Every part it is advisable to know in regards to the Grand Slam Monitor assembly in Pennsylvania
The Grand Slam Monitor sequence continues this week in Philadelphia, the place Franklin Discipline on the College of Pennsylvania will host the third cease of the four-meet tour. The occasion runs from Could 31 to June 1 and follows earlier competitions held in Kingston, Jamaica, and Miami, Florida.
The league format divides athletes into two teams: “Racers” who’re contracted to compete throughout all 4 occasions within the sequence—Kingston, Miami, Philadelphia, and Los Angeles—and “Challengers,” who rotate out and in of every meet, receiving look charges and competing for prime prize cash of $100,000.
To recap, these athletes are assigned to compete in one of many following classes: brief sprints (100m/200m), brief hurdles (100m hurdles or 110m hurdles/100m), lengthy sprints (200m/400m), lengthy hurdles (400m hurdles/400m), center distance (800m/1500m), or lengthy distance (3000m/5000m).
Nevertheless, organizers have made a number of key adjustments for the Philadelphia meet. Based mostly on suggestions from athletes, coaches, and followers, the occasion will now be held over two days as an alternative of three to streamline the competitors schedule.
There’s additionally a change to the long-distance races. Each the lads’s and girls’s long-distance teams will now compete in a single 3000m race, reasonably than each the 3000m and 5000m. The adjusted format comes with a $50,000 prize for the winner of every race.
Right here’s a rundown of the athletes competing in Philadelphia and the main points of when and the place you may watch the occasion.
Males’s Brief Sprints (100m/200m)
Heading into the third leg of the Grand Slam Monitor sequence, all eyes are on Kenny Bednarek, who sits on the prime of the lads’s leaderboard with an ideal 48 factors from the primary two meets. If he continues his profitable streak in Philadelphia and Los Angeles, Bednarek is on monitor to safe the title of males’s ‘Racer of the 12 months.’
Zharnel Hughes of Nice Britain can also be set to return as a Racer, coming in with sturdy type. He just lately clocked a wind-assisted 19.55 within the straight 200m on the adidas Atlanta Metropolis Video games.
Nevertheless, Racer’s Indirect Seville will miss this meet as a result of damage, and Fred Kerley is suspended pending the completion of authorized proceedings and won’t compete in Philadelphia.
Among the many Challengers, Christian Coleman of the USA is a standout title to look at. The indoor 60m world report holder (6.34) brings each pace and expertise to the sector.
Canada’s Andre De Grasse can also be again for his second look within the sequence after competing in Miami. The seven-time Olympic medallist is now coaching beneath coach Mike Holloway in Florida.
Racers: Kenny Bednarek, Zharnel Hughes
Challengers: Andre De Grasse, Christian Miller, Christian Coleman, Bryan Levell, Udodi Onwuzurike, Aaron Brown
Girls’s Brief Sprints (100m/200m)
The ladies’s brief sprints in Philadelphia is shaping as much as be one of many highlights, with Olympic 200m champion Gabby Thomas and Olympic 100m bronze medallist Melissa Jefferson-Wood set to resume their rivalry.
Thomas returns to the Brief Sprints for the second time, having gained the Lengthy Sprints title in Kingston earlier than switching occasions in Miami. There, she narrowly missed out on the Brief Sprints crown to Jefferson-Wood, who edged her by only one level after the pair break up wins throughout the 100m and 200m. Thomas claimed victory within the 200m however completed fourth within the 100m, whereas Jefferson-Wood gained the 100m and positioned third within the 200m.
They’ll be joined by fellow Racers Brittany Brown and Nice Britain’s Daryll Neita.
Additionally returning is Britain’s Dina Asher-Smith, who competed within the Lengthy Sprints class in Kingston however will now shift again to the brief sprints – her extra acquainted territory. Asher-Smith has but to race over 100m this season, together with her final look within the occasion being on the Brussels Diamond League last final 12 months, the place she clocked 10.92.
Racers: Gabby Thomas, Brittany Brown, Daryll Neita, Melissa Jefferson-Wood
Challengers: Tamari Davis, Thelma Davies, Dina Asher-Smith, Jadyn Mays
Males’s Lengthy Sprints (200m/400m)
Jereem Richards of Trinidad & Tobago heads into the Philadelphia leg of the Grand Slam Monitor sequence sitting fifth within the general males’s standings with 31 factors. After ending third in Kingston, Richards bounced again in Miami, taking first within the 200m and second within the 400m to say the Lengthy Sprints title for that meet.
Matt Hudson-Smith, who gained the $100,000 prize pot in Kingston, may also be again in motion in Philadelphia. After putting fifth general in Miami, the British athlete might be trying to return to profitable type.
