Grand Slam Track™, the international organization dedicated to professional track and field competitions and founded by four-time Olympic champion Michael Johnson, today it was announced the Philadelphia Slam will now take place across two days, rather than three, on May 31–June 1, at Franklin Field.
Following the highly successful second Slam event in Miami, which resulted in a sold-out attendance for two of the three days, the league is now preparing for the Philadelphia event, where 12 additional Slam Champions will be crowned. Each winner will receive a prize of $100,000.
Eight Slam Champions Crowned on Record-Setting Final Night of Grand Slam Track Miami
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.
“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.”
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.
Grand Slam Track™ is pleased to announce that at the Philadelphia Slam, athlete Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone will compete in the Women’s Short Hurdles Race Group. This marks her inaugural professional race in the 100m event. This Race Group will feature a historic matchup between three Slam Champions: Miami Slam Champion Ackera Nugent, two-time Slam Champion McLaughlin-Levrone, and returning Challenger and Kingston Slam Champion Danielle Williams, who will all compete for the title and a $100,000 prize. Additionally, Swiss athlete Ditaji Kambundji will make her Grand Slam Track™ debut in Philadelphia as a Challenger.
– 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 feature an anticipated rematch from Miami, with Gabby Thomas competing once again in the Women’s Short Sprints Race Group. She will be competing against her rival and two-time Slam Champion Melissa Jefferson-Wooden. Jefferson-Wooden earned 18 points to Thomas’s 17, securing the Miami Slam Championship. Thomas aims for redemption in Philadelphia and seeks an opportunity to claim her second Slam Championship, following her victory in the Women’s Long Sprints Race Group in Kingston.
The league is pleased to announce the four competitors competing in the Men’s Short Hurdles Race Group. This lineup includes the reigning world leader, a former Slam Champion, and two international athletes making their debut representing their countries at Grand Slam Track.
– 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
These challengers join the roster of 48 confirmed competitors, including 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, and others.
Additional Challenger announcements will be communicated in the coming weeks as we approach the Philadelphia Slam event.
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