PHILADELPHIA – June 1, 2025 – Grand Slam Track Philadelphia closed its run at historic Franklin Field with back-to-back world leading races witnessed by the largest crowd in series history. Melissa Jefferson-Wooden and Kenny Bednarek both ran personal bests in the 100m to rocket to the top of the global leaderboard and win their third consecutive Slam Championships. 

Jefferson-Wooden kicked off the electric final moments of the Slam. Fresh off a personal best in the 200m yesterday, she shot out of the blocks and sprinted to a wind-legal 10.73 finish, three-tenths of a second ahead of Tamari Davis (11.03). Her winning time makes her the 10th fastest 100m performer in history.

“I actually knew before the gun the potential that I had for it to be something special,” said Jefferson-Wooden, who now leads the Racer of the Year standings. “You don't have time to think about anything else. Just do what you've been doing.”

Bednarek fed off the energy of Jefferson-Wooden’s performance when he stepped onto the track moments later. Bednarek, who is the only undefeated athlete across all six races of Grand Slam competition in 2025, overcame a slow reaction time to pull away from the field 20 meters into the race and break the tape in 9.86.

“Grand Slam, I think, is kind of built for me,” said Bednarek, who leads the Men’s Racer of the Year standings. “I really need experience in the 100 meters and Grand Slam gave me the opportunity to do that.”

Grand Slam Track history was made in the Women’s Long Hurdles where Jasmine Jones became the first athlete to win a Slam Championship without winning a race. Jones, whose Grand Slam debut was delayed by a back injury, finished second in both the 400m hurdles and the 400m to take the title, one point ahead of Anna Cockrell and Lina Nielsen, the respective winners of those two events. 

“I know I was coming into this a little nervous. I wasn't sure where I was at this season,” said Jones, who was also making her outdoor season debut. “I got a little bit of that fitness and strength back and just in time for this Slam, so getting on here and finally feeling healthy, was a huge confidence boost and a huge win for me.”

Despite the presence of Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, Ackera Nugent secured her second consecutive Slam Championship in the Women’s Short Hurdles. Nugent won both races in the race group, including a narrow win today over McLaughlin-Levrone in the 100m. It marked Nugent’s final Grand Slam appearance of the year as she will now focus on the Jamaican Championships. 

“My personality was able to be shown out there from Grand Slam,” said Nugent, who ran 11.11 today. “I was able to get some practice in and work on all of the things and I think I've done that, and it shows in both Slams.”

McLaughlin-Levrone, who specializes in the 400m and the 400m hurdles, finished second in the Race Group. It was her first time running the 100m hurdles this season and her first time running the 100m as a professional athlete. While it was a rare back-to-back defeat for one of the world’s most dominant track and field athletes, McLaughlin-Levrone said it was a valuable learning experience.

“There’s just so much around the unknown that can make you nervous. Especially with the short hurdles,” said McLaughlin-Levrone, who grew up in nearby New Brunswick, New Jersey. “I think it’s natural but that’s part of the challenge, pushing myself out of my comfort zone to do those kinds of things.”

The Men’s Short Hurdles saw its third different champion in as many Slams. In Philadelphia, Jamal Britt took home the $100,000. Britt finished second in the 100m behind Miami Slam Champion Trey Cunningham after winning the 100m hurdles yesterday.

“100k is a pretty nice contract. It’s like a shoe contract,” said Britt, who is unsponsored. “I got that just from running in the races and it's more than what I made in my entire life.”

Alison dos Santos’ winning streak finally came to an end today. The Brazilian finished third in the 400m which cost him the victory in the Men’s Long Hurdles. That Slam Championship went to Trevor Bassitt, who won the race today and finished second in yesterday’s 400m hurdles. 

“I think I'm one of the best there is any given day, and I think I showed that today,” said Bassitt, the 2022 World bronze medalist. “We all know the top 400 hurdlers are typically Alison, Karsten, [Warholm] and Rai [Benjamin] but I feel like when I'm at my best, if I fully have faith and I run my race, I think I can compete with any of them.”

Following a close second in Miami, Marco Arop finally found enough success in the 1500m to win the Men’s Short Distance. Arop, the fourth fastest 800m runner in history, placed fourth in the 1500m today in a new personal best time of 3:35.38. Although he was nearly a second behind race winner Josh Kerr, his performance combined with his win in the 800m yesterday gave him the points he needed to take the title. 

