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• Tickets for Grand Slam Track™ go on sale today

  Tickets for the highly anticipated Grand Slam Track™, the revolutionary global stage for elite track and field competition, go on sale today, December 6, 2024, at 10:00 AM Pacific / 1:00 PM Eastern. Founded by four-time U.S. Olympic champion Michael Johnson, who also serves as the league's commissioner, the event promises to redefine the sport with its inaugural season kicking off in Kingston, Jamaica, in April 2025.

  Johnson expressed his excitement about the league’s progress, stating: "Grand Slam Track™ continues to build momentum as we get closer to our inaugural 2025 season. The attention and recognition this league is gaining is incredible, and it continues to be clear that the best in the world want to be a part of it. We’re creating something truly special – a Festival of Speed – for fans to enjoy."

  The league will feature 48 top-tier athletes, known as Grand Slam Track™ Racers, competing in all four Slam events: Kingston, Miami, Philadelphia, and Los Angeles. Among the confirmed stars are Jamaicans Ackera Nugent and Roshawn Clarke, alongside global icons such as Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, Fred Kerley, Marileidy Paulino, Grant Fisher, Jasmine Camacho-Quinn, Alison Dos Santos, and Jereem Richards.

  Additionally, 48 Grand Slam Track™ Challengers will join individual Slams, selected based on recent performances and intriguing matchups. Racers and Challengers will compete across categories such as short sprints, hurdles, middle distance, and long distance, with each competitor racing twice during the three-day events.

  Grand Slam Track™ shifts the focus from time-based performances to head-to-head competition. Unlike traditional meets, there will be no rabbits or pacing lights. Each Slam is independently scored, with a $100,000 prize for the winner of each group and $10,000 for eighth place. A total of $12.6 million in prize money will be awarded annually, alongside base compensation and appearance fees.

  The league is also breaking with tradition by allowing athletes to compete in custom kits designed with their sponsors, free from traditional bibs or hip numbers. This unique approach emphasizes individuality and creativity while showcasing the athletes’ personalities.

  With over $30 million in financial commitments from investors, including Winners Alliance, the league aims to revolutionize fan engagement and elevate track and field’s biggest stars through innovative storytelling.

  Tickets for all four Slams are now available. Fans are encouraged to secure their seats to witness the Festival of Speed and see the world’s best athletes compete on this groundbreaking platform.

  For more information and to purchase tickets, visit grandslamtrack.com/events.

   

• Opinion: Time for a change in the criteria for the RJRGleaner Sports Awards

  The announcement of the 2024 nominees for the RJRGleaner National Sportsman and Sportswoman of the Year Awards has reignited the long-standing debate about the fairness of the nomination criteria. These awards, while prestigious, have been heavily skewed in favor of track and field athletes for decades, leaving world-class performers from other sports marginalized.

  It was refreshing to hear Gary Allen, Chairman of the RJR Sports Foundation, acknowledge this issue during the announcement of nominees on Wednesday.  He stated that the Foundation’s board would review the criteria for eligibility after questions were raised about the glaring omissions of netballers and footballers, as well as athletes from other disciplines such as mixed martial arts.

   

  

  Among those omitted this year was Tyrese ‘Tank’ Thompson, who made history by winning the heavyweight division at the Pan American Mixed Martial Arts Championships in Mexico in September. Despite his extraordinary achievement in a highly competitive field, Thompson didn’t even receive a nomination.

  Netball Dominance Overlooked

  In netball, Jamaican players continue to excel on the world stage. Jhaniele Fowler-Nembhard, who plays for the West Coast Fever, has been the leading scorer in Australia’s Suncorp Super Netball League for the last five seasons. Fowler’s consistent dominance in the world’s premier netball league is unparalleled, yet she was left out of the list of nominees again this year.

  Romelda Aiken-George, who in 2024 was named MVP of the Suncorp Super Netball finals after leading the Adelaide Thunderbirds to victory, has also been overlooked. Her achievement, combined with her two previous league titles with the Queensland Firebirds, highlights her place among the sport’s elite.

  Additionally, Shamera Sterling-Humphrey and Latanya Wilson have been instrumental in back-to-back Suncorp titles for the Thunderbirds in 2023 and 2024, further solidifying the influence of Jamaican netballers in the world’s top league. Yet, their names remain absent from the nominees list.

  

  The Case for Football

  Football also offers a glaring example of exclusion. Khadija ‘Bunny’ Shaw, who has established herself as one of the best strikers in the world, plays for Manchester City Women and has been a Ballon d’Or nominee twice. Her incredible performances in the Women’s Super League and UEFA Champions League have placed her among the global elite, yet she wasn’t considered for a nomination.

  The current criteria suggest that Shaw’s club-level achievements are somehow less significant because they weren’t earned while representing Jamaica. This is a flawed perspective that undermines the value of world-class performances at the club level.

