Everything you need to know about the Grand Slam Track meeting in Pennsylvania
The Grand Slam Track series continues this week in Philadelphia, where Franklin Field at the University of Pennsylvania will host the third stop of the four-meet tour. The event runs from May 31 to June 1 and follows earlier competitions held in Kingston, Jamaica, and Miami, Florida.
The league format divides athletes into two groups: “Racers” who are contracted to compete across all four events in the series—Kingston, Miami, Philadelphia, and Los Angeles—and “Challengers,” who rotate in and out of each meet, receiving appearance fees and competing for top prize money of $100,000.
To recap, these athletes are assigned to compete in one of the following categories: short sprints (100m/200m), short hurdles (100m hurdles or 110m hurdles/100m), long sprints (200m/400m), long hurdles (400m hurdles/400m), middle distance (800m/1500m), or long distance (3000m/5000m).
However, organizers have made a few key changes for the Philadelphia meet. Based on feedback from athletes, coaches, and fans, the event will now be held over two days instead of three to streamline the competition schedule.
There’s also a change to the long-distance races. Both the men’s and women’s long-distance groups will now compete in a single 3000m race, rather than both the 3000m and 5000m. The adjusted format comes with a $50,000 prize for the winner of each race.
Here’s a rundown of the athletes competing in Philadelphia and the details of when and where you can watch the event.
Men’s Short Sprints (100m/200m)
Heading into the third leg of the Grand Slam Track series, all eyes are on Kenny Bednarek, who sits at the top of the men’s leaderboard with a perfect 48 points from the first two meets. If he continues his winning streak in Philadelphia and Los Angeles, Bednarek is on track to secure the title of men’s ‘Racer of the Year.’
Zharnel Hughes of Great Britain is also set to return as a Racer, coming in with strong form. He recently clocked a wind-assisted 19.55 in the straight 200m at the adidas Atlanta City Games.
However, Racer’s Oblique Seville will miss this meet due to injury, and Fred Kerley is suspended pending the completion of legal proceedings and will not compete in Philadelphia.
Among the Challengers, Christian Coleman of the USA is a standout name to watch. The indoor 60m world record holder (6.34) brings both speed and experience to the field.
Canada’s Andre De Grasse is also back for his second appearance in the series after competing in Miami. The seven-time Olympic medallist is now training under coach Mike Holloway in Florida.
Racers: Kenny Bednarek, Zharnel Hughes
Challengers: Andre De Grasse, Christian Miller, Christian Coleman, Bryan Levell, Udodi Onwuzurike, Aaron Brown
Women’s Short Sprints (100m/200m)
The women’s short sprints in Philadelphia is shaping up to be one of the highlights, with Olympic 200m champion Gabby Thomas and Olympic 100m bronze medallist Melissa Jefferson-Wooden set to renew their rivalry.
Thomas returns to the Short Sprints for the second time, having won the Long Sprints title in Kingston before switching events in Miami. There, she narrowly missed out on the Short Sprints crown to Jefferson-Wooden, who edged her by just one point after the pair split wins across the 100m and 200m. Thomas claimed victory in the 200m but finished fourth in the 100m, while Jefferson-Wooden won the 100m and placed third in the 200m.
They’ll be joined by fellow Racers Brittany Brown and Great Britain’s Daryll Neita.
Also returning is Britain’s Dina Asher-Smith, who competed in the Long Sprints category in Kingston but will now shift back to the short sprints – her more familiar territory. Asher-Smith has yet to race over 100m this season, with her last appearance in the event being at the Brussels Diamond League final last year, where she clocked 10.92.
Racers: Gabby Thomas, Brittany Brown, Daryll Neita, Melissa Jefferson-Wooden
Challengers: Tamari Davis, Thelma Davies, Dina Asher-Smith, Jadyn Mays
Men’s Long Sprints (200m/400m)
Jereem Richards of Trinidad & Tobago heads into the Philadelphia leg of the Grand Slam Track series sitting fifth in the overall men’s standings with 31 points. After finishing third in Kingston, Richards bounced back in Miami, taking first in the 200m and second in the 400m to claim the Long Sprints title for that meet.
Matt Hudson-Smith, who won the $100,000 prize pot in Kingston, will also be back in action in Philadelphia. After placing fifth overall in Miami, the British athlete will be looking to return to winning form.