“You know, it was a long time coming,” said Arop, who led at the bell. “I had the first two not quite figured out, but I think that 1500 is getting closer and closer to where I wanted to be.”

Following a disappointing performance in Miami, Matthew Hudson-Smith returned to the top of the Men’s Long Sprints. He overcame what he called a “sloppy” 200m race today where he finished fifth; this, combined with his 400m victory yesterday, was enough to defeat Alexander Ogando in the Race Group. 

“The main goal was to finish healthy, and that's all that mattered,” said Hudson-Smith, who also won the Race Group in Kingston. “I had talked to MJ, and he gave me some [200m] tips, but once I got to the starting line, they went completely out the window, and I went back to my 400-meter rhythm. Still, I came away with the win.”

Marileidy Paulino won her second consecutive Slam Championship in the Women’s Long Sprints. Paulino dominated yesterday’s 400m and today’s 200m. She ran 22.46 today to defeat Penn alum Isabella Whittaker, who placed second in the Race Group. 

The Women’s Short Distance Race Group saw Diribe Weltejii’s return to the winner’s circle. Welteji narrowly defeated Olympic bronze medalist Georgia Hunter Bell in the 800m. Her winning time of 1:58.94 set a Franklin Field facility record. 

In his Grand Slam Track debut, Nico Young turned a slow start into a thrilling finish in the 3000m. Young ran a 53-second final lap to finish in 8:01.03, outkicking a hard-charging Sam Gilman (8:01.70), winning the race and Slam title in the Men’s Long Distance Race Group. 

“The track is super fast,” said Young, the NCAA record holder in the 5,000m and 10,000m. “I was in a weird spot with 100 meters to go, but I stayed ahead, and that’s good.”

Grand Slam Track Philadelphia marked a transition from a three-day event to a two-day event for the series, a change implemented following feedback from the athletes and the fans. It resulted in the most electric atmosphere and highest ticket sales the series has seen in its inaugural year.

“We've got everything that we could have hoped for out of this weekend, and I think we're really pleased with just compacting things into two days instead of the three days,” said Grand Slam Track Founder and Commissioner Michael Johnson “We felt like that worked much better. We're just going to continue to improve. But the team's very happy with what we got this weekend.”

Full results of Grand Slam Track Philadelphia can be found here. Flash quotes from today’s competitors, as well as from Michael Johnson, can be found here. The last Slam of the season, where the Racers of the Year will be determined, will be held in Los Angeles, the final weekend of June at UCLA’s Drake Stadium. 

Reported by Jay Holder for Grand Slam Track 

Philadelphia Slam at Historic Franklin Field Welcomes Largest Crowd in Series History 

Short Sprints Shine on Final Day of Grand Slam Track Philadelphia

 – Melissa Jefferson-Wooden ran a personal best to take down the world champion in the 200m, Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone lost her first race in nearly two years, and unsponsored Jamal Britt defeated the fastest 110m hurdler in the world this year. Grand Slam Track Philadelphia day one brought facility records in all eleven events, providing a historic experience for the thousands of fans who filled iconic Franklin Field on Saturday.

Jefferson-Wooden looked unbeatable in the women’s 200m. The two-time Slam Champion in the Women’s Short Sprints shot out of the blocks and never looked back, breaking 22 seconds for the first time in her career with her winning time of 21.99. Gabby Thomas, the reigning Olympic gold medalist in the event who defeated Jefferson-Wooden in the 200m at the Miami Slam, finished second in 22.10.

“I've been working on this ever since Miami. You know, obviously I came up short, got third place [there],” said Jefferson-Wooden who has now won four of her five Grand Slam races so far this season. “I knew if I wanted to win, I had to get out, get in front, and I controlled the race and let them come get me. And that's what I did.”

The men’s 110m hurdles also ended with an upset. In a photo finish, Jamal Britt defeated Cordell Tinch, the fourth fastest man of all time in the 110m hurdles, by two one-hundredths of a second. Britt’s winning time of 13.08 tied his personal best. 

“With us, anything can happen,” said Britt, who has already raced more than three dozen times in 2025. “I would say this is the best generation of hurdlers, and I'm happy that I'm in it.”

The most anticipated race of the day featured 400m hurdles world record holder and world champion Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone dropping down to the 100m hurdles. And while all eyes were on McLaughlin-Levrone, it was defending Slam Champion Ackera Nugent who showed the fans that this event belongs to her. Nugent won in 12.44, just edging out Tia Jones (12.60). McLaughlin-Levrone finished fifth in 12.70. It was her first loss in an individual race since June of 2023. 

