Philadelphia Grand Slam Track Meet: Everything You Need to Know

Philadelphia plays host this weekend to the third stop of the inaugural Grand Slam Track season, a new global league hoping to reshape the structure of elite track and field.

Taking place at historic Franklin Field on the campus of the University of Pennsylvania, the two-day meet (May 31–June 1) will feature 96 athletes, 48 signed “Racers” and 48 invited “Challengers”, competing across sprint, hurdle, and distance events.

With $200,000 awarded to each event group winner, the stakes are high and the matchups are elite.

Here’s everything you need to know.

What Is Grand Slam Track?

Grand Slam Track is a four-meet track and field series created by four-time Olympic champion Michael Johnson.

The format centers on “Racers”, a fixed roster of 24 men and 24 women competing in every meet—and “Challengers,” who rotate in for each Slam.

Athletes earn points across two races in their group per Slam (e.g., 100m and 200m in Short Sprints), with winners crowned at each meet and at season’s end.

After opening meets in Kingston and Miami, Philadelphia marks the penultimate competition before the finale in Los Angeles (June 27–29).

Event Structure

Athletes are split into six event groups:

• Short Sprints: 100m + 200m
• Short Hurdles: 100mH/110mH + 100m
• Long Sprints: 200m + 400m
• Long Hurdles: 400mH + 400m
• Short Distance: 800m + 1500m
• Long Distance: 3000m (standalone event for Philadelphia)

Key Athletes to Watch

• Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone shifts from her trademark 400m hurdles to contest the 100m and 100m hurdles.
• Gabby Thomas returns for a second Slam in the short sprints after finishing runner-up in Miami.
• Josh Kerr, Cole Hocker, and Yared Nuguse will face off in a loaded men’s 1500m.
• Christian Coleman continues his comeback season in the 100m and 200m.
• Ejgayehu Taye looks to remain unbeaten in the women’s long-distance group after dominant showings in Kingston and Miami.

Full Participant List

(R) = Signed Racer, (C) = Challenger

Men’s Short Sprints

• Kenny Bednarek (R)
• Zharnel Hughes (R)
• Andre De Grasse (C)
• Christian Miller (C)
• Christian Coleman (C)
• Bryan Levell (C)
• Udodi Onwuzurike (C)
• Aaron Brown (C)

Women’s Short Sprints

• Gabby Thomas (R)
• Brittany Brown (R)
• Daryll Neita (R)
• Melissa Jefferson-Wooden (R)
• Tamari Davis (C)
• Thelma Davies (C)
• Dina Asher-Smith (C)
• Jadyn Mays (C)

Men’s Long Sprints

• Matthew Hudson-Smith (R)
• Muzala Samukonga (R)
• Steven Gardiner (R)
• Jereem Richards (R)
• Jevaughn Powell (C)
• Alexander Ogando (C)
• Khaleb McRae (C)
• Matthew Boling (C)

Women’s Long Sprints

• Nickisha Pryce (R)
• Alexis Holmes (R)
• Marileidy Paulino (R)
• Salwa Eid Naser (R)
• Isabella Whittaker (C)
• Laviai Nielsen (C)
• Jessika Gbai (C)
• Sharlene Mawdsley (C)

Men’s Short Hurdles

• Freddie Crittenden (R)
• Sasha Zhoya (R)
• Daniel Roberts (R)
• Trey Cunningham (C)
• Jakub Szymański (C)
• Lorenzo Simonelli (C)
• Cordell Tinch (C)
• Jamal Britt (C)

Women’s Short Hurdles

• Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone (R)
• Ackera Nugent (R)
• Danielle Williams (C)
• Ditaji Kambundji (C)
• Tia Jones (C)
• Christina Clemons (C)
• Tonea Marshall (C)
• Megan Tapper (C)

Men’s Long Hurdles

• Alison dos Santos (R)
• Clément Ducos (R)
• Caleb Dean (R)
• Trevor Bassitt (C)
• Chris Robinson (C)
• CJ Allen (C)
• Assinie Wilson (C)
• Gerald Drummond (C)

Women’s Long Hurdles

• Shamier Little (R)
• Rushell Clayton (R)
• Jasmine Jones (R)
• Lina Nielsen (C)
• Dalilah Muhammad (C)
• Ayomide Folorunso (C)
• Anna Cockrell (C)
• Andrenette Knight (C)

Men’s Short Distance

• Cole Hocker (R)
• Josh Kerr (R)
• Yared Nuguse (R)
• Marco Arop (R)
• Hobbs Kessler (C)
• Josh Hoey (C)
• Elliot Giles (C)
• Samuel Chapple (C)

Women’s Short Distance

• Jess Hull (R)
• Nikki Hiltz (R)
• Diribe Welteji (R)
• Mary Moraa (R)
• Georgia Bell (C)
• Nia Akins (C)
• Abbey Caldwell (C)
• Addy Wiley (C)

Men’s Long Distance (3000m only)

• Grant Fisher (R)
• Ronald Kwemoi (R)
• Hagos Gebrhiwet (R)
• Graham Blanks (C)
• Nico Young (C)
• Ky Robinson (C)
• Edwin Kurgat (C)
• Andrew Coscoran (C)

Women’s Long Distance (3000m only)

• Nozomi Tanaka (R)
• Tsige Gebreselama (R)
• Agnes Ngetich (R)
• Elise Cranny (R)
• Ejgayehu Taye (C)
• Weini Kelati (C)
• Medina Eisa (C)
• Josette Andrews (C)

Full Event Schedule (All times Eastern)

Saturday, May 31

• 4:39 PM — Women’s Long Hurdles (400mH)
• 4:48 PM — Men’s Long Hurdles (400mH)
• 4:57 PM — Men’s Short Distance (800m)
• 5:07 PM — Men’s Short Sprints (200m)
• 5:16 PM — Women’s Short Sprints (200m)
• 5:25 PM — Women’s Long Distance (3000m)
• 5:42 PM — Women’s Long Sprints (400m)
• 5:51 PM — Men’s Long Sprints (400m)
• 6:00 PM — Women’s Short Distance (1500m)
• 6:13 PM — Men’s Short Hurdles (110mH)
• 6:22 PM — Women’s Short Hurdles (100mH)

Sunday, June 1

• 3:41 PM — Men’s Long Hurdles (400m)
• 3:50 PM — Women’s Long Hurdles (400m)
• 3:59 PM — Women’s Short Distance (800m)
• 4:09 PM — Men’s Short Hurdles (100m)
• 4:18 PM — Women’s Short Hurdles (100m)
• 4:27 PM — Men’s Long Distance (3000m)
• 4:43 PM — Women’s Long Sprints (200m)
• 4:52 PM — Men’s Long Sprints (200m)
• 5:01 PM — Men’s Short Distance (1500m)
• 5:13 PM — Women’s Short Sprints (100m)
• 5:22 PM — Men’s Short Sprints (100m)

How to Watch

• U.S. Broadcast: Peacock and The CW Network
• International Coverage: Available in 198 countries and territories
• Streaming Times:
  • Saturday: 4:00–7:00 PM ET
  • Sunday: 3:00–6:00 PM ET

Venue Info

• Franklin Field, University of Pennsylvania
• 233 South 33rd Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104
• Built in 1895, Franklin Field is the oldest operating stadium in the United States and a historic site for American track and field.