The Racers line-up is further boosted by Zambia’s Muzala Samukonga, who held victory over Hudson-Smith in the 400m at the 2022 Commonwealth Games.
Also returning is Tokyo Olympic 400m gold medallist Steven Gardiner of the Bahamas. Gardiner made his series debut in Miami as a replacement for Quincy Hall and will now continue as a Racer in Philadelphia.
Racers: Muzala Samukonga, Jereem Richards, Matthew Hudson-Smith, Steven Gardiner
Challengers: Jevaughn Powell, Alexander Ogando, Khaleb McRae, Matthew Boling
Women’s Long Sprints (200m/400m)
Marileidy Paulino of the Dominican Republic is a top contender in the women’s Long Sprints after a strong start to her Grand Slam Track campaign. Competing in both the 200m and 400m, Paulino impressed early in Kingston with a second-place finish in the 200m and third in the 400m.
But it was in Miami where she truly made her mark. Winning both events that weekend, Paulino earned maximum points and now sits third overall in the women’s Racer of the Year standings heading into Philadelphia.
Chasing her closely is 2019 world champion Salwa Eid Naser, who finished runner-up to Paulino in both the 200m and 400m in Miami. Naser will be aiming to flip the results this time and claim that top spot.
Several notable names will be joining the Racers, including Great Britain’s Laviai Nielsen, who will make her Grand Slam Track debut. She has already opened her outdoor season with appearances at the World Relays and the Doha Diamond League.
Ireland’s Sharlene Mawdsley, who trains alongside Laviai under coach Tony Lester will also make the trip overseas. Mawdsley enters with a personal best of 50.71 in the 400m, while Laviai holds a best of 49.87.
Racers: Nickisha Pryce, Alexis Holmes, Marileidy Paulino, Salwa Eid Naser
Challengers: Isabella Whittaker, Laviai Nielsen, Jessika Gbai, Sharlene Mawdsley
Men’s Short Hurdles (110m hurdles/100m)
France’s Sasha Zhoya has quickly become one of the standout names of the Grand Slam Track series. The 22-year-old impressed in Kingston with a win in the 100m and a runner-up finish in the 110m hurdles. He followed that with another strong showing in Miami, placing third in the 100m and again second in the hurdles—both times behind Trey Cunningham.
Zhoya will be aiming to continue his momentum in Philadelphia after a 2024 season that saw him fall short of a medal at the Paris Olympics. He’ll once again face Cunningham, who returns as a Challenger after standout performances in Miami, as he equalled his 110m hurdles personal best of 13.00 and set a new 100m PB of 10.17.
The competition doesn’t stop there. Also returning is Racer Daniel Roberts, the Olympic silver and world bronze medallist from the US, who boasts personal bests of 12.96 in the 110m hurdles and 10.45 in the 100m.
Joining Roberts in the Racer lineup is fellow American Freddie Crittenden.
Racers: Freddie Crittenden, Sasha Zhoya, Daniel Roberts
Challengers: Trey Cunningham, Jakub Szymański, Lorenzo Simonelli, Cordell Tinch, Jamal Britt
Women’s Short Hurdles (100m hurdles/100m)
After back-to-back wins in Kingston and Miami, Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone has dominated the Long Hurdles category with maximum points. But, the Olympic champion will shift to the Short Hurdles in Philadelphia, marking her first race over 100m since 2018. That year, as a freshman at the University of Kentucky, she ran a wind-assisted 11.07—the fastest flat 100m time among all women entered in this event.
She’ll face a strong field, led by Jamaica’s Ackera Nugent, who won the Miami Slam. Nugent will be looking to repeat her winning form against McLaughlin-Levrone in what promises to be an exciting head-to-head.
Unfortunately, American hurdles standout Masai Russell, who set a new US record of 12.17 in Miami, will not compete in Philadelphia due to injury. Fellow Racer Cyréna Samba-Mayela is also out for the same reason.
Despite those absences, the field remains highly competitive. Danielle Williams of Jamaica, who pulled off a surprise win in Kingston, returns as a Challenger.
Also joining the Challengers is Switzerland’s Ditaji Kambundji, the European indoor 60m hurdles champion and world indoor silver medallist.