“I wished I could remove myself from my body and watch the race, but it's just like, no, I gotta focus,” said Nugent, who is a fan of McLaughlin-Levrone. “She's very competitive no matter what she does. I had to turn my excitement off, and I just had to lock myself into space.”

“It felt really good, felt fun, felt fast,” said McLaughlin-Levrone of her first 100m hurdles race of 2025. “But I think the hurdle technique and just how quick they were coming up on me, I had to make some adjustments.” 

Tomorrow, McLaughlin-Levrone will race the first 100m of her professional career. 

McLaughlin-Levrone’s specialty event, the 400m hurdles, was won by the woman who took second to her at last year’s Olympics. Making her Grand Slam debut, Anna Cockrell came out of lane eight and ran away from the field, winning in 54.04, more than half a second ahead of Jasmine Jones (54.65). 

“It’s a historic venue,” said Cockrell, who was competing at Franklin Field for the first time since high school. “It’s so fun running in front of a really, really engaged crowd. I mean, the second we walked out they were excited.”

It seems no one can beat “Kung-Fu” Kenny in the Men’s Short Sprints. Kenny Bednarek made winning the men’s 200m look easy in his time of 19.95, defeating Zharnel Hughes (20.50) by more than half a second. Bednarek has yet to lose a Grand Slam Track race in 2025. 

Neither has Alison dos Santos in the Men’s Long Hurdles, but he came close in the 400m hurdles today. Dos Santos held off Trevor Bassitt, running 48.11 and winning by just over one-tenth of a second. 

Marco Arop remains undefeated in the 800m in Grand Slam Track events. Despite new Challengers such as the reigning World Indoor Champion Josh Hoey and Olympic semi-finalist Hobbs Kessler, Arop won with enough time to celebrate before breaking the tape, running a season’s best time of 1:43.38.

“I know I’ve got a target on my back,” said Arop. “In the 1500m I know those guys are going to come prepared tomorrow and try their best not to let me win so I’m going to have to try to step it up there.”

Marileidy Paulino continued her hot streak in the Women’s Long Sprints Race Group. Paulino, who swept the Race Group in Miami, ran a season’s best time of 49.12 to win the 400m today. With two Slams already under her belt, Paulino said she was happy to get the longer of her two races out of the way on day one.

“I prefer the 400 first. And then the 200, which is pretty much the way it's set up here,” said Paulino, who set a Dominican National Record in the 200m in Miami earlier this month. “It obviously shows. It's working out well for me.” 

Matthew Hudson-Smith has had an up-and-down Slam season in the Men’s Long Sprints, but today, the reigning Olympic silver medalist won a 400m for the first time this year and did so in convincing fashion. Running in lane seven, Hudson-Smith closed hard to run 44.51, and said he enjoyed the Franklin Field experience. 

“You’re running two races of high quality, back-to-back,” said Hudson-Smith. “[I’ve] never raced out here. It’s very nice, there’s a lot of history here so I was excited to race here.”  

The four-minute barrier was broken in the women’s 1500m for the first time in Grand Slam Track history. Diribe Welteji overcame a hard charging Jessica Hall to run 3:58.04 and win by just three one-hundredths of a second. 

It was another close finish in the women’s 3000m where Agnes Ngetich relied on her kick and was rewarded with a victory. Ngetich out-leaned Ejgayehu Taye to win 8:43.61 to 8:43.70. 

“I’ve been working on speed,” said Ngetich, who holds the world record in the 10K road race. “I see it’s coming. Winning in Miami gave me that energy to push and we’re doing that towards the final Slam in LA.”

With the 3000m being the only event in the Women’s Long Distance, Ngetich wins the Slam Championship for the second consecutive Slam. 

Flash Quotes can be found here. Full results can be found here. Tickets for Day Two can be purchased here.

Slam Day Two on Sunday will see eleven more Slam Champions crowned. Competition begins at 3:30 p.m. EST. 

Reported by Jay Holder for Grand Slam Track

Third Slam of the 2025 season kicks off with historic day one.

11 Races, 11 Franklin Field Facility Records Broken on Day One of Grand Slam Track Philadelphia

All times listed below are in local Philadelphia time.

