Grand Slam Track has one mission—to shake up the sports world, and in doing so, it’s changing lives.. Just ask the 26-year-old from Baltimore who’s been chasing his Olympic dream while clocking in shifts at Walmart to make ends meet. Yeah, he’s training like a full-time athlete—with zero sponsors and a paycheck that’s barely covering rent. But that’s where GST comes in. Unlike the usual track and field meets, they’re putting real money on the line—$100K for the winner, no questions asked. And for him?
That check wasn’t just prize money but a Dream. April 6 was the make-or-break moment—the meet that could flip Dylan Beard’s entire life. See, Grand Slam Track isn’t about one-and-done wins. It runs on points, and to snag that $100K, you’ve got to deliver twice. Each ‘race group’ has two events, and points are handed out based on finish: 12 for first, 8 for second, all the way down to 1 for eighth. Dylan came out swinging on April 5, clocking a blazing 13.29 in the 110 mH to grab the first short hurdle win. But one win wasn’t enough—he needed to do it again to lock in the title. And guess what? We wished for one more win, but fate had other plans!
This track and field star, Dylan Beard, was this close—but the $100K slipped right through his fingers. Sasha Zhoya came flying in the 100m with a 10.55 finish, locking in the Men’s Short Hurdles title with 20 points after placing second in the 110 mH the day before. Beard had made a strong case with a win in the 110 mH and a third-place finish in the 100m, but his total of 18 points just wasn’t enough to top Zhoya. Cordell Tinch came in third overall with 12 points. Beard still bagged $50K for second place, but yeah, after the race, you could tell he felt the sting. So close to the big one—but just a few steps short.
Citius Mag shared a video of this track and field star Dylan Beard as they interviewed him on YouTube, where Beard opened up about the race. He shared his disappointment, saying, “I mean, definitely excited just to run against these guys, especially down in the hurdle event, so I’m feeling really good about it. I thought I could have gone a little faster.” He added, “All I wanted was first, you know, just to win the whole thing. I do forget I still get to leave with a good amount of money—you know, a big lump sum of money—so I’m blessed to have.”
Dylan Beard found himself toe-to-toe with some serious heavy hitters—Sasha Zhoya, the Aussie-born French star, Cordell Tinch, fresh off his Olympic silver, and Daniel Roberts, who already had a World Championship bronze to his name. It felt like a dream, lining up next to guys who’d been making headlines worldwide. And honestly? He held his own. The race didn’t quite fall his way, but being in that mix? That said everything. But..
Earning even $50K felt like a win in itself for Dylan Beard, especially for someone who’s unsponsored and still managing to go toe-to-toe with the best in the game. That kind of paycheck isn’t just prize money, it’s validation. But it does beg the question: why is someone with Beard’s talent still unsponsored? The truth is that the track and field sponsorship scene is brutal. Opportunities are scarce and usually handed to athletes with consistent national or international wins under their belt. But his breakthrough came just recently!
Dylan Beard’s not-so-typical track and field journey
For Beard, the track and field breakthrough moment came out of nowhere at the 2024 Millrose Games, where he shocked everyone by winning the 60-meter hurdles in 7.44 seconds—the third-fastest time in the world that year. That win catapulted him into the national conversation and earned him a ticket to the U.S. Olympic Trials. But even after that spotlight moment, he still clocked in at Walmart to keep the dream alive, using every paycheck to cover training, travel, and competition costs.
Dylan Beard didn’t grow up thinking he’d be hurdling his way into headlines—he just wanted to run. The Baltimore native only picked up track in his sophomore year of high school, but once he did, it was game over. Records? He broke ’em. Speed? He had it. Everything was pointing up—until a fractured tailbone during a senior year race threw everything off course. What followed was a whirlwind: transferring schools, bouncing between states, trying to train during a pandemic, dealing with new coaches, and mourning the loss of both his brother and grandmother. At one point, he nearly traded spikes for scrubs and considered pharmacy school. But through every detour, every heartbreak, he kept lacing up and running.
While chasing his Olympic dream, Dylan was also slicing deli meat at Walmart to pay the bills. Yup, while most of his competitors were backed by big brands, he was clocking shifts and fitting in workouts before and after. That kind of hustle? Unreal. But 2024 finally gave him the moment he’d been working for: a shot at the U.S. Olympic Trials in Eugene. The only catch? Dreams don’t come cheap, at least not in track and field. Travel, gear, training—it all adds up. So Dylan asked for help with funds, and people showed up for him.
Then, he made it to Eugene for the Team USA Paris Olympics trials and clocked a blazing 13.19 in the 110m hurdles preliminaries. He didn’t make the finals, but man, he made a statement. He showed he’s not just another track and field star—he’s a fighter. And now? Dylan’s not just surviving—he’s thriving. Paris didn’t happen, but LA 2028? That’s the new target. And something tells us—he’s just getting started.
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