Racers: Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, Ackera Nugent
Challengers: Danielle Williams, Ditaji Kambundji, Tia Jones, Christina Clemons, Tonea Marshall, Megan Tapper
Men’s Long Hurdles (400m hurdles/400m)
Brazil’s Alison Dos Santos heads into Philadelphia tied at the top of the men’s overall Grand Slam Track standings with Kenny Bednarek, having delivered a flawless performance so far in the Long Hurdles category. The 2022 world champion has not only dominated his signature 400m hurdles but also impressed on the flat 400m.
With two meets left in the series, Dos Santos is firmly in contention for the ‘Racer of the Year’ title if he can maintain his winning streak.
Joining him in the Racer lineup are Jamaica’s Roshawn Clarke and the USA’s Caleb Dean, both capable of pushing the pace. Also returning is American Chris Robinson, who finished second to Dos Santos in Miami and will be eager to close the gap.
Racers: Alison Dos Santos, Caleb Dean, Clément Ducos
Challengers: Trevor Bassitt, Chris Robinson, CJ Allen, Assinie Wilson, Gerald Drummond
Women’s Long Hurdles (400m hurdles/400m)
With Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone stepping into the short hurdles for Philadelphia, the women’s long hurdles field is suddenly wide open—setting the stage for a somebody else to take the top spot.
Among the leading contenders is Jamaica’s Andrenette Knight, who finished second to McLaughlin-Levrone in Miami and returns as a Challenger this weekend.
Returning to the Racer line-up is fellow Jamaican Rushell Clayton, who missed the Miami meet and she’ll be joined by Shamier Little and Jasmine Jones.
Little adds valuable depth to the field, with a résumé that includes World Championship silver medals in 2015 and 2023 and a personal best of 52.39 in the 400m hurdles. Jones, who finished just outside the medals in Paris, will also be a strong threat for the win.
Making her Grand Slam Track debut is Lina Nielsen of Great Britain, twin sister of Laviai Nielsen. While she hasn’t yet opened her individual outdoor season, Lina was part of the British 4x400m team that qualified for Worlds at the recent World Relays. She brings versatility, with a personal best of 50.78 in the 400m flat and 54.43 in the hurdles.
Racers: Shamier Little, Rushell Clayton, Jasmine Jones
Challengers: Lina Nielsen, Dalilah Muhammad, Ayomide Folorunso, Anna Cockrell, Andrenette Knight
Men’s Short Distance (800m/1500m)
The men’s middle-distance events have delivered some of the most competitive races, and that trend looks set to continue in Philadelphia. Josh Kerr emerged victorious in Miami, claiming the Slam title after a strong win in the 1500m and a fifth-place finish in the 800m. But with the depth of talent in this event group, the title is truly up for grabs.
Kerr will be joined once again by a loaded field that includes fellow Olympic 1500m medallists Cole Hocker and Yared Nuguse, as well as 800m world champion Marco Arop. All three will be gunning for redemption and hoping to knock Kerr off the top spot.
Adding fresh faces to the mix is Josh Hoey, one of the breakout stars of the 2024 indoor season. The American surged into the spotlight by running the second-fastest indoor 800m in history and winning the world indoor title.
Also making his season debut is Great Britain’s Elliot Giles. He hasn’t raced outdoors yet in 2025 and is returning after pulling up in the 1500m at the British Indoor Championships earlier this year. Giles will be familiar with many of the athletes in the field, including fellow Brit Josh Kerr, who he shared a dramatic moment with at last year’s British Outdoor Championships when the pair collided in the final stretch of the 800m.
Racers: Cole Hocker, Josh Kerr, Yared Nuguse, Marco Arop
Challengers: Hobbs Kessler, Josh Hoey, Elliot Giles, Samuel Chapple
Women’s Short Distance (800m/1500m)
With Freweyni Hailu, the Miami Slam winner, not returning as a Challenger for Philadelphia, the women’s middle-distance field is wide open and the competition to take the top spot will be fierce.
Racers Jess Hull, Nikki Hiltz, Diribe Welteji, and Mary Moraa now have an opportunity to claim a Slam title. Welteji comes in as the Kingston champion but placed fourth overall in Miami, while Hiltz has been consistently close, finishing second at both previous meets and looking more determined than ever to finally take a win.
Mary Moraa, better known for her dominance in the 800m, had a strong turnout in Miami after a disappointing eighth in the 1500m but bounced back to win the 800m and secure third overall. Her late-race strength makes her a serious contender once again.
