Ackera Nugent and Roshawn Clarke Join Elite Grand Slam Track Series for 2025

Jamaican track stars Ackera Nugent and Roshawn Clarke have joined the elite ranks of the Grand Slam Track series, a professional circuit founded by four-time Olympic gold medalist Michael Johnson. This series features world-class athletes competing for substantial prize money across four major events, known as Slams, starting in 2025.

Nugent, a 100m hurdles specialist, has had an extraordinary year, setting a Jamaican national record of 12.24 seconds and becoming the fourth-fastest woman in history for the event. Meanwhile, Clarke, a rising star in the 400m hurdles, gained international recognition when he set a U20 world record with a time of 47.34 seconds at the 2023 World Championships. Both athletes also competed in the finals of their respective events at the 2024 Paris Olympics, marking them as prominent figures in Jamaican and global athletics.

Grand Slam Track: A New Era of Competition

Grand Slam Track aims to revolutionize track and field with its unique format and lucrative prize pool. Athletes will participate in a series of head-to-head races, where both Racers (invited athletes) and Challengers will compete for $12.6 million in total prize money. With 96 athletes per event, the series offers not only base compensation for competitors but also the opportunity for substantial performance-based rewards, including $100,000 for category winners.

Nugent and Clarke’s inclusion adds to the star power of the Grand Slam Track, which also features Olympic and World Championship medalists such as Fred Kerley and Kenny Bednarek. The series is poised to attract massive attention as it brings together the top talents in track and field for a new level of competition, with high-stakes races and global fanfare.

For Nugent and Clarke, the Grand Slam Track represents both a personal challenge and an opportunity to further their careers on an international stage. Speaking about the opportunity, Nugent expressed her excitement, stating, “I’m constantly looking for ways to get better, and Grand Slam Track gives me the platform to do just that.”

As both athletes prepare for 2025, their participation in this prestigious league highlights their status as rising global stars and cements Jamaica’s continued dominance in the world of track and field.

This move signals a promising chapter for both athletes, as well as for fans eager to see them compete against the world’s best in a thrilling, reimagined format of the sport.