Jamaica’s 2019 and 2023 World Championship 400m hurdles bronze medallist Rushell Cayton said being signed for the 2025 inaugural Grand Slam Track series is a result of the arduous work she has put in.

“I’ve worked so hard to get to this point and I’m ready to give Grand Slam Track my all in every single race,” Clayton said.

“I’m focused and ready to be part of making history. This is just the beginning,” she added.

Clayton, who placed fifth at the 2024 Paris Olympics, became the third Jamaican to sign following sprint hurdler Ackera Nugent and 400-metre hurdler Roshawn Clarke. The 32-year-old Westmoreland native has a personal best of 51.81 in the 400 metres and 52.51 in the 400m hurdles this season.

She won two Diamond League series meets and captured the Jamaican 400-metre hurdles national title.

Clayton will compete against Jasmine Jones and Shamier Little, who have already signed on, and possibly Olympic champion and world record holder Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone.

Organisers say each year 48 athletes will be named to the league as Grand Slam Track racers. The 48 racers are selected by the Grand Slam Track racing committee based on a combination of factors to include the fastest and best racers in each race group.

American four-time Olympic medallist and eight-time world champion Michael Johnson is the conceptualiser of the ultra-rich event.

The event was launched in June and in the following months, world-class athletes have gradually confirmed their participation in this competition.

Set to kick off in April 2025, a total of 96 athletes of 12 distances will compete four times a year and a total of US$12.6 million dollars in prize money will be distributed.

Each year, 48 athletes will be named to the league as Grand Slam Track runners. The remaining 48 runners will be known as Grand Slam Track Challengers and will be paid a flat participation fee to compete in individual Slams. Grand Slam Track (GST) Challengers are chosen by the Grand Slam Track Racing Committee based on a combination of factors including recent performances and the most intriguing athletes and matchups.

GST promises to bring together the world’s elite runners with a significant financial incentive, offering USD$100,000 as the top prize.

“We’re revolutionising the track landscape,” said Johnson. “They deserve to be compensated. The structure of the sport in the past has not compensated those athletes to take that risk to go and compete against the best athletes in the sport.”