The dash hurdler will make his monitor comeback subsequent 12 months, after tearing his anterior cruciate ligament final December
Devon Allen, the third quickest athlete in historical past over 110m hurdles, has signed for Grand Slam Observe.
The 29-year-old, who has additionally represented the Philadelphia Eagles as a wide-receiver, tore his anterior cruciate ligament for the third time final December and subsequently missed the whole 2024 season.
Allen had deliberate to compete in his third Olympics in Paris – he completed fourth in Tokyo and fifth in Rio – however didn’t recuperate in time to aim qualification for the Video games.
The American made his NFL debut for the Eagles final September however turned a free agent on the finish of the 2023/24 season.
Allen set his private 110m hurdles better of 12.84 in New York two years in the past and that’s nonetheless the third quickest time in historical past.
Solely world record-holder Aries Merritt and reigning Olympic champion Grant Holloway have gone faster than Allen within the occasion.
Allen will likely be joined by Daniel Roberts within the ‘quick hurdles’ class at Grand Slam Observe and they’ll compete within the 100m and 110m hurdles.
“Whether or not I’m on the sphere or on the monitor, I like competitors,” mentioned Allen. “Grand Slam Observe provides me a technique to return to racing and face among the greatest athletes on the market.
“I’m grateful to Michael [Johnson] and the crew for calling me again to the monitor. I’m able to get again to what I like and take a look at myself in opposition to the opposite quickest males on this planet.”
One other notable title to have signed for Grand Slam Observe is present Olympic 400m champion Marileidy Paulino.
The 27-year-old ran an Olympic report of 48.17 to assert gold on the Stade de France and went fourth on the all-time listing.
Paulino additionally secured victories within the Diamond League remaining and Athlos NYC, going unbeaten via the whole season.
“For me, it’s about making my nation proud and persevering with to lift the bar,” mentioned Paulino. “Grand Slam Observe is a brand new chapter for me and I’m able to preserve exhibiting what onerous work and coronary heart can do.
“This can be a nice alternative for us as athletes to proceed to make our sport shine on a worldwide stage.”
Each Allen and Paulino have signed alongside Jess Hull, Daniel Roberts, Shamier Little, Marco Arop, Jasmine Jones, Jereem Richards, Luis Grijalva, and Rushell Clayton.
It implies that a complete of 30 athletes at the moment are a part of the Grand Slam Observe roster.
All of them will likely be Racers, which implies they compete in all 4 of the Slams and obtain an annual base compensation for competing in each, in addition to being eligible for full prize cash.
At Grand Slam Observe there will likely be 48 Racers and Challengers. They are going to be assigned to compete in one of many following classes and can all race in two occasions throughout every Slam: quick sprints (100m/200m), quick hurdles (100m hurdles or 110m hurdles/100m), lengthy sprints (200m/400m), lengthy hurdles (400m hurdles/400m), quick distance (800m/1500m), or lengthy distance (3000m/5000m).
“I’m proud to welcome this unbelievable group of athletes to Grand Slam Observe,” mentioned Michael Johnson, the league’s founder and Commissioner.
“They’ve all confirmed themselves on the world’s largest phases however this league provides them an opportunity to face one another constantly and produce one thing new to the game.
“I can’t wait to see how they step up and take their performances even additional. We proceed so as to add the quickest expertise from all around the world and we’re so excited for followers to see what we’ve constructed, beginning in 2025.”
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