The latest instalment of Grand Slam Track hits Philadelphia this weekend, with three athletes looking to maintain their perfect start at Franklin Field.

Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, Kenny Bednarek and Alison Dos Santos are all yet to be beaten across their respective categories after triumphs in Kingston and Miami. 

Four-time Olympic gold medallist McLaughlin-Levrone tops the table in the women's long hurdles category, running a world-leading 52.07 in the 400m hurdles race last time out. 

But the 25-year-old has made the decision to vacate her comfortable position in that category to the much more competitive short hurdles.

After Masai Russell set a new American record in the 100m hurdles in Miami with a time of 12.17, with Tia Jones also impressing, McLaughlin-Levrone is aiming to adapt. 

This race group will also see the first face-off between three slam champions. 

McLaughlin-Levrone will compete against Miami champion Ackera Nugent along with returning challenger and Kingston meet winner Danielle Williams. 

Sydney has dominated through two Slams...how will she fare in the short hurdles this weekend? pic.twitter.com/1ZUXzmiWhz

— Grand Slam Track (@GrandSlamTrack) May 28, 2025

Bednarek is in a league of his own in the men's short sprints category and is searching for a hat-trick of slam titles in Philadelphia. 

The American, who was the 200m runner-up at the Tokyo and Paris Olympics, won across the same distance in Miami, following up his 100m title win 24 hours earlier. 

Bednarek is at the top of the racer of the year standings, level on 48 points with Dos Santos, who is at the summit of the men's long hurdles category. 

But the Philadelphia leg of Grand Slam Track will adopt a different format this time around, with the event taking place across two days rather than three. 

To ensure the most thrilling and competitive matchups, the men's and women's long-distance race groups will each compete in a single 3,000m race.

"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 the Grand Slam Track in real time," said founder 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."

THE MAIN EVENTS

Men's short distance (800m and 1500m)

Great Britain's Josh Kerr walked away $100,000 better off following his success in Miami, reacting well from his disappointing seventh-placed finish in Kingston. 

Kerr won the 1500m with a season-best time of 3:34.51 in Miami, following that up with a personal best time in the 800m, crossing in fifth after 1:45.01. 

The 27-year-old was confident after his display, saying: "If I keep progressing the way I am, then I can come away with two more slams this year and be really proud."

However, the short distance category has got a lot more interesting with the inclusion of two red-hot competitors in Josh Hoey and Hobbs Kessler. 

Hoey comes into the competition with a recent world indoor title and an American record in the 800m. He also ran a career-best 3:33.66 in the 1500m back in February. 

Kessler, meanwhile, has a best time in the 800m of 1:43.64 at the U.S. Olympic Trials in June, and is likely to challenge this weekend across both races. 

Women's short sprints (200m and 400m)

After claiming the top prize in Kingston, Gabby Thomas will be out to reclaim her crown in Philadelphia, having lost out to Melissa Jefferson-Wooden in Miami. 

Jefferson-Wooden ran a personal best of 22.5 in the 200m, following up her first-place finish in the 100m, where Thomas finished fourth. 

Tamari Davis will also fancy her chances, having finished third in Miami, with Dina Asher-Smith and Daryll Neita also hoping to be in the mix. 

ATHLETES TO WATCH

Jadyn Mays (women's short sprints)

Mays will make her Grand Slam debut in Philadelphia and will be hoping to challenge for the women's short sprints crown in what is an enticing line-up. 

In her final season of collegiate eligibility, she captured the Big Ten indoor title in the 200m and finished as the runner-up in both the 60m and 200m at the NCAA Indoor Championships. 

Business trip. Let’s work.

: @dk__create pic.twitter.com/UVwA9mrvrO

— Grand Slam Track (@GrandSlamTrack) May 29, 2025

Christian Coleman (men's short sprints)

Coleman is another athlete who will be making their debut in Philadelphia, with the 2019 World Champion in the 100m bringing elite pedigree and experience to the field. 

With a season’s best of 10.06 in the 100m, all eyes will be on how the former world leader performs against a deep and talented short sprint group.

Tia Jones (women's short hurdles)

Returning from an ACL tear, Jones has stormed back into form.

Since her surprise entry and victory at Grand Slam Kingston – where she delivered a world-leading performance in the 100m hurdles – she has become a consistent standout.

In Miami, she ran the third-fastest time in history (12.19), trailing only Masai Russell's 12.17. Philadelphia is her third slam appearance and expectations are high.