Daryll Neita joins Michael Johnson's lucrative Grand Slam Track league

Daryll Neita has become the first British woman to join Michael Johnson’s new track league — and says the big-money series can aid her quest to win a maiden individual global medal. The 28-year-old will race in the 100 metres and 200m at the Grand Slam Track (GST) events in Kingston, Miami, Philadelphia and LA between April and June next year. Neita — who joins fellow Brits Josh Kerr and Matthew Hudson-Smith in signing up — could win as much as £316,000 if she tops her short sprints category at all four meets. But she also sees the inaugural series as perfect preparation for September’s World Championships, where she hopes to better her respective fourth and fifth-place finishes in the 100m and 200m at the Paris Olympics. ‘I truly believe I can get individual medals,’ Neita told Mail Sport. ‘So this is going to give me really good competition early in the season, then I’ll be ready for the Worlds. There’s no better way to prepare than battling week in, week out with the best. ‘I’m excited for back-to-back racing and proving how good I can be. It’s head-to-heads everywhere. It’s nice to spice it up.’ Neita is the second women’s sprinter to confirm her participation in GST after American Melissa Jefferson, the Olympic 100m bronze medallist. The winner of each category will receive £79,000 — more than the £58,000 on offer for winners at the Worlds and £42,000 that goes to Olympic gold medallists. ‘I would hope that more Brits will be included,’ said Neita. ‘It is going to be a big evolution for track and field. It’s such a great opportunity and I wouldn’t miss it for the world.’