Not solely will we be seeing Josh Kerr check his pace within the 800m on the UK Athletics Championships this weekend (June 29-30) however followers can count on to see much more 800m races from him as he has in the present day signed to the Grand Slam Observe League.
The brand new league, based by Michael Johnson, will host 4 annual Slams in main cities world wide in 2025. Athletes, referred to as ‘Racers,’ can be assigned to compete in two occasions throughout every Slam, and as a celebrated middle-distance runner, Kerr is anticipated to compete throughout the 800m and 1500m – though this has not but been formally confirmed.
Kerr, who broke the two-mile world report indoors this yr (8:00.67), is certainly one of 48 contracted athletes who will race in any respect 4 Slams. He’s the primary British and European athlete to decide to the competitors after Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone was introduced on the league’s launch this month.
BREAKING
Welcome to Grand Slam Observe, @joshk97!
Learn extra: https://t.co/ZgUj10lCf3 pic.twitter.com/XlL0O4Em6j
— Grand Slam Observe (@GrandSlamTrack) June 27, 2024
“Making this announcement is extremely thrilling for me,” stated Kerr. “Grand Slam Observe is the longer term for this sport and I’m buzzing to be the primary British Racer signed to the league.
“Attending to work with Michael, a terrific of the game, is superior. He needs to shake issues up and alter this sport for the higher. He has put us athletes on the forefront of all his selections in creating the league.
“I can’t wait to get racing within the Slams and to placed on a efficiency for all monitor followers world wide. I look ahead to going through one of the best on this planet 4 instances a yr.”
The deal with the league is to incorporate the quickest and finest athletes in every race group, producing fierce rivalries and aggressive racing.
A well known rivalry on this planet of athletics is between Kerr and the reigning Olympic 1500m champion, Jakob Ingebrigtsen. Kerr not too long ago beat the Norwegian as he took down Steve Cram’s 39-year-old British mile report on the Prefontaine Basic with 3:45.24 in Could. Ingebrigtsen ran 3:45.60 to complete second after an injury-hit winter.
Josh Kerr (Jan Figueroa)
Though Ingebrigtsen has not but dedicated to the Grand Slam Observe League, his previous feedback on the Prefontaine Basic press convention means that he agrees with the league’s fundamental focus.
“All of us feed off the engagement and enthusiasm, particularly from the group and the media and every thing. If we’re solely saving that for one race or two races of the season, the entire level vanishes,” Ingebrigtsen stated.
Grand Slam Observe could have a complete of $12.6m of prize cash that can be awarded throughout the Slams every year along with the bottom compensation and look charges paid to racers.
The winner of every Slam group will take house $100,000 in prize cash and the eighth place competitor will earn $10,000.
Michael Johnson (Grand Slam Observe)
Los Angeles will function the worldwide house for Grand Slam Observe, and host one of many Slam occasions. There can be one additional Slam that may happen in america and one other two in worldwide places.
“I’m excited to announce Josh Kerr as a GST Racer, and add such a gifted competitor to our roster,” stated Michael Johnson. “Josh will present the world his unimaginable pace on the Olympics this summer time, however we already know he is likely one of the quickest males on this planet.
“We wish to have a various, worldwide roster of expertise for our 4 Slams, and having Josh on board is a vastly vital announcement for our league.”
Discover out extra concerning the Grand Slam Observe League right here
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