Women's 400 Meters Hurdles - 4:39 pm - (Race Group: Women's Long Hurdles)

  1	Lina Nielsen - GBR - Puma - Challenger 

  2	Ayomide Folorunso - ITA - Nike - Challenger

  3	Dalilah Muhammad - USA - Nike - Challenger 

  4	Andrenette Knight - JAM - Puma - Challenger  

  5	Jasmine Jones - USA - Adidas - Racer  

  6	Shamier Little - USA - Adidas - Racer  

  7	Rushell Clayton - JAM - Puma - Racer  

  8	Anna Cockrell - USA - Nike - Challenger  

Men's 400 Meters Hurdles - 4:48 pm - (Race Group: Men's Long Hurdles)

  1	Assinie Wilson - JAM - AllStarzMgmt - Challenger  

  2	Chris Robinson - USA - D4 - Challenger  

  4	Trevor Bassitt - USA - Adidas - Challenger  

  6	Alison dos Santos - BRA - Adidas - Racer  

  7	Clément Ducos - FRA - Nike - Racer  

  8	CJ Allen - USA - Asics - Challenger  

Men's 800 Meters - 4:57 pm - (Race Group: Men's Short Distance)

  1	Hobbs Kessler - USA - Adidas - Challenger  

  2	Elliot Giles - GBR - Nike - Challenger  

  3	Samuel Chapple - NED - New Balance - Challenger  

  4	Josh Hoey - USA - Adidas - Challenger  

Men's 200 Meters - 5:07 pm - (Race Group: Men's Short Sprints)

  1	Christian Miller - USA - Puma - Challenger  

  2	Christian Coleman - USA - Nike - Challenger  

  3	Udodi Chudi Onwuzurike - NGR - Adidas - Challenger  

  4	Bryan Levell - JAM - Adidas - Challenger  

  5	Andre De Grasse - CAN - Puma - Challenger  

  6	Zharnel Hughes - GBR - Adidas - Racer  

  7	Kenny Bednarek - USA - Nike - Racer  

  8	Aaron Brown - CAN - Nike - Challenger  

Women's 200 Meters - 5:16 pm - (Race Group: Women's Short Sprints)

  1	Celera Barnes - USA - Adidas - Challenger  

  3	Jadyn Mays - USA - HSInternational - Challenger  

  4	Tamari Davis - USA - Adidas - Challenger  

  5	Dina Asher-Smith - GBR - Nike - Challenger  

  6	Gabby Thomas - USA - New Balance - Racer  

  7	Melissa Jefferson-Wooden - USA - Nike - Racer  

  8	Jenna Prandini - USA - Puma - Challenger  

Women's 3000 Meters - 5:25 pm - (Race Group: Women's Long Distance)

  1	Agnes Jebet Ngetich - KEN - Adidas - Racer  

  3	Weini Kelati - USA - Under Armour - Challenger  

  4	Medina Eisa - ETH - Adidas - Challenger  

  5	Tsige Gebreselama - ETH - On - Racer  

  6	Josette Andrews - USA - On - Challenger  

  7	Nozomi Tanaka - JPN - New Balance - Racer  

  8	Ejgayehu Taye - ETH - Nike - Challenger  

Women's 400 Meters - 5:42 pm - (Race Group: Women's Long Sprints)

  1	Jessika Gbai - CIV - Nike - Challenger  

  2	Sharlene Mawdsley - IRL - Puma - Challenger  

  3	Isabella Whittaker - USA - Challenger  

  4	Laviai Nielsen - GBR - Adidas - Challenger  

  5	Nickisha Pryce - JAM - Puma - Racer  

  7	Marileidy Paulino - DOM - Adidas - Racer  

Men's 400 Meters - 5:51 pm - (Race Group: Men's Long Sprints)

  1	Alexander Ogando - DOM - Adidas - Challenger  

  3	Jevaughn Powell - JAM - Adidas - Challenger  

  5	Muzala Samukonga - ZAM - Adidas - Racer  

  6	Jereem Richards - TTO - Adidas - Racer  

  7	Matthew Hudson-Smith - GBR - Puma - Racer  

  8	Steven Gardiner - BAH - Adidas - Racer  

Women's 1500 Meters - 6:00 pm - (Race Group: Women's Short Distance)

  2	Georgia Hunter Bell - GBR - Nike - Challenger  

  3	Abbey Caldwell - AUS - Puma - Challenger  

  4	Nia Akins - USA - Hoka - Challenger  

Grand Slam Track™ Philadelphia Official Start Lists

Grand Slam Track™ Releases Official Philadelphia Start Lists With Lane Assignments

New York, NY (May 23, 2025) - Grand Slam Track™, the global home of professional track competition launched by four-time Olympic Champion Michael Johnson, today officially announced the full field of 96 Racers & Challengers who will compete in the Philadelphia Slam - the third event in the league’s inaugural season. The Slam will take place at historic Franklin Field on the campus of the University of Pennsylvania, May 31–June 1. 

