Many individuals in our sport watch the Grand Slam Monitor sequence, whose releases on thirty totally different RACERS have created a stir like few others! Deji Ogeyingbo despatched us this piece as athletes 19 and 20 have been being named, however his theme rings true.
What Grand Slam Monitor is doing through social media, athlete interviews, and enjoyable posters is getting seen. We are going to watch as they identify the ultimate eighteen racers and the 48 challengers.
How will Grand Slam Monitor proceed to construct curiosity in its model?
Grand Slam Monitor Faces Powerful Problem as It Rounds Out Its Star-Studded Roster
The brand new Grand Slam Monitor (GST) occasion, with Michael Johnson as its founder set to launch subsequent 12 months, has taken the observe and subject world by storm, signing a few of the most outstanding names within the sport. However even with all of the star energy, sustaining that elite expertise degree is perhaps extra complicated. As GST introduced its nineteenth and twentieth athletes —Ackera Nugent and Roshawn Clarke—they’ve accomplished the ladies’s brief hurdles group, including a ultimate piece to a powerful roster. (Editor’s be aware: GST has now named athletes 21-30!).
For a corporation whose tagline is “solely the quickest,” they’ve largely lived as much as the hype. GST’s roster contains Olympic and World Championships medalists and athletes like Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, Fred Kerley, and Jasmine Camacho-Quinn. These athletes have confirmed they will compete on the most important levels and win. Nonetheless, as GST continues to increase its roster, some current signings have raised questions on whether or not they can maintain this excellence long-term.
Monitor and subject are aggressive, and whereas GST desires to maintain signing top-tier athletes, it’s beginning to push the boundaries of who it may well signal. For instance, Nikki Hiltz, who completed seventh within the 2024 Paris Olympics within the 1500m, is likely one of the few athletes on its roster who didn’t end within the high 4 in a current world competitors. Whereas Hiltz secured a World Indoor silver, her signing barely deviated from GST’s preliminary all-medalist method.
The problem is obvious: To remain “solely the quickest,” GST should hold bringing in athletes who persistently end within the high 4 at World Championships or Olympic Video games. However there are solely so many top-tier athletes obtainable, and the competitors to signal them is fierce. Monitor and subject doesn’t have the identical roster flexibility as a staff sport. There are solely 4 spots in every occasion group, which makes it difficult to maintain signing contemporary expertise with out bumping somebody off the record.
Nugent, for example, completed fifth on the 2023 World Championships within the 100m hurdles and didn’t end within the Olympic ultimate. Whereas Clarke completed 4th within the 400m hurdles on the 2023 World Championships, he’s nonetheless looking for his first medal. These are nonetheless elite athletes, however with each signing of a fifth or sixth place finisher, GST strikes away from that very best roster of solely top-four finishers.
After which there’s the monetary actuality. Signing the easiest of one of the best comes at a value. These athletes aren’t low-cost, and with extra elite runners to pay, the bills add up quick. The cash concerned in sustaining a staff of medalists is gigantic; sooner or later, GST should face the music. As The Rolling Stones as soon as sang, “You possibly can’t at all times get what you need.” They need the quickest, however the deeper they enter the worldwide expertise pool, the tougher it turns into to lock in these high names.
There may be the problem of conserving athletes pleased. Many of those observe stars are used to being the face of their model or staff. However with so many huge names on one roster, egos can conflict, and managing these relationships is not any small feat. In spite of everything, when you’ve got a number of athletes in the identical occasion, somebody would be the Quantity two, and just some are snug with taking part in second fiddle.
The good news for GST is that, even with these obstacles, they’re nonetheless signing a few of the greatest names within the sport. Finishing the ladies’s brief hurdles group with athletes like Masai Russell, Cyrena Samba-Mayela, and Camacho-Quinn provides them a formidable lineup for his or her inaugural season. The brief hurdles could also be their first occasion group to refill, however different occasions, just like the lengthy hurdles and sprints, should not far behind.
Finally, GST’s success will rely upon its steadiness of star energy, strategic signings, and clever monetary planning. Proper now, they’re on the high of the sport (when it comes to publicity and branding), however the query stays—can they keep there? The primary 12 months will certainly give extra perception. Will they hold their “solely the quickest” mantra alive in a sport the place expertise is plentiful however correct elite expertise is uncommon? It’s not excellent, however we’re watching.
