---

1 June, 2025

By Grand Slam Track

---

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

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