Grand Slam Track has canceled its upcoming meet in Los Angeles, which was set to take place June 28th and 29th at UCLA’s Drake Stadium, and be the final competition of the inaugural season.

The league is still planning to return in 2026 for a second season. Several athletes who have signed onto the league are on multi-year deals, according to sources close to the league.

In its first season, the league featured six event groups and planned to award $12.6 million in prize money. Winners of each Slam take home $100,000. The league made in-season changes by pivoting to a two-day model for Philadelphia. (Long distance group winners were awarded $50,000, since one of those changes was the removal of the 5000m from the schedule.)

The league is planning to announce new investors and partners in the coming weeks. Grand Slam Track ends its inaugural season after three meets in Kingston, Jamaica (April 4-6), Miami, Florida (May 2-4) and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (May 31-June 1).

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“A lot of people when they go out and do things [after an injury] have this vengeance. It’s always like, ‘I’m doing it for the people who counted me out,’ or ‘I’m doing it for revenge.’ But I’m doing it for the people who say I can do it because I have such an overwhelming amount of people who have been supportive and have known I can come back. It’s so cool to prove them right.”

It’s not every day that an athlete disappears from racing for nearly three years—undergoes multiple surgeries, leaves their training group, and then returns to the track to drop a 1:44 in their first 800m back. But that’s exactly what Donavan Brazier just did.

The former world champion, American record holder, and longtime face of U.S. middle-distance running made a stunning comeback in Nashville this past weekend—not just running well, but dominating the field and flashing the brilliance that once made him one of the most electrifying athletes in the sport.

If you’ve followed Donavan’s career, you know the road back has been anything but easy. He’s battled injuries, Achilles surgeries, a fractured tibia, bursitis—over 1,000 days without stepping onto a start line. He could have walked away. No one would have blamed him. But he didn’t.

Today, we dive into why. What kept him going? What was it like to toe the line again? And how does he see himself fitting into the most competitive U.S. 800m field in years?

We reflect on the highs, the lows, the what-ifs and look ahead at what’s next for both Donavan and the event he helped redefine. This is a story about resilience, patience, perspective—and the kind of raw talent that refuses to fade.

Host: Chris Chavez | ⁠⁠⁠@chris_j_chavez on Instagram⁠⁠

Guest: Donavan Brazier | @donavanbrazier on Instagram

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OLIPOP: Olipop is a prebiotic soda that tastes like a throwback to your favorite childhood drinks, but it's loaded with benefits that your body will thank you for. Each can has 2-5g of sugar, 6-9g of fiber, and a science-backed formula designed to help you support your digestive health. They've got plenty of flavor options like Classic Root Beer, Crisp Apple, Grape, Cream Soda and wild hits like Peaches and Cream. You can grab Olipop at Target, Whole Foods, and Walmart or you can go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠DrinkOlipop.com and use promo code CITIUS25 at checkout for 25% off all of your orders⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

PILLAR PERFORMANCE: We all know that sleep is where the magic happens. That's when your body is rebuilding – but getting into those deeper stages of sleep is what makes the difference between just going to bed and actually recovering. Just mix in a scoop of water about 30 to 60 minutes before bedtime. It's simple, it's clean, it's vegan, and NSF certified. If you're someone who takes their training and recovery seriously, this is something worth trying. Head to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠pillarperformance.shop⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, or if you're in North America, go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠thefeed.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and use code CITIUS for 15% off your first purchase.

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“There is a pretty significant amount of track and field athletes for whom a college opportunity will only come through the participation of track and field. That is something we need to really educate the public around. Coining the term, ‘the opportunity sport,’ encapsulates all of that. It’s something I believe the broader public can get understanding around.”

Starting July 1, NCAA Division I schools can directly pay athletes for the first time ever. This shift follows the House v. NCAA antitrust settlement, approved last week by Judge Claudia Wilken. The $2.8B deal doesn’t make athletes employees, but it does allow them to finally receive a share of the billions in revenue they help generate.

Schools will be able to offer up to $20.5M annually to student-athletes across all sports (amounts not required to be equal). It also tightens oversight of NIL collectives via a new clearinghouse that ensures deals are “fair-market value.” After major pushback over lost roster spots, the final version protects current and incoming athletes, though schools aren’t required to restore those spots.

Now, athletic departments are racing to implement these changes. Some are lobbying Congress for federal regulation, hoping this deal becomes a stepping stone toward nationwide legislation. Either way, college sports — and particularly cross country and track — will never look the same.

Mentioned in this episode…

Read: Track Is America’s Opportunity Sport. Colleges Need To Save It

Host: Chris Chavez | ⁠⁠@chris_j_chavez on Instagram⁠

Guest: Russell Dinkin | @dancingdinks on Instagram

SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS

OLIPOP: Olipop is a prebiotic soda that tastes like a throwback to your favorite childhood drinks, but it's loaded with benefits that your body will thank you for. Each can has 2-5g of sugar, 6-9g of fiber, and a science-backed formula designed to help you support your digestive health. They've got plenty of flavor options like Classic Root Beer, Crisp Apple, Grape, Cream Soda and wild hits like Peaches and Cream. You can grab Olipop at Target, Whole Foods, and Walmart or you can go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠DrinkOlipop.com and use promo code CITIUS25 at checkout for 25% off all of your orders⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

PILLAR PERFORMANCE: We all know that sleep is where the magic happens. That's when your body is rebuilding – but getting into those deeper stages of sleep is what makes the difference between just going to bed and actually recovering. Just mix in a scoop of water about 30 to 60 minutes before bedtime. It's simple, it's clean, it's vegan, and NSF certified. If you're someone who takes their training and recovery seriously, this is something worth trying. Head to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠pillarperformance.shop⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, or if you're in North America, go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠thefeed.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and use code CITIUS for 15% off your first purchase.

VELOUS: Recover smarter with VELOUS’ new active adjustable slide! Tired feet? VELOUS has you covered. VELOUS just launched the NEW Active Adjustable Slide, designed to take your recovery to the next level. With a perfectly contoured midsole, these slides maximize cushioning and support to help ease tired feet and legs. Run. Recover. Repeat with VELOUS. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Check out the entire collection and enjoy 20% off your purchase by entering code CITIUSMAG20 at checkout!