Australian Olympic medallist Jessica Hull has earned herself another fine pay day at the second stop of the inaugural Grand Slam Track season, cashing in as a star of the lucrative athletics league launched by US sprinting great Michael Johnson.
Hull wasn’t at her phenomenal best in Miami — she finished fourth in the 1500 metres and fifth in the 800m — but such is the nature of Johnson’s league that the Paris 2024 silver medallist will leave Florida with an extra $30,000 in her bank account.
One of the main reasons why Johnson set up the league was because he was concerned about the lack of financial reward for elite athletes in athletics.
The four-time Olympic champion’s answer to that was masterminding a league backed by US$12.6 million (A$20 million) in prize money in its inaugural season.
You may also like
Johnson’s brainchild hasn’t solved the issue facing the field athletes of the athletics world — his league only has track events — but it’s enticed stars such as American champion Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone into racing more often, which is a win for fans, and filled their pockets in return.
Jessica Hull.
Jessica Hull greets the crowd at the Miami leg of the inaugural Grand Slam Track season. Howard Lao/Grand Slam Track
All eight athletes in each of the six race categories are guaranteed to receive US$100,000-$10,000 per grand slam, which equates to A$154,000-$15,000.
In Miami, Hull finished fifth in the women’s “short distance” category and therefore picked up US$20,000 (A$30,000).
In a slow and tactical 1500m race on Sunday (AEST), the Albion Park product finished fourth in 4:07.67.
She then finished fifth in the 800m in 2:00.88 on Monday (AEST).
Australia’s Sarah Carli, a two-time Olympian, finished sixth in the women’s “long hurdles” category to earn herself US$15,000 (A$23,000).
Carli finished fifth in the 400m hurdles in 54.93 seconds and seventh in the 400m sprint in 53.01.
Australian middle-distance champion Peter Bol snapped up US$20,000 (A$30,000) in Miami by finishing fifth in the men’s “short distance” category.
At the first stop of the season, hosted by the Jamaican capital, Hull finished fourth to pocket US$25,000 (A$40,000).
The two remaining legs of the season will be hosted by Philadelphia and Los Angeles.
Leave a Reply