Grand Slam Track: Zharnel Hughes, Great Britain sprinter, included in 48-athlete roster

Great Britain sprinter Zharnel Hughes will take part in the inaugural season of Michael Johnson’s Grand Slam Track in 2025.

The event has a prize fund of $12.6m (£9.9m) and was launched by American sprint legend Johnson in June, with the aim of bringing together the world’s best athletes.

It will feature 48 contracted athletes but there will also be 48 “challengers” named at a later date.

Hughes is the British men’s record holder in both the 100m and 200m and was part of Team GB’s 4x100m bronze medal-winning quartet at last summer’s Paris Olympics.

The 29-year-old also claimed individual bronze in the 100m at the 2023 World Championships in Budapest.

The Briton was one of the final five contracted athletes to be named on Thursday along with American sprinter Brittany Brown, who won Olympic bronze in the women’s 200m.

In November, sprinter Daryll Neita became the first British woman to join the league, which is split over four events and starts in April 2025.

Three of the four meetings in 2025 will be hosted in American cities Los Angeles, Miami and Philadelphia, while Kingston in Jamaica will also stage an event.

“I’m driven by the desire to be the best, to inspire others, and to leave a lasting legacy,” said Hughes.

“The future of our sport is bright, and with the global popularity of track, I think now is the right time to join Grand Slam Track.”