Joining the line-up as a Challenger is Georgia Hunter Bell, making her Grand Slam Track debut. The British middle-distance star produced a bronze medal performance in the 1500m at the Paris Olympics, where she shared the podium with Jess Hull—her upcoming rival in Philadelphia. Bell holds the British record in the 1500m with a time of 3:52.61 and has impressive 800m speed, clocking a personal best of 1:56.28 at the London Diamond League last year.
Racers: Jess Hull, Nikki Hiltz, Diribe Welteji, Mary Moraa
Challengers: Georgia Hunter Bell, Nia Atkins, Abbey Caldwell, Abby Wiley
Men’s Long Distance (3000m)
Grant Fisher has had strong showings in both Kingston and Miami so far. The American distance star placed third in the 3000m and won the 5000m in Kingston, before improving to second in the 3000m and repeating his 5000m victory in Miami.
A double Olympic bronze medallist in the 5000m and 10,000m at Paris 2024, Fisher enters Philadelphia as one of the top contenders in the long-distance group. With the 5000m off the schedule for this leg of the series, all attention now turns to the 3000m—an event Fisher has yet to win on the circuit.
Standing in his way once again will be Ireland’s Andrew Coscoran, who surprised many in Miami by outkicking Fisher to win the 3000m. Coscoran returns as a Challenger and will be aiming to repeat the upset on the Philadelphia track.
Also re-joining the field is Hagos Gebrhiwet, who won the 3000m in Kingston but was absent in Miami. The Ethiopian star returns as a Racer alongside Ronald Kwemoi of Kenya, another Racer capable of pushing the pace and challenging for the win.
Racers: Grant Fisher, Ronald Kwemoi, Hagos Gebrhiwet
Challengers: Graham Blanks, Nico Young, Ky Robinson, Edwin Kurgat, Andrew Coscoran
Women’s Long Distance (3000m)
Kenya’s Agnes Ngetich currently sits fifth in the women’s overall standings. She opened her season with a pair of second-place finishes in the 3000m and 5000m in Kingston, then followed that up in Miami with a third in the 3000m and a dominant win in the 5000m—securing the overall title at that meet.
In Philadelphia, she’ll be looking to build on that momentum, but the competition is set to intensify.
Returning as a Challenger is Ethiopia’s Medina Eisa, who pushed Ngetich all the way in the Miami 5000m. The two ran the entire race together before Ngetich pulled away for the win. Eisa will be eager to reverse the result. Already a two-time World U20 champion in the 5000m (2022 and 2024), Eisa also earned silver in the junior women’s race at the 2023 World Cross Country Championships and is quickly proving she belongs at the senior level.
Also re-joining the field is Ejgayehu Taye, who beat Ngetich to the top spot in Kingston and now returns to challenge again in Philadelphia. With all three having posted strong results in earlier Slams, this could be the most competitive women’s 3000m of the series so far.
Racers: Nozomi Tanaka, Tsige Gebreselama, Agnes Ngetich, Elise Cranny
Challengers: Ejgayehu Taye, Weini Kelati, Medina Eisa, Josette Andrews
Timetable (BST)
Saturday May 31
21:39 – Women’s 400m hurdles (Long Hurdles)
21:48 – Men’s 400m hurdles (Long Hurdles)
21:57 – Men’s 800m (Short Distance)
22:07 – Men’s 200m (Short Sprints)
22:16 – Women’s 200m (Short Sprints)
22:25 – Women’s 3000m (Long Distance)
22:42 – Women’s 400m (Long Sprints)
22:51 – Men’s 400m (Long Sprints)
23:00 – Women’s 1500m (Short Distance)
23:13 – Men’s 110m hurdles (Short Hurdles)
23:22 – Women’s 110m hurdles (Short Hurdles)
Sunday June 1
20:41 – Men’s 400m (Long Hurdles)
20:50 – Women’s 400m (Long Hurdles)
20:59 – Women’s 800m (Short Distance)
21:09 – Men’s 100m (Short Hurdles)
21:18 – Women’s 100m (Short Hurdles)
21:27 – Men’s 3000m (Long Distance)
21:43 – Women’s 200m (Long Sprints)
21:52 – Men’s 200m (Long Sprints)
22:01 – Men’s 1500m (Short Distance)
22:13 – Women’s 100m (Short Sprints)
22:22 – Men’s 100m (Short Sprints)
Grand Slam Track will be available to watch in the UK and Ireland on TNT Sports, while Eurosport will provide the coverage for audiences in Europe and Asia.
