With the conclusion of the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, athletes are entering their off-season, recharging before the next big stage. The upcoming Diamond League kickoff in Doha on May 8 serves as a wake-up call for all. On top of that, the inaugural World Athletics Ultimate Championship is set to debut next year, promising another global spectacle. Amid this packed calendar, USATF has announced its own athlete-focused league. While many hail it as a positive step, legendary sprinter Carl Lewis warns it may be far from what it promises.

As per USATF CEO Max Siegel, the new USATF Tour is designed as a collective investment, both for the sport and its athletes. Its primary goal is to ensure athletes have consistent opportunities to shine on the global stage and attract sponsorships. Talking to the media, USATF CEO Max Siegel explains, “It addresses some of the key challenges facing track and field in the United States, including fragmented scheduling, overlapping events, and dispersed media coverage. Together with dedicated meet organizers from across the country, we can deliver stronger competition, a better fan experience.”

A noble cause, perhaps, but can they actually pull it off? Carl Lewis isn’t impressed. When this news hit Instagram, the legendary sprinter weighed in, writing, “Sorry, but USATF hasn’t proven that they can run a league. This is a terrible idea that will hurt all of the members. Why are they not lifting up the events we have now? They couldn’t even keep their own meets running, and now they want to run everyone else’s?” 

Well, Lewis does have a point. According to the USATF, 19 World Athletics Continental Tour meets, two Grand Slam events, and one Diamond League meet competed for attention within 15 weeks in the United States. While the USATF is introducing this new tour to address the issue, the data suggests that the situation may not be as disorganized as claimed. Between 23 March and 12 July this year, the U.S. hosted 16 Continental Tour meets, 10 Silver, four Bronze, and two Challenger—alongside two Grand Slam meets in Miramar and Philadelphia, plus the Diamond League Prefontaine Classic on 5 July.

But the real story isn’t the numbers, it’s the focus: four meet spotlighted throwers, three catered to distance runners, two tackled the rarely-run 10,000m, and two were sprint-heavy. That’s 11 out of 16 designed to uplift often-overlooked athletes and events, leaving just five “traditional” meets, including the relay spectacles at Drake and Penn. Well, looking at this packed schedule, even the Canadian star sprinter Aaron Brown expressed his dissatisfaction.

Aaron Brown expressed his dissatisfaction with the USATF tour

USATF is aiming to fix its scheduling chaos, but there’s an ironic twist. While the governing body just announced the brand-new USATF Tour, it’s also planning to revive another project, the LA Grand Prix, which never made it to the track this year. The 2025 edition, originally slated for early June, was quietly scrapped, leaving fans puzzled about how USATF will juggle both ventures without repeating past mistakes. Looking at this, Aaron Brown expressed his dissatisfaction with the news.

“Better to have this than to not for the overall health of the sport but how is this any different from what they had before? If they really want to elevate professional track and field, why not merge with one of the new leagues that actually have a revamped model?” Wrote Aaron Brown on his X handle. As reported by The Sports Examiner, the USATF LA Grand Prix has officially secured its spot on the 2026 World Athletics Calendar. Scheduled for June 14, 2026, the event’s confirmation follows closely on the heels of the USATF NYC Grand Prix announcement, which is set to take place on June 6th.

Well, the packed schedule will make it difficult for athletes to participate in multiple events, especially with the Diamond League starting in May, creating intense overlaps. Regardless, it will be interesting to see how USATF tackles this challenge.