The Racers line-up is additional boosted by Zambia’s Muzala Samukonga, who held victory over Hudson-Smith within the 400m on the 2022 Commonwealth Video games.
Additionally returning is Tokyo Olympic 400m gold medallist Steven Gardiner of the Bahamas. Gardiner made his sequence debut in Miami as a alternative for Quincy Corridor and can now proceed as a Racer in Philadelphia.
Racers: Muzala Samukonga, Jereem Richards, Matthew Hudson-Smith, Steven Gardiner
Challengers: Jevaughn Powell, Alexander Ogando, Khaleb McRae, Matthew Boling
Girls’s Lengthy Sprints (200m/400m)
Marileidy Paulino of the Dominican Republic is a prime contender within the ladies’s Lengthy Sprints after a robust begin to her Grand Slam Monitor marketing campaign. Competing in each the 200m and 400m, Paulino impressed early in Kingston with a second-place end within the 200m and third within the 400m.
But it surely was in Miami the place she really made her mark. Profitable each occasions that weekend, Paulino earned most factors and now sits third general within the ladies’s Racer of the 12 months standings heading into Philadelphia.
Chasing her carefully is 2019 world champion Salwa Eid Naser, who completed runner-up to Paulino in each the 200m and 400m in Miami. Naser might be aiming to flip the outcomes this time and declare that prime spot.
A number of notable names might be becoming a member of the Racers, together with Nice Britain’s Laviai Nielsen, who will make her Grand Slam Monitor debut. She has already opened her outside season with appearances on the World Relays and the Doha Diamond League.
Eire’s Sharlene Mawdsley, who trains alongside Laviai beneath coach Tony Lester may also make the journey abroad. Mawdsley enters with a private finest of fifty.71 within the 400m, whereas Laviai holds a better of 49.87.
Racers: Nickisha Pryce, Alexis Holmes, Marileidy Paulino, Salwa Eid Naser
Challengers: Isabella Whittaker, Laviai Nielsen, Jessika Gbai, Sharlene Mawdsley
Males’s Brief Hurdles (110m hurdles/100m)
France’s Sasha Zhoya has shortly develop into one of many standout names of the Grand Slam Monitor sequence. The 22-year-old impressed in Kingston with a win within the 100m and a runner-up end within the 110m hurdles. He adopted that with one other sturdy displaying in Miami, putting third within the 100m and once more second within the hurdles—each instances behind Trey Cunningham.
Zhoya might be aiming to proceed his momentum in Philadelphia after a 2024 season that noticed him fall in need of a medal on the Paris Olympics. He’ll as soon as once more face Cunningham, who returns as a Challenger after standout performances in Miami, as he equalled his 110m hurdles private better of 13.00 and set a brand new 100m PB of 10.17.
The competitors doesn’t cease there. Additionally returning is Racer Daniel Roberts, the Olympic silver and world bronze medallist from the US, who boasts private bests of 12.96 within the 110m hurdles and 10.45 within the 100m.
Becoming a member of Roberts within the Racer lineup is fellow American Freddie Crittenden.
Racers: Freddie Crittenden, Sasha Zhoya, Daniel Roberts
Challengers: Trey Cunningham, Jakub Szymański, Lorenzo Simonelli, Cordell Tinch, Jamal Britt
Girls’s Brief Hurdles (100m hurdles/100m)
After back-to-back wins in Kingston and Miami, Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone has dominated the Lengthy Hurdles class with most factors. However, the Olympic champion will shift to the Brief Hurdles in Philadelphia, marking her first race over 100m since 2018. That 12 months, as a freshman on the College of Kentucky, she ran a wind-assisted 11.07—the quickest flat 100m time amongst all ladies entered on this occasion.
She’ll face a robust area, led by Jamaica’s Ackera Nugent, who gained the Miami Slam. Nugent might be trying to repeat her profitable type in opposition to McLaughlin-Levrone in what guarantees to be an thrilling head-to-head.
Sadly, American hurdles standout Masai Russell, who set a brand new US report of 12.17 in Miami, is not going to compete in Philadelphia as a result of damage. Fellow Racer Cyréna Samba-Mayela can also be out for a similar cause.
Regardless of these absences, the sector stays extremely aggressive. Danielle Williams of Jamaica, who pulled off a shock win in Kingston, returns as a Challenger.
Additionally becoming a member of the Challengers is Switzerland’s Ditaji Kambundji, the European indoor 60m hurdles champion and world indoor silver medallist.
