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≡ GRAND SLAM TRACK ≡
The third of four Grand Slam Track meets in 2025 will be at famed Franklin Field in Philadelphia, site of the annual Penn Relays, with three athletes trying to extend their perfect records across the first two Slams:
● Men/Short Sprints: Kenny Bednarek (USA)
● Men/Long Hurdles: Alison dos Santos (BRA)
● Women/Long Hurdles: Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone (USA)
While Bednarek and dos Santos will be favored in their event groups once again, McLaughlin-Levrone – the first athlete announced for the Grand Slam Track project – will be a decided underdog as she moves to the Short Hurdles.
She rarely runs this event and has a lifetime best of 12.65 from 2021; she did win at Franklin Field in 2022 in 12.75 during the Penn Relays. But against her are six women who have run faster than her lifetime best, just in 2025 alone:
● 12.19 Tia Jones (USA) ~ no. 2 worldwide
● 12.34 Ackera Nugent (JAM) ~ no. 3
● 12.50 Megan Tapper (JAM) ~ no. 7
● 12.53 Danielle Williams (JAM) ~ no. 8
● 12.54 Tonea Marshall (USA) ~ no. 9
● 12.56 Christina Clemons (USA) ~ no. 11
The only entrant slower is Swiss Dita Kumbundji, who has run 12.71 this year, but has a lifetime best of 12.40 from 2024.
So why would McLaughlin-Levrone do this?
She is coached by the legendary Bobby Kersee, who knows that the Grand Slam Track races are only a stepping stone to the U.S. Nationals in Eugene starting on 31 July and then to the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo (JPN) in September. While Grand Slam Track is nice, McLaughlin-Levrone and Kersee are planning for those meets, which could include letting go of the 400 m hurdles and heading to the 400 m, where her best of 48.74 (2023) is oh-so-close to the American Record of 48.70 by Sanya Richards-Ross in 2006.
She will need speed work to perfect her final-straight finish in a flat 400 m and the 100 m hurdles and 100 m flat races in Philadelphia are part of that development process for 2025.
McLaughlin-Levrone also hasn’t run a flat 100 in competition since a wind-aided 11.07 in 2018 when she was a frosh at Kentucky. So it will be interesting to see what she can do on Sunday, against the same field, but where she might be as good as anyone.
There are five who have won their event group at both Kingston and Miramar and will be going for a third in a row:
● Men/Short Sprints: Kenny Bednarek (USA)
● Men/Long Distance: Grant Fisher (USA)
● Men/Long Hurdles: Alison dos Santos (BRA)
● Women/Short Sprints: Melissa Jefferson-Wooden (USA)
● Women/Long Hurdles: Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone (USA)
The circuit has produced outstanding marks in most events, with current world leaders in six events, despite not having had a meet for a month:
● Men/200 m: 19.84, Kenny Bednarek (USA) ~ Miramar
● Men/400 m: 43.98, Jacory Patterson (USA) ~ Miramar
● Women/400 m: 48.67, Salwa Eid Naser (BRN) ~ Kingston
● Women/5,000 m: 14:25.80, Agnes Ngetich (KEN) ~ Miramar
● Women/100 m hurdles: 12.17, Masai Russell ~ Miramar
● Women/400 m hurdles: 52.07, Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone ~ Miramar
Following three-day meets in the first two stops, the program was condensed for Philadelphia to Saturday and Sunday only, which should help with attendance and viewership.
Saturday’s meet stars at 4:39 p.m. Eastern time and Sunday at 3:41 p.m. Eastern time, shown on both The CW and NBC’s Peacock streaming service.
Scoring in each event group (two races) is 12-8-6-5-4-3-2-1 and the placers in each group will win $100,000-50,000-30,000-25,000-20,000-15,000-12,500-10,000.
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