Michael Johnson Expresses Grand Slam Track Concerns

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👋 Hey, Speedsters!

What a theatrical weekend this has been! When we buzzed your mailbox on Saturday, we were in the thick of the Brussels Diamond League finals. Although, it may have felt like a different metaverse altogether — imagine Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone voicing concerns and Sha'Carri Richardson finishing a 100m race eighth. Rare sightings!

Well, today's version will keep you on the edge of your seat too! Picture this: Michael Johnson gets candid about the Grand Slam Track and discloses the loose bolts that require a fix. Juicy right? For 'fresh from the track' updates, we have Faith Kipyegon and 3 other Kenyans being crowned the Diamond League champions! Also, quite interestingly, Jakob Ingebrigtsen tried stepping out of his comfort zone. But, oh boy, did his plans go south! Hop on as we're about to have all the stories dished out for you!

📜 QUOTE OF THE DAY

“Those who know why will always beat those who know how”

— Jackie Joyner-Kersee

In today’s newsletter, we’ll uncover these top stories from the Track & Field universe:

🤔 Michael Johnson’s Take on Grand Slam Track

🏆 Kenya Dominating Diamond League Charts!

 👀 Marie-Josée Ta Lou-Smith Slams Netflix

 🤯 Jakob Ingebrigtsen's Wild Week

Michael Johnson Expresses Grand Slam Track Concerns

Michael Johnson's brainchild—the Grand Slam Track—aimed to make track and field grander than ever. Well, the league's $12.6 million prize pool, with $100,000 for the winner, sure sets the ball rolling in this direction. Ironing out even the finest of wrinkles, Johnson declared business class flights and concierge support for all the league racers. Doesn't this look picture-perfect? Well, think again—because when the closet opened, out came the skeletons!

In a recent chat with Citius Mag, Johnson pointed out a few concerns the league had been facing. "Grand Slam Track is new and there's no doubt about it," he says while citing that there have been athletes wanting to understand the circuit first before they dive in. Another issue that cropped pertained to broadcasting. While most global streamers have expressed interest in claiming the Slam's broadcast rights, there's a lot on the line—ensuring that the partner puts the sport on prime time, reaching the widest audience possible, and carving rights. for athletes and content creators to post-race bytes and negotiate over the data and technology involved. Sounds fairly complex!

But this is where Johnson's role comes into play. Proactive on X, he confesses to constantly researching and delving into the opinions coming from the fans. 'Taking cues from people,' as he likes to put that. Well, why not? With the highest prize money ($10,000 for eighth place to $100,000 for first place), he reckons his league to be at the helm, and with that comes tremendous responsibility. Thus, what can be more beautiful than the Grand Slam promoting their athletes even when they run in other circuits, say the Diamond League? At the end of the day, it’s not about competition but uplifting the sport together!

Read Full Article: Olympic Medalists Fred Kerley, Kenny Bednarek Sign On As 100m/200m Racers For Michael Johnson’s Grand Slam Track

📊 POLL OF THE DAY

Last Poll’s Result: In our last edition, we asked you all if ‘our top track & field athletes getting the payday they deserve compared to other sports stars?” And 62.50% of you strongly feel ‘they deserve higher pay & major sponsorship deals’.

Kenyans Dominate Diamond League Final

The 2024 Diamond League season couldn't have ended on a better note for Kenya! 4 of the nation's athletes just triumphed on the finale day—leaving the Allianz Memorial Van Damme with more than just merit, but glistening trophies and a bag full of dollars, $30,000 per winner. And some of them were familiar faces—ones that stepped on the Paris podium just over a month ago, like Faith Kipyegon.

It's truly raining medals for her this season. First the 1500m gold at Paris, then the 5000m silver, and now she romps in her fifth Diamond League title—in 3:54.75 seconds. And guess what? This performance just shattered a 21-year-old meet record, surpassing the previous mark of 3:55.33 set by Turkey's Sureyya Ayankrop back in 2003! "My goal was to finish my Diamond League season in a good way and I did," she backed her plans with her mighty actions on a chilly evening in the Belgian capital. But not just her; the cool breeze accompanied a win for 3 of her compatriots. One of them was Emmanuel Wanyonyi, who came from behind in the final seconds to win the 800m dash in 1:42.70.

Even the double-gold medalist from Paris, Beatrice Chebet, who recently became the first woman ever to run 10,000m in a sub-29 minute time, added another accolade to her name in Brussels. She's now the 5000m Diamond League champion and the meet record holder, for her 14:09.82 shines on the board after the previous time dominated for 8 years. Joining her on the winning ranks was Faith Cherotich, the 20-year-old 3000m steeplechase star who remarked, "Winning the Diamond League means the world to me," shortly after claiming her debut league title in 9:02.36 seconds. Clearly, the top effort from the Kenyans paid through!

