Final Grand Slam Track Event in Los Angeles Cancelled

Date: 14 June 2025 - 21:51

News ID: ۱۴۰۵۴۵

PARIS (AFP) - The final leg of Grand Slam Track - the athletics competition backed by Olympic great Michael Johnson - has been cancelled because of economic concerns.

The fourth event in the inaugural GST season was set to take place in Los Angeles from 27-29 June.

But Johnson said on Thursday that organizers will instead concentrate on next season’s program.

“The global economic landscape has shifted dramatically in the past year, and this business decision has been made to ensure our long-term stability as the world’s premier track league,” said the GST founder and commissioner. “Our attention is now on 2026.”

The GST season began in the Jamaican capital of Kingston - which had low ticket sales throughout - and was followed by events in the US cities of Miami and Philadelphia.

Although the final leg at Drake Stadium will not go ahead, organizers consider the three meetings that took place a success. It is understood they are set to announce new investors to help fund GST’s second season.

Johnson, 57, said the decision “is not taken lightly, but one rooted in a belief that we have successfully achieved the objectives we set out to in this pilot season”.

The four-time Olympic champion added: “We launched with a bold vision to reimagine professional track racing and we could not be more excited about what we have accomplished so far.

“As we’ve said all along, we were going to have learnings, make adjustments, and continue to improve.

“Sometimes we have to make moves that aren’t comfortable, but what’s most important is the future and sustainability of the league.”

The competition featured a host of well-known athletes, including British Olympic sprinters Daryll Neita and Matthew Hudson-Smith, and 1500m world champion Josh Kerr.

Male and female competitors are subdivided into six categories - each containing eight athletes - such as Short Sprints, with the eight featuring in that group competing in the 100m and 200m each weekend.

It offered significant financial incentives, with up to $100,000 (£73,600) on offer for the winners of race categories, as well as salaries for contracted athletes.

GST has suffered controversies in its maiden year. American three-time Olympic champion Gabby Thomas was allegedly abused during the meet in Philadelphia, where the program was cut from three days to two.

And Johnson himself admitted he would “love to see more spectators” after the opening event in Kingston was poorly attended in April.

American sprinters Kenny Bednarek and Melissa Jefferson-Wooden have been named the GST Racers of the Year having won their respective Slam Championship at all three events.

Thunder Rally to Beat Pacers, Level NBA Finals

WASHINGTON (AP) - Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 35 points as the Oklahoma City Thunder came from behind late on to beat the Indiana Pacers and level the NBA Finals.

The Thunder won 111-104 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis to tie the best-of-seven series at 2-2.

They trailed by seven points entering the fourth quarter but outscored Indiana 31-17 in the last period, closing with a 12-1 run in the last three minutes.

“I knew what it would have looked like if we lost tonight,” said Gilgeous-Alexander. “I didn’t want to go down not swinging.”

Thunder coach Mark Daigneaul gave Gilgeous-Alexander, this season’s Most Valuable Player, a break late in the third quarter rather than his usual rest early in the fourth.

The Pacers led 101-97 with less than four minutes remaining, but Gilgeous-Alexander scored 15 of the Thunder’s final 16 points and ended the game with 10 free-throws from 10 attempts.

Jalen Williams scored 27 points and made seven rebounds for the Thunder, while Alex Caruso added 20 points off the bench.

Pascal Siakam led the Pacers with 20 points and Tyrese Haliburton 18.

“We just didn’t execute at the end of the game,” said Siakam. “We didn’t get easy shots. The easy shots that we got, we missed them. And they made them.”