Michael Johnson Wants Noah Lyles in New League; Talks Prize Money, Sydney McLaughlin

After launching a new track league earlier this summer, four-time Olympic gold medalist Michael Johnson is hoping to have some of the biggest stars in the sport participate.

While speaking to TMZ, Johnson revealed that he's been pursuing Team USA star sprinter Noah Lyles to join Grand Slam Track and already signed world-record hurdler Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone as an ambassador.

"We're looking for the fastest people," Johnson said. "We needed to wait until after Paris, and now we know who the fastest are, and so we're signing more of those athletes now."

Lyles won the gold medal in the 100-meter and took the bronze in the 200-meter at the Paris Olympics this summer. He revealed after running the 200-meter that he was diagnosed with COVID-19, which forced him to withdraw from the men's 4x100-meter relay race.

Johnson also revealed that the four events in Grand Slam Track will provide a prize of $100,000 for first place. He said the $10,000 award for last place is equivalent to the first-place prize for the current top track circuit. He also noted that runners will be receiving a base compensation for participating in the league.

Lyles and the rest of this year's Olympic competitors would certainly add some star power to Grand Slam Track, so fans will certainly be curious to see if Johnson is able to convince them to join the upstart league.