MIRAMAR, FL – MAY 2: Michael Johnson is pictured on the field during Grand Slam Track at Ansin … More
Grand Slam Track commissioner and founder Michael Johnson was not shy about making changes halfway through his league’s inaugural campaign, and so the third installment of the professional track series, which will land in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on Saturday and Sunday at Franklin Field, has shifted its approach.
Gone are three days of track coverage spread across three television windows.
In its place is a pared down schedule which includes two full days of action set for Grand Slam Track Philadelphia. As the series stop in Miami illustrated, that could bode well for performances event wide.
However, there are some important scratches. Citius Mag reported Olympic gold medalist Masai Russell and reigning GST Miami short hurdles champion is out due to injury. While that may make the road to a Slam win a bit easier for Olympic champion Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone – who’s dropping down in distance – it will dampen the mood.
Late last week, we also wondered whether Fred Kerley would return to the meet after his arrest in Miami, though The New York Times reported the league has suspended Kerley until his legal situation is resolved.
Wondering how and where to watch and what the major storylines will be?
How Can I Watch Grand Slam Philadelphia: Broadcast, Live Stream
Like the first two series stops, this one will be no different.
The two-day meet will stream from start to finish on Peacock and will broadcast live on the CW. Former ESPN anchor John Anderson and Olympic gold medalist Sanya Richards-Ross will provide commentary, while a series of voices will round out the broadcast booth.
Day 1 will air on Saturday, May 31 from 4 p.m. CST to 7 p.m. CST, while Day 2 will follow on Sunday, June 1 from 3 p.m. CST to 6 p.m. CST.
Live results can be found on the event website at Grand Slam Track.
US’ Cordell Tinch celebrates winning the men’s 110m hurdles event during the Xiamen IAAF Diamond … More
What’s The Top Event To Watch At Grand Slam Track Philadelphia?
You can’t lose with either short hurdle category.
In the men’s field, Trey Cunningham enters on a supreme high following a career-best time of 13 seconds at Grand Slam Track Miami, which elevated the former Florida State star into another tier.
However, he wasn’t even the fastest man on the day.
Halfway across the world, Cordell Tinch became the fourth-fastest man in world history at the Diamond League Xiamen, clocking a ridiculous time of 12.87 seconds.
Rarely this early in a track season do you find two athletes not only racing but also battling for a massive amount of money. With the stakes that come from winning – a $100,000 haul – these two surely will make the short hurdles a must-see event.
The women’s hurdle field, meanwhile, will feature Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, who is dropping down in distance after two dominating efforts in the long hurdles category.
The last time Queen Sydney ran the short hurdles? Her last effort at the distance took place last May in California in a time of 12.71 seconds. McLaughlin-Levrone owns a personal best of 12.65 for the distance.
With Russell out, will Tia Jones – who ran 12.19 to finish second in Miami – cruise for the victory? Her performance in Miami was second in U.S. history and the third-fastest time ever recorded.
And how about the men’s sprints?
Kenny Bednarek will go for the trifecta in Philadelphia – he is no doubt is in peak form after times of 9.79 and 19.84 in the 100 meters and 200 meters in Miami — though Christian Coleman and Christian Miller should offer some stiff opposition.
Miller is the youngest participant in Grand Slam Track’s (short) history at the mere age of 19. But his inclusion isn’t a surprise: Miller owns the facility record at 9.95 seconds.
USA’s Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone reacts after winning the women’s 400m event during the Grand Slam … More
Which Grand Slam Track Athletes Will Continue Their Winning Streaks?
Four athletes remain undefeated as champions of Grand Slam Track: Kenny Bednarek (short sprints), Melissa Jefferson-Wooden (short sprints), Grant Fisher (long distance), Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone (long hurdles).
Who will walk away with three straight wins?
On paper, Fisher and Jefferson-Wooden may have the smoothest roads ahead.
Fisher has proven to be a meticulous tactician in managing the long distance events (which have now scaled back to one event), though new entrants Nico Young and Graham Blanks could be thorns in his side.
Jefferson-Wooden, meanwhile, will once again go up against GST Jamaica long sprints winner Gabby Thomas, though with her 100 meter prowess and outright balance, she may be too much for anyone to challenge.
What Is The Format Of Grand Slam Track Philadelphia?
With the schedule pared down, all twenty-four track events will now be spread across two days.
The men’s and women’s categories feature short distance (800 meters, 1,500 meters), long distance (3,000 meters), long hurdles (400 meter hurdles, 400 meters), short hurdles (100/110 meter hurdles, 100 meters), short sprints (100 meters, 200 meters) and long sprints (200 meters, 400 meters).
Each category will feature eight athletes across two events. The winner of each category will take home $100,000, while the total prize pool is $262,500 in each discipline–with the exemption being long distance, which will feature half of the prize money following the elimination of the 5,000 meter run. The total pot across the remaining Grand Slam Track locations in Philadelphia and Los Angeles is $5.77 million.
USA’s Melissa Jefferson reacts after winning the women’s 100m event during the Grand Slam Track … More
Who’s Competing In Grand Slam Track Philadelphia Events?
Men’s Short Sprints: Kenny Bednarek, Zharnel Hughes, Andre De Grasse, Christian Miller, Christian Coleman, Bryan Levell, Udodi Onwuzurike and Aaron Brown.
Men’s Long Sprints: Matthew Hudson-Smith, Muzala Samukonga, Steven Gardiner, Alexander Ogando, Khaleb McRae, Matthew Boling, Jereem Richards and JeVaughn Powell.
Men’s Short Distance: Cole Hocker, Josh Kerr, Yared Nuguse, Marco Arop, Hobbs Kessler, Josh Hoey, Elliot Giles and Samuel Chapple.
Men’s Long Distance: Grant Fisher, Ronald Kwemoi, Hagos Gebrhiwet, Ky Robinson, Edwin Kurgat, Andrew Coscoran, Graham Blanks and Nico Young.
Men’s Short Hurdles: Freddie Crittenden, Sasha Zhoya, Daniel Roberts, Trey Cunningham, Jakub Szymański, Lorenzo Simonelli, Cordell Tinch and Jamal Britt.
Men’s Long Hurdles: Alison dos Santos, Clément Ducos, Caleb Dean, Trevor Bassitt, Chris Robinson, CJ Allen, Assinie Wilson and Gerald Drummond.
Women’s Short Sprints: Gabby Thomas, Brittany Brown (out), Daryll Neita (out), Melissa Jefferson-Wooden, Tamari Davis, Thelma Davis, Dina Asher-Smith, Jadyn Mays.
Women’s Long Sprints: Nickish Pryce, Alexis Holmes, Marileidy Paulino, Laviai Nielson, Jessika Gbai, Sharlene Mawdsley, Salwa Eid Naser and Isabella Whittaker.
Women’s Short Distance: Jess Hull, Nikki Hiltz, Diribe Welteji, Nia Akins, Abbey Caldwell, Addy Wiley, Mary Moraa and Georgia Hunter Bell.
Women’s Long Distance: Nozomi Tanaka, Tsige Gebreselama, Agnes Ngetich, Weini Kelati, Medina Eisa, Josette Andrews, Elise Cranny and Ejgayehu Taye.
Women’s Short Hurdles: Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, Ackera Nugent, Danielle Williams, Christina Clemons, Tonea Marshall, Megan Tapper, Ditaji Kambundji and Tia Jones.
Women’s Long Hurdles: Shamier Little, Rushell Clayton, Jasmine Jones, Ayomide Folorunso, Lina Nielson, Andrenette Knight, Anna Cockrell and Dalilah Muhammad.