Read Full Article: Kipyegon, Wanyonyi Win Diamond League Final Races

Marathon Legend Outrunning His Pacers!

Imagine being so good at what you do that not even professionals can match up! Kenyan marathon runner Eliud Kipchoge’s world record of 2:01:39 required him to hire full-time athletes as pacers. But come race day, not even they could keep up. So then, how did Kipchoge sail through to the finish? Watch this peculiar marathon episode till the end to find out!

Marie-Josée Ta Lou-Smith Utterly Disappointed With Netflix

Marie-Josée Ta Lou-Smith's bronze medal at the Diamond League season finale proves that this veteran’s strides are still very much in sync with the younger competitors. At 35, lining up against the reigning Olympic and World Champions would make anyone’s nerves jittery, but Ta Lou-Smith didn’t let it faze her. Her secret? Hard work and unwavering faith. But what happens when this African icon feels her achievements aren’t getting the spotlight they deserve?

Enter Netflix’s SPRINT docuseries, which celebrates the incredible world of sprinters. Season 1, which aired in July, featured stars like Noah Lyles, Sha'Carri Richardson, and Shericka Jackson. Now, as Season 2 gears up, focusing on the road to the Paris Olympics, new faces will join the roster. However, Ta Lou-Smith, despite being one of the fastest women in America, feels snubbed. She voiced her frustration, saying, "I feel really disrespected because when you say that you're going to do a series about the fastest people in the world, you should show everyone, not just the people who win. Because track and field is not only about winning; it’s also about people overcoming different situations, whether good or bad."

Ta Lou-Smith also reflected on her role as a role model and African record-holder, feeling that her contributions and the struggles she has faced deserve recognition. She expressed that being featured in the series but not given the appropriate spotlight was disrespectful. "Do not follow people for many hours, record them and just show the people who win, this is not good,” she said, highlighting her disappointment with how the series failed to acknowledge the broader narrative of perseverance and hard work. It's a shame that despite her being filmed at the events, her story didn’t make the final cut.

Read Full Article: Track and field isn't just about winning: Africa's fastest woman in history explodes on Netflix 'disrespect' for SPRINT docuseries

Jakob Ingebrigtsen Shocks The World In 1 Week

Jakob Ingebrigtsen may have had a rocky start to the 2024 season, but he's been pulling one trick after another ever since he made a comeback after nursing his Achilles pain. Looking at the roster he's had since Paris, the Norwegian has barely had a breather. There's been his 5000m and 1500m races at the Olympics, followed by the on-the-trot Diamond League events. But when he lifted the 1500m title in Brussels, all fans could wonder was— what a glorious way to wrap up the season!

However, one decision turned the tide, costing Jakob Ingebrigtsen’s incredible season to culminate disastrously! Shortly after the Brussels finale, he dropped a hint, “Diamond! 💎 What a great way to end the season. Or…?” Throwing a last-minute curveball, in just 36 hours, he entered himself in the half marathon event in Copenhagen. A leap from middle and long-distance races to a 13.1-mile marathon? Ingebrigtsen may have been a bit too ambitious! For it did not go as per his expectation (or anyone's for that matter).

From maintaining a lead till 27:27 to struggling for breath, the Norwegian abruptly stopped at the 10k mark. Garnering every bit of strength, he resumed but halted again, until he finally crossed the finish mark in 63.13 with a feeble jog. 34th in the race, his plans went weary, and seconds after the end, he lay flat-backed on the ground. It could have been an injury that troubled him, or his fatigue from the previous races had not worn out. But he completed what he started until he voiced a final verdict—"21km is definitely too long. I’m definitely not going to try (a half-marathon) again for a couple of years. It was fun, but tough. I tried to stay with the leading group for as long as I could."

Read Full Article: Jakob Ingebrigtsen Makes Massive Career Decision Just Hours After Diamond League Final

📝 STORIES YOU SHOULDN’T MISS!

1. Mondo Duplantis Hops Over Everyone to Score Biggest Diamond League Check - Full Story

2. Jakob Ingebrigtsen’s Final Comments after Disastrous Race - Full Story

3. Notre Dame’s Speed Demon Takes Massive Swing at Olympic Medalist With Controversial Claim - Full Story

4. Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone Reflects on Competing in the Diamond League Finale - Full Story

5. Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone and Other Track & Field Stars Fall Victim to Latest Internet Trend! - Full Story

That’s it for today, folks! We’ll look to knock on your inbox soon with more interesting stories!

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