It is expected that the Grand Slam Track will drastically alter how people view the track and field realm. However, with a league of such an expansive magnitude, there are bound to be some last-minute changes. And Michael Johnson’s brainchild, GST, is no different. With some big names registered to showcase their talents, fans were waiting eagerly to catch all of them march towards their pursuit of clinching the magical figure of $100,000. Unfortunately, there are some last-minute changes. But what are they?
Well, in a recent report, several of the pre-registered athletes were reportedly scratched from the list. While there were some significant changes, one name among them seems to stand out. It is none other than the 400m Olympic gold medalist Quincy Hall. Clocking a blitzkrieg time back in Paris, Hall has been one of the biggest attractions of the league. More so, because Hall has not raced since his emphatic victory in the Olympics. In his absence, Jamaica’s Zandrion Barnes will be taking the field.
While the news might have come as a surprise to the fans, the authorities of GST have sent a strong message. They have stressed the importance of remaining transparent with their audiences. Grand Slam Track Sr. Director of Racing Kyle Merber reflected on the situation, saying that they always knew that last-minute changes were bound to happen. “While injuries and unexpected circumstances are out of our control, we’ve chosen to be transparent with fans rather than keep them in the dark,” said Merber.
Merber also stated that the interest in participating in the Grand Slam Track has been shooting through the roof. And that is why, the league has been able to replace the ones scratched immediately with new athletes. According to the news shared by a track enthusiast on X, the ones scratched from GST are: Favour Ofili, Quincy Hall, Cameron Murray, Hansle Parchment, Grace Stark, Alia Armstrong, Trevor Bassitt, Shamier Little, Nelly Chepchirchir, & Dominic Lobalu.
There have been 10 scratches from the Grand Slam Track Kingston fields that were announced three weeks ago.
American Quincy Hall, who has not raced since winning Olympic 400m gold in Paris, is a notable one. He is replaced by Jamaica’s Zandrion Barnes. pic.twitter.com/lDoOj1oz1O
— Jonathan Gault (@jgault13) March 31, 2025
On the contrary, names like Jodean Williams and Zandrion Barnes, the full list includes Eric Edwards Jr., Omar McLeod, Amber Hughes, Nia Ali, Assinie Wilson, Cassandra Tate, Sage Hurta-Klecker, & Charles Philibert-Thiboutot. Meanwhile, despite the absences, several big names are still on the line to enthrall the GST fans.
As Grand Slam Track boasts elite talent, will it thrive without the biggest stars?
Grand Slam Track’s inaugural season is set to showcase an impressive lineup of elite athletes, even if some of the sport’s biggest stars are missing. With 48 Racers locked in, the series boasts reigning Olympic champions like Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, Gabby Thomas, Cole Hocker, Marileidy Paulino, and Masai Russell.
GST has also secured the entire Olympic podiums from three of 2024’s most thrilling events. Yes, you guessed it right. They have the women’s 100m hurdles, men’s 400m, and men’s 1500m—ensuring high-level competition across the board. Despite some notable absences, the roster is still packed with firepower. One of the biggest names who was quick to sign for this was Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone.
She remains one of track and field’s most electrifying names, while Thomas brings star power to the sprints. The presence of global medalists like Josh Kerr, Matthew Hudson-Smith, and Jasmine Camacho-Quinn further strengthens the series’ credibility. Even without Noah Lyles or Sha’Carri Richardson, GST has delivered on its promise of elite talent. With a deep mix of Olympic standouts and rising stars, they continue to build high expectations.
Still, Lyles’ reasoning for staying out highlights GST’s challenges in its debut year. “Until I see a TV sponsor, I can’t make a decision,” he told LetsRun.com, emphasizing the marketing value he needs. While GST didn’t land every major star, its first wave of signings ensures the series will be far from lacking in excitement. What do you think? Will it be as big as Johnson thinks? Well, we as fans surely hope so.
The post Scratching American Star & Co., Michael Johnson’s Grand Slam Track Sends a Strong Message to Fans Ahead of Kingston Inauguration appeared first on EssentiallySports.