The group of Challengers announced today is headlined by international superstars such as Anna Cockrell, Christian Coleman, Graham Blanks, Dina Asher-Smith, and Ejgayehu Taye. Signed Racers Devon Allen, Masai Russell, Roshawn Clarke, Cyréna Samba-Mayela, Oblique Seville, Jasmine Camacho-Quinn, and Luis Grijalva will miss the Philadelphia Slam due to injuries. An additional Challenger has been added to each of their Race Groups as a result. Grand Slam Track™ signed Racer Fred Kerley is suspended pending the completion of legal proceedings and will not compete in Philadelphia. His lane will also be filled by an additional Challenger. The competitors collectively represent a total of 22 different countries, exemplifying Grand Slam Track™’s reach as a global league.

“We couldn't be more excited to announce the full field of competitors for the Philadelphia Slam,” said Michael Johnson, the league’s founder and Commissioner. “The racing at the Miami Slam was truly world-class, and we will have even more energy and entertainment for our third Slam. The spectators in the stands at Franklin Field, and all the fans watching from home, are going to see the fastest humans in the world taking our combat-style racing to the next level.”

Across Grand Slam Track™’s first two Slams (Kingston, Jamaica, and Miami, Florida), 5 Racers have won two Slam Championships. Grant Fisher, Melissa Jefferson-Wooden, Sydney McLaughin-Levrone, Kenny Bednarek, and Alison dos Santos have all taken home the maximum $200,000 in prize money, with the latter three remaining undefeated across four races each. Slam Champions from 9 different countries have been crowned so far: USA, UK, Dominican Republic, Brazil, Ethiopia, Kenya, Jamaica, Trinidad & Tobago & France.

Tickets for the Philadelphia Slam can be purchased 

. Grand Slam Track™ is being broadcast in 198 countries and territories worldwide. For information on where to watch, click 

. For further information, please follow @GrandSlamTrack on all social media platforms, and visit

 (® denotes Racer; © denotes Challenger, newly announced names in 

: Gabby Thomas ®, Brittany Brown ®, Daryll Neita ®, Melissa Jefferson-Wooden ®, 

: Matthew Hudson-Smith ®, Muzala Samukonga ®, Steven Gardiner ®, Jereem Richards ®, 

:, Nickisha Pryce ®, Alexis Holmes ®, Marileidy Paulino ®, Salwa Eid Naser ®, Isabella Whittaker ©, 

: Freddie Crittenden ®, Sasha Zhoya ®, Daniel Roberts ®, Trey Cunningham ©, Jakub Szymański ©, Lorenzo Simonelli ©, Cordell Tinch ©, 

: Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone ®, Ackera Nugent ®, Danielle Williams ©, Ditaji Kambundji ©, 

: Alison dos Santos ®, Clément Ducos ®, Caleb Dean ®, 

: Shamier Little ®, Rushell Clayton ®, Jasmine Jones ®, 

: Cole Hocker ®, Josh Kerr ®, Yared Nuguse ®, Marco Arop ®, Hobbs Kessler ©, Josh Hoey ©, 

: Grant Fisher ®, Ronald Kwemoi ®, Hagos Gebrhiwet ®, 

: Nozomi Tanaka ®, Tsige Gebreselama ®, Agnes Ngetich ®, Elise Cranny ®, 

large_IMG_8195.jpg

medium_IMG_8195.jpg

small_IMG_8195.jpg

thumbnail_IMG_8195.jpg

IMG_8195.jpg

Grand Slam Track™ is the global home of elite track competition founded by four-time Olympic champion Michael Johnson. The league is redefining the landscape of track with a focus on head-to-head competition between the fastest humans on the planet: fostering rivalries, celebrating racing, and putting fans first. The league features a roster of 48 Racers signed to compete in four annual Slams and includes superstars like Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, Gabby Thomas, Kenny Bednarek, Melissa Jefferson-Wooden, Grant Fisher, Josh Kerr, Marileidy Paulino, and many more. These Racers compete against 48 Challengers, who vary per Slam; each Slam features the largest and deepest prize purse in the history of the sport. The inaugural Grand Slam Track™ season in 2025 sees Slams take place in Kingston, Jamaica; Miami; Philadelphia; and Los Angeles. For more information, visit grandslamtrack.com.

