $40k is to this athlete is laughable,” he added.
Johnson has insisted whatever the athletes were offered was good given there is a possibility to win up to $400,000 in a season if any of them wins at all the four slams set to take place in Kingston, Miami, Philadelphia and Los Angeles.
)
05:30 - 12.12.2024
Grand Slam Track tickets: How much will it cost you to watch Michael Johnson's lucrative event?
Tickets for the Grand Slam Track event are already on sale and here is how much it will cost you to catch the likes of Gabby Thomas, Masai Russell, Kenny Bednarek and Co in action.
At the meet, Racers and Challengers will be assigned to compete in one of the following categories, and will all race in two events during each Slam: short sprints (100 m/200 m), short hurdles (100H or 110H/100 m), long sprints (200 m/400 m), long hurdles (400H/400 m), short distance (800 m/1500 m), or long distance (3000 m/5000 m).
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)