  

  A Flawed Framework

  The awards currently hinge on performances for Jamaica at the global, continental, regional, and domestic levels, which effectively excludes many athletes excelling in professional leagues or international competitions outside national representation.

   Take the hypothetical example of Leon Bailey. If he were to score 40 goals and provide 15 assists for Aston Villa, leading them to an English Premier League title, would he not deserve a nomination for Sportsman of the Year? According to the current criteria, he wouldn’t, unless he replicated that performance in a World Cup for Jamaica.

  Closer to home, consider a player who has an outstanding season in the Jamaica Premier League, leading their team to a championship. Why should their achievement be any less worthy of recognition?

  A Need for Inclusivity

  The exclusion of athletes like Thompson, Shaw, Fowler-Nembhard, Aiken-George, and others highlights the need for a more inclusive approach. These individuals are not just representing Jamaica—they are excelling on the global stage, often against the best in their respective fields. Their performances inspire pride and admiration, just as much as any Olympic or World Championship medal.

  Moving Forward

  The RJRGleaner Sportsman and Sportswoman of the Year Awards should reflect the diversity of Jamaican sporting excellence, not just its dominance in track and field. Recognizing achievements across disciplines would validate the efforts of athletes in non-traditional sports, providing the motivation, respect, and recognition they deserve.

  I applaud the RJR Sports Foundation for committing to a review of the criteria. Jamaica is more than just a track and field nation; it is a nation rich with talent across countless sports. From the netball courts of Australia to the octagons of Mexico and the football pitches of Europe, Jamaican athletes are making their mark.

  The awards should evolve to celebrate this broader spectrum of achievement, ensuring that every Jamaican athlete, regardless of their sport, has a fair chance to be honoured. It’s time to rewrite the criteria and make these awards truly representative of Jamaica’s sporting legacy.

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

• Olympic medalists Stona and Ricketts head nominees for RJR Sports Foundation Sportsman and Sportswoman of the Year

  Olympic gold medalist Roje Stona and trailblazing triple jumper Shanieka Ricketts lead the charge as nominees for the prestigious RJR Sports Foundation Sportsman and Sportswoman of the Year Awards for 2024. The announcement was made during a televised ceremony at the studios of Television Jamaica on Wednesday, unveiling a star-studded lineup of athletes who shone on the global stage.

   Stona, who made history by clinching Jamaica’s first-ever Olympic gold medal in the men’s discus at the Paris 2024 Olympics, headlines the list of eight male nominees. The field is dominated by track and field stars, all of whom delivered remarkable performances throughout the year: Akeem Blake, bronze medalist in the 60m at the World Indoor Championships in Glasgow; Rasheed Broadbell, 110m hurdles bronze medalist at the Paris Olympics; Rajindra Campbell, shot put bronze medalist at the Paris Olympics; Rusheen McDonald, 400m bronze medalist at the World Indoor Championships; Carey McLeod, long jump bronze medalist at the World Indoor Championships; Wayne Pinnock, Olympic silver medalist in the long jump; and Kishane Thompson, 100m silver medalist at the Paris Olympics.

   On the women’s side, Shanieka Ricketts, who became the first Jamaican woman to medal in the triple jump at the Olympics, is joined by a stellar group of nominees: Rushell Clayton, national 400m hurdles champion and finalist at the Paris Olympics; Ackera Nugent, record-breaking hurdler with a new national and world-leading time of 12.24 seconds in the 100m hurdles; Nickisha Pryce, the first Jamaican woman to break the 49-second barrier in the 400m; and Llori Sharpe, cyclist and gold medalist in the Women’s Road Race at the Elite Caribbean Cycling Championships in Guyana, breaking the track and field dominance among nominees.

   The ceremony also revealed six nominees for The People’s Choice Performance of the Year, recognizing standout moments that captured the imagination of sports fans: Rasheed Broadbell for his bronze medal-winning run in the 110m hurdles at the Paris Olympics; Ackera Nugent for her world-leading 12.24-second run in the Diamond League; Khadija ‘Bunny’ Shaw for a spectacular goal against Liverpool in the Women’s Super League; Roje Stona for his historic gold-medal throw in the men’s discus at the Olympics; Kishane Thompson for his 100m silver-medal sprint at the Paris Olympics; and Chavany Willis for his stunning goal for Arnett Gardens against Portmore United in the Jamaica Premier League.

   The winners will be announced at the RJR Gleaner National Sportsman and Sportswoman of the Year Awards Gala on Friday, January 17, 2025, at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel in Kingston. This prestigious event will celebrate the exceptional achievements of Jamaica’s athletes, recognizing those who have left an indelible mark on the nation’s sporting legacy in 2024.