Born in Dallas, Texas, Michael Johnson is a Hall of Fame track and field star, universally recognized as one of the greatest sprinters of all time. He won four Olympic gold medals and eight World Championships across his career, and held world and Olympic records in both the 200m and 400m races. At the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta, Johnson became the first and only male athlete to win the Gold medal in both the 200m and 400m at the same Olympics. Since retiring from active competition, Johnson has become a serial entrepreneur and investor, as well as highly sought after performance mindset speaker and an award winning television commentator. Johnson has been a pundit for the BBC’s coverage of every Olympics Games since Athens 2004, and remains a key voice on, and advocate for the sport. Johnson was inducted into the United States Track and Field Hall of Fame in 2004.

Full group of Challengers revealed; Racers and Challengers will compete at Franklin Field for the largest prize money pool ever offered in the sport.

GRAND SLAM TRACK™ Announces Full Field of Racers & Challengers For Philadelphia Slam, May 31–June 1

 – Grand Slam Track™, the global home of professional track competition, launched by four-time Olympic Champion Michael Johnson, today officially announced the competition schedule for the third Slam of its inaugural season, a group of new elite Challengers who will compete in Philadelphia, plus some changes to the League’s format for the Philadelphia Slam. The Philadelphia Slam will now take place across two days, rather than three, on May 31–June 1, at Franklin Field.

“Coming off an amazing sold-out Miami Slam, we’ve taken time to celebrate the successes we’ve achieved in our inaugural season, but also have looked for ways to improve Grand Slam Track™ in real time,” said Grand Slam Track™ Founder and Commissioner Michael Johnson. “We’ve said all along we want to listen to our fans, athletes, and coaches, and having heard feedback from various key stakeholders, we’ve made the decision to condense our schedule in Philadelphia into two, high-octane, and intense days of combat racing. We want to be the most flexible, adaptive, and fan-first league in sports, and we believe making these changes will improve the Grand Slam Track™ experience for all.”

Following consultations with and feedback from competitors, coaches, and fans, Grand Slam Track™ has made the following changes to the Philadelphia Slam format: 

The league is also today announcing five exciting Challengers who will compete at the Philadelphia Slam:

The Philadelphia Slam will also see an epic rematch from Miami, with Gabby Thomas once again competing in the Women’s Short Sprints Race Group, and facing off against her rival and two-time Slam Champion Melissa Jefferson-Wooden. Also in Philadelphia, Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone will compete in the Women’s Short Hurdles Race Group, which will see her run the 100m professionally for the very first time. This Race Group will also see the first ever face-off between three Slam Champions, as Miami Slam Champion Ackera Nugent, and two-time Slam Champion McLaughlin-Levrone, will be joined by returning Challenger and Kingston Slam Champion Danielle Williams, all battling for glory and the $100,000 prize.

The Challengers announced today join the already announced Williams, Ditaji Kambundji, Trey Cunningham, Jakub Szymański, Lorenzo Simonelli, & Cordell Tinch. The Grand Slam Track™ roster of 48 Racers who will compete in Philadelphia includes Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, Gabby Thomas, Kenny Bednarek, Melissa Jefferson-Wooden, Grant Fisher, Sasha Zhoya, Marileidy Paulino, Salwa Eid Naser, Alison dos Santos, Matthew Hudson-Smith, Nikki Hiltz, Masai Russell, Alexis Holmes, Cole Hocker, Yared Nuguse, Josh Kerr, Oblique Seville, Ackera Nugent, Roshawn Clarke, Rushell Clayton, Nickisha Price, Cyréna Samba-Mayela, Jasmine Camacho-Quinn, Jereem Richards, Ronald Kwemoi, Agnes Ngetich, Muzala Samukonga, Jess Hull, Marco Arop, & many more.

