"We are looking for fastest people and Noah Lyles is the fastest" - Michael Johnson on his dream lineup for Grand Slam Track

Michael Johnson has named Noah Lyles in the dream lineup for the Grand Slam Track. The track and field veteran is poised to launch his track tournament to reshape the entire track circuit.

Johnson recently said the tournament will take place in 2025 and its main aim is to deliver an economic boost to the track salary, considering the current marginal salary offered to the athletes. The winner will get $100,000, while the athletes claiming second and third places will get $50,000 and $30,000, respectively.

After revealing the schedule and the prize money of the tournament, Johnson has now spoken about the athlete line-up for the Grand Slam Event in an interview with TMZ Sports. He opened up about Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone being one of the top names on the list and referred to Noah Lyles as the fastest. The 56-year-old said he was looking for extraordinary athletes.

"We signed Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone as an ambassador to help us launch the league back in June," Michael Johnson said (via Grand Slam Track on X). "Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone just broke the world record again at the Olympics and just a phenomenal athlete. So, we are looking for the fastest, and Noah is certainly one of those I mean, Noah is the fastest." (2:55)

Johnson added more names to the list and opened up about exploring rivalries to create anticipation for the races.

"So, those sorts of people, Noah Lyles, Julien Alfred- the 100m champion, Gabby Thomas, 200m champion. Those are the sorts of people, Sydney, who's the world record holder ofcourse and Cole Hocker, who won a mile at the Olympics. So, those sorts of athletes, people really want to be part of this league. We also want and need their rivals as well, not just them by themselves. They need to be challenged, so, you know, when you have the rivals as well," the veteran said.

Michael Johnson receives appreciation from Josh Kerr on Grand Slam Track

Michael Johnson recently signed British athlete Josh Kerr as the second racer for the Grand Slam Track and received words of praise from the latter. After signing up for the newly launched event, Kerr called it the 'future' of the track and field sport and exuded excitement at being a part of it in a press release.

"Grand Slam Track is the future for this sport and I’m buzzing to be the first British Racer signed to the league,” Kerr said (via Athletics Weekly).

Kerr also opened up about working with Michael Johnson, calling him 'the great of the sport.'

"Getting to work with Michael Johnson, a great of the sport, is awesome. He wants to shake things up and change this game for the better. He has put us athletes at the forefront of all his decisions in creating the league," Kerr added.

He further expressed his feelings about competing in the Grand Slam Track and said:

"I can’t wait to get racing in the Slams and to put on a performance for all track fans around the world. I look forward to facing the best in the world four times a year.”

Michael Johnson's Grand Slam Track will host four meets in a year and the dates have been selected in a way that they won't clash with the World Athletics' meet.