Reigning world 200m champion Shericka Jackson is among a group of marquee athletes earmarked by organizers to compete in the newly launched professional track league, Grand Slam Track.

The ground-breaking competition, which is the brainchild of former world 200m and 400m record holder Michael Johnson, gets underway in 2025 and will feature 96 athletes competing in one of 12 event groups at four annual Slams between April and September.

At the beginning of each season, four Racers per group make the starting roster to contest each Slam. The next four in each group are the Challengers, whose recent performances will be the qualifying criteria used to earn selection. Each athlete will compete twice over the course of the weekend with the best combined placing determining the Slam champion.

Athletes will receive points for their finishing position in each of their two races. The Racer who finishes with the highest total number of points after the completion of both events will be crowned Slam Champion with prize money being paid out to each corresponding place. In the event of a tie, the lowest combined time will be used to determine the winner.

In addition to the annual roster, 48 additional athletes are selected on a Slam-by-Slam basis to challenge GST Racers. Challengers will be chosen by the Grand Slam Track Racing Committee based on a combination of factors including recent performances, and the most intriguing athletes and match-ups.

As well as Jackson, other top athletes earmarked include Sha’Carri Richardson, Noah Lyles, Femke Bol, Faith Kipyegon, Josh Kerr and Karsten Warholm.

World and Olympic champion Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone is the first athlete confirmed to participate.