Tickets to see these Racers & Challengers compete on Saturday and Sunday in Philadelphia are on sale NOW at 

More Challenger announcements will be made in due course as we head towards the Philadelphia Slam. Grand Slam Track™ is being broadcasted in 198 countries and territories worldwide. For information on where to watch, click 

 For further information, please follow @GrandSlamTrack on all social media platforms, and visit 

*All times listed are local time in Philadelphia. The schedule is subject to change. 

large_Philadelphia schedule.webp

medium_Philadelphia schedule.webp

small_Philadelphia schedule.webp

thumbnail_Philadelphia schedule.webp

Philadelphia schedule.webp

Grand Slam Track™ is the global home of elite track competition founded by four-time Olympic champion Michael Johnson. The league is redefining the landscape of track with a focus on head-to-head competition between the fastest humans on the planet: fostering rivalries, celebrating racing, and putting fans first. The league features a roster of 48 Racers signed to compete in four annual Slams and includes superstars like Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, Gabby Thomas, Melissa Jefferson-Wooden, Grant Fisher, Josh Kerr, Marileidy Paulino, and many more. These Racers compete against 48 Challengers, who vary per Slam; each Slam features the largest and deepest prize purse in the history of the sport. The inaugural Grand Slam Track™ season in 2025 sees Slams take place in Kingston, Jamaica; Miami; Philadelphia; and Los Angeles. For more information, visit grandslamtrack.com.

Philadelphia Slam will now take place May 31st & June 1st; Two action-packed days filled with the fastest people in the world competing in high-stakes combat racing.

GRAND SLAM TRACK™ Announces Competition Schedule, Additional Challengers, and Format Changes for the Philadelphia Slam

Grand Slam Track™, the global home of professional track competition, launched by four-time Olympic Champion Michael Johnson, today officially announced the first group of Challengers signed to compete in the Philadelphia Slam, May 30–June 1, at Franklin Field. Following the incredibly successful second Slam in Miami, which saw Grand Slam Track™ sell out two of three days, the league now turns its attention to Philadelphia, where it will crown 12 more Slam Champions – with each taking home $100,000. 

Grand Slam Track™ is excited to announce that at the Philadelphia Slam, Racer Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone will compete in the Women’s Short Hurdles Race Group. This will be the first time McLaughlin-Levrone has ever run the 100m professionally. This Race Group will also see the first ever face-off between three Slam Champions. Miami Slam Champion Ackera Nugent, and two-time Slam Champion McLaughlin-Levrone, will be joined by returning Challenger and Kingston Slam Champion Danielle Williams, all battling for glory and the $100,000 prize. Also announced as a Challenger for this group is Ditaji Kambundji, the Swiss superstar who will make her Grand Slam Track™ debut in Philadelphia.

- Danielle Williams, Jamaica, 2025 Kingston Slam Champion, 2015 & 2023 World Championships Gold Medalist - 100mH

- Ditaji Kambundji, Switzerland, 2025 World Indoor Championships Silver Medalist - 60mH, 

2024 European Championships Silver Medalist - 100mH

The Philadelphia Slam will also see an epic rematch from Miami, with Gabby Thomas once again competing in the Women’s Short Sprints Race Group, and facing off against her rival and two-time Slam Champion Melissa Jefferson-Wooden. Jefferson-Wooden scored 18 pts to Thomas’ 17 to clinch the Miami Slam Championship. Thomas will look for revenge in Philadelphia and another chance to win her second Slam Championship, following her triumph in the Women’s Long Sprints Race Group in Kingston.

The league is also announcing the four Challengers in the Men’s Short Hurdles Race Group. This lineup features the current world leader and a returning Slam Champion, plus two global superstars representing their nations in Grand Slam Track for the first time:

- Jakub Szymański, Poland, 2025 European Indoor Championships Gold Medalist - 60mH

- Lorenzo Simonelli, Italy, 2024 European Championships Gold Medalist - 110mH & 4x100m relay, 2024 World Indoor Championships Silver Medalist - 60mH

- Cordell Tinch, USA, 2025 110mH World Leader (12.87)

- Trey Cunningham, USA, 2025 Miami Slam Champion, 2022 World Championships Silver Medalist - 110mH

Tickets to see these Racers & Challengers compete are on sale NOW at 

Short Hurdles Race Groups come into focus, plus Philadelphia Race Groups announced for Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone and Gabby Thomas

Six Challengers Announced for Philadelphia Slam

Eight more Grand Slam Track champions confirmed in Kingston

Michael Johnson believes his Grand Slam Track series is ready to grow after its opening event in Jamaica

Nikki Hiltz sets Women’s 800M short distance record thus far in 2025 at Grand Slam Track™ Slam Weekend

Briton Hudson-Smith wins $100,000 at Grand Slam Track

Gabby Thomas Among First-Ever Grand Slam Track Champions

Beard wins Grand Slam Track 110m hurdles in 13.29

Los Angeles, CA - Four-time US Olympic Champion Michael Johnson today officially launched Grand Slam Track™, the new global home of professional track competition. This new league will usher in a new era of professional track for the global fanbase of 2.5 billion people worldwide and provide undiscovered opportunities for fan engagement, sponsorship, and elite competition for racers.