Racers: Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, Ackera Nugent
Challengers: Danielle Williams, Ditaji Kambundji, Tia Jones, Christina Clemons, Tonea Marshall, Megan Tapper
Males’s Lengthy Hurdles (400m hurdles/400m)
Brazil’s Alison Dos Santos heads into Philadelphia tied on the prime of the lads’s general Grand Slam Monitor standings with Kenny Bednarek, having delivered a flawless efficiency to this point within the Lengthy Hurdles class. The 2022 world champion has not solely dominated his signature 400m hurdles but additionally impressed on the flat 400m.
With two meets left within the sequence, Dos Santos is firmly in rivalry for the ‘Racer of the 12 months’ title if he can keep his profitable streak.
Becoming a member of him within the Racer lineup are Jamaica’s Roshawn Clarke and the USA’s Caleb Dean, each able to pushing the tempo. Additionally returning is American Chris Robinson, who completed second to Dos Santos in Miami and might be keen to shut the hole.
Racers: Alison Dos Santos, Caleb Dean, Clément Ducos
Challengers: Trevor Bassitt, Chris Robinson, CJ Allen, Assinie Wilson, Gerald Drummond
Girls’s Lengthy Hurdles (400m hurdles/400m)
With Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone entering into the brief hurdles for Philadelphia, the ladies’s lengthy hurdles area is all of a sudden extensive open—setting the stage for a someone else to take the highest spot.
Among the many main contenders is Jamaica’s Andrenette Knight, who completed second to McLaughlin-Levrone in Miami and returns as a Challenger this weekend.
Returning to the Racer line-up is fellow Jamaican Rushell Clayton, who missed the Miami meet and he or she’ll be joined by Shamier Little and Jasmine Jones.
Little provides beneficial depth to the sector, with a résumé that features World Championship silver medals in 2015 and 2023 and a private better of 52.39 within the 400m hurdles. Jones, who completed simply outdoors the medals in Paris, may also be a robust risk for the win.
Making her Grand Slam Monitor debut is Lina Nielsen of Nice Britain, twin sister of Laviai Nielsen. Whereas she hasn’t but opened her particular person outside season, Lina was a part of the British 4x400m group that certified for Worlds on the latest World Relays. She brings versatility, with a private finest of fifty.78 within the 400m flat and 54.43 within the hurdles.
Racers: Shamier Little, Rushell Clayton, Jasmine Jones
Challengers: Lina Nielsen, Dalilah Muhammad, Ayomide Folorunso, Anna Cockrell, Andrenette Knight
Males’s Brief Distance (800m/1500m)
The lads’s middle-distance occasions have delivered a few of the best races, and that pattern seems set to proceed in Philadelphia. Josh Kerr emerged victorious in Miami, claiming the Slam title after a robust win within the 1500m and a fifth-place end within the 800m. However with the depth of expertise on this occasion group, the title is really up for grabs.
Kerr might be joined as soon as once more by a loaded area that features fellow Olympic 1500m medallists Cole Hocker and Yared Nuguse, in addition to 800m world champion Marco Arop. All three might be gunning for redemption and hoping to knock Kerr off the highest spot.
Including contemporary faces to the combination is Josh Hoey, one of many breakout stars of the 2024 indoor season. The American surged into the highlight by operating the second-fastest indoor 800m in historical past and profitable the world indoor title.
Additionally making his season debut is Nice Britain’s Elliot Giles. He hasn’t raced open air but in 2025 and is returning after pulling up within the 1500m on the British Indoor Championships earlier this 12 months. Giles might be acquainted with lots of the athletes within the area, together with fellow Brit Josh Kerr, who he shared a dramatic second with ultimately 12 months’s British Out of doors Championships when the pair collided within the last stretch of the 800m.
Racers: Cole Hocker, Josh Kerr, Yared Nuguse, Marco Arop
Challengers: Hobbs Kessler, Josh Hoey, Elliot Giles, Samuel Chapple
Girls’s Brief Distance (800m/1500m)
With Freweyni Hailu, the Miami Slam winner, not returning as a Challenger for Philadelphia, the ladies’s middle-distance area is extensive open and the competitors to take the highest spot might be fierce.
Racers Jess Hull, Nikki Hiltz, Diribe Welteji, and Mary Moraa now have a possibility to say a Slam title. Welteji is available in because the Kingston champion however positioned fourth general in Miami, whereas Hiltz has been constantly shut, ending second at each earlier meets and looking out extra decided than ever to lastly take a win.
Mary Moraa, higher recognized for her dominance within the 800m, had a robust turnout in Miami after a disappointing eighth within the 1500m however bounced again to win the 800m and safe third general. Her late-race power makes her a critical contender as soon as once more.
Becoming a member of the line-up as a Challenger is Georgia Hunter Bell, making her Grand Slam Monitor debut. The British middle-distance star produced a bronze medal efficiency within the 1500m on the Paris Olympics, the place she shared the rostrum with Jess Hull—her upcoming rival in Philadelphia. Bell holds the British report within the 1500m with a time of three:52.61 and has spectacular 800m pace, clocking a private better of 1:56.28 on the London Diamond League final 12 months.
Racers: Jess Hull, Nikki Hiltz, Diribe Welteji, Mary Moraa
Challengers: Georgia Hunter Bell, Nia Atkins, Abbey Caldwell, Abby Wiley
Males’s Lengthy Distance (3000m)
Grant Fisher has had sturdy showings in each Kingston and Miami to this point. The American distance star positioned third within the 3000m and gained the 5000m in Kingston, earlier than enhancing to second within the 3000m and repeating his 5000m victory in Miami.
A double Olympic bronze medallist within the 5000m and 10,000m at Paris 2024, Fisher enters Philadelphia as one of many prime contenders within the long-distance group. With the 5000m off the schedule for this leg of the sequence, all consideration now turns to the 3000m—an occasion Fisher has but to win on the circuit.
Standing in his approach as soon as once more might be Eire’s Andrew Coscoran, who stunned many in Miami by outkicking Fisher to win the 3000m. Coscoran returns as a Challenger and might be aiming to repeat the upset on the Philadelphia monitor.
Additionally re-joining the sector is Hagos Gebrhiwet, who gained the 3000m in Kingston however was absent in Miami. The Ethiopian star returns as a Racer alongside Ronald Kwemoi of Kenya, one other Racer able to pushing the tempo and difficult for the win.
Racers: Grant Fisher, Ronald Kwemoi, Hagos Gebrhiwet
Challengers: Graham Blanks, Nico Younger, Ky Robinson, Edwin Kurgat, Andrew Coscoran
Girls’s Lengthy Distance (3000m)
Kenya’s Agnes Ngetich at the moment sits fifth within the ladies’s general standings. She opened her season with a pair of second-place finishes within the 3000m and 5000m in Kingston, then adopted that up in Miami with a 3rd within the 3000m and a dominant win within the 5000m—securing the general title at that meet.
In Philadelphia, she’ll be trying to construct on that momentum, however the competitors is about to accentuate.
Returning as a Challenger is Ethiopia’s Medina Eisa, who pushed Ngetich all the best way within the Miami 5000m. The 2 ran the whole race collectively earlier than Ngetich pulled away for the win. Eisa might be wanting to reverse the consequence. Already a two-time World U20 champion within the 5000m (2022 and 2024), Eisa additionally earned silver within the junior ladies’s race on the 2023 World Cross Nation Championships and is shortly proving she belongs on the senior stage.
Additionally re-joining the sector is Ejgayehu Taye, who beat Ngetich to the highest spot in Kingston and now returns to problem once more in Philadelphia. With all three having posted sturdy leads to earlier Slams, this could possibly be essentially the most aggressive ladies’s 3000m of the sequence to this point.
Racers: Nozomi Tanaka, Tsige Gebreselama, Agnes Ngetich, Elise Cranny
Challengers: Ejgayehu Taye, Weini Kelati, Medina Eisa, Josette Andrews
Timetable (BST)
Saturday Could 31
21:39 – Girls’s 400m hurdles (Lengthy Hurdles)
21:48 – Males’s 400m hurdles (Lengthy Hurdles)
21:57 – Males’s 800m (Brief Distance)
22:07 – Males’s 200m (Brief Sprints)
22:16 – Girls’s 200m (Brief Sprints)
22:25 – Girls’s 3000m (Lengthy Distance)
22:42 – Girls’s 400m (Lengthy Sprints)
22:51 – Males’s 400m (Lengthy Sprints)
23:00 – Girls’s 1500m (Brief Distance)
23:13 – Males’s 110m hurdles (Brief Hurdles)
23:22 – Girls’s 110m hurdles (Brief Hurdles)
Sunday June 1
20:41 – Males’s 400m (Lengthy Hurdles)
20:50 – Girls’s 400m (Lengthy Hurdles)
20:59 – Girls’s 800m (Brief Distance)
21:09 – Males’s 100m (Brief Hurdles)
21:18 – Girls’s 100m (Brief Hurdles)
21:27 – Males’s 3000m (Lengthy Distance)
21:43 – Girls’s 200m (Lengthy Sprints)
21:52 – Males’s 200m (Lengthy Sprints)
22:01 – Males’s 1500m (Brief Distance)
22:13 – Girls’s 100m (Brief Sprints)
22:22 – Males’s 100m (Brief Sprints)
Grand Slam Monitor might be out there to look at within the UK and Eire on TNT Sports activities, whereas Eurosport will present the protection for audiences in Europe and Asia.