The league will host four annual Slams during the spring and summer season in four global cities. The inaugural Slam will take place in April 2025, followed by three more Slams over the summer months. Los Angeles will serve as the global home for Grand Slam Track, and host one of the Slam events. There will be one further Slam that will take place in the United States, and two in international locations. The other host cities will be announced and celebrated in their respective local markets later this summer.

“I am delighted to finally unveil Grand Slam Track to the millions of track fans around the world,” said Michael Johnson, the league’s founder who will serve as Commissioner. “We are excited to launch this new platform for the planet’s greatest racers in this sport we all love. Our team has worked tirelessly to design and build a product that will be loved by fans and provide opportunities for our racers that they truly deserve. We’re revolutionizing the track landscape, allowing our sport to remain at the forefront of the sporting world year round, and pushing our superstar racers to break new ground in their personal storytelling, competitive success, and marketability. Grand Slam Track is going to take our sport to new heights, and we want you to come along for the ride.”

Each year, 48 athletes will be named to the league as GST Racers. These racers are selected by the Grand Slam Track Racing Committee based on a combination of factors to include the fastest and best racers in each race group, with a focus on fierce rivalries and thrilling competitive racing. GST Racers commit to racing in all four Slams per year. They will receive an annual base compensation for racing in each Slam and are eligible for full prize money. These GST Racers will receive annual contracts, access to the GST content and data services team, inclusion in the league collective, group licensing and new revenue opportunities, plus access to world class athlete support services throughout the season. GST racers are compensated under contract to race and promote the league and receive additional marketing and branding support.

The remaining 48 racers will be known as GST Challengers and will be paid a set appearance fee to compete at individual Slams. GST Challengers are chosen by the Grand Slam Track Racing Committee based on a combination of factors including recent performances, and the most intriguing athletes and matchups.

Racers and Challengers will be assigned to compete in one of the following categories, and will all race in two events during each Slam: short sprints (100m/200m), short hurdles (100H or 110H/100m), long sprints (200m/400m), long hurdles (400H/400m), short distance (800m/1500m), or long distance (3000m/5000m). All competitors’ final placement score will be determined by their combined finishing order between the two races. In the event of a tie across the two events, it will be the athlete who had the quickest combined time across the two races who will be deemed the winner. The winner of each Slam group will take home $100,000 in prize money, and the 8th place competitor will earn $10,000. Grand Slam Track will have a total of $12.6m of prize money that will be awarded across the slams each year in addition to the base compensation and appearance fees paid to racers.

The focus of Grand Slam Track is on head to head competition, not winning times. There will be no rabbits or pacing lights. Each Slam is equally as important as any other, will have its own prize purse, and will be independently scored, with points and previous finishes not carrying over to the following Slams. All racers will compete twice over the three-day event, and all Slam events will meet World Athletics regulations, with achieved marks being eligible for rankings and standards.

Racers will compete in their own sponsored kits, without traditional hip numbers or bibs. Racers and Challengers are encouraged to work with their sponsors to create customized kits, in their own desired style. Grand Slam Track has no affiliation or sponsorship agreement with any shoe company; all shoe companies are considered to be important stakeholders and partners in the promotion of our racers.

Grand Slam Track has secured more than $30 million in financial commitments from investors and strategic partners for the launch of the league. Winners Alliance, a global, athlete-centric commercial solution and Johnson’s operating partner, was the lead investor in the first fundraising close for the new venture. The investment in the league will aid in Johnson’s ultimate goal: to develop better engagement with fans by promoting track and field’s biggest stars and reaching new audiences with unique, innovative storytelling. Ticket sales information will be released in due course. For further information, please follow @GrandSlamTrack on all social media platforms, and visit grandslamtrack.com.

US Olympic Hero Michael Johnson Launches GRAND SLAM TRACK™, a Revolutionary Track League to Elevate the Sport’s Global Footprint. Grand Slam Track will center around fan-focused storytelling and promotion of track’s biggest stars, with competition to begin in 2025

announcements

news