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Eight Jamaicans set to compete at GST Philly meet
May 27, 2025
All is set for this weekend's third and penultimate staging of Grand Slam Track, which will be held over two days at Franklin Field Stadium in Philadelphia - a change in schedule from the previous two meets in Kingston and Miami, which were held over three days.
A full slate of 96 Racers and Challengers will be in action over the two days - Friday, May 30, and Saturday, May 31 - despite the withdrawal of several athletes due to injuries, including Jamaican sprinter Oblique Seville and intermediate hurdler Roshawn Clarke.
Eight Jamaicans will compete this weekend, including the two winners of the women's short hurdles: Danielle Williams, who won in Kingston, and Ackera Nugent, who was victorious in Miami. Both walked away with prize money of US$100,000 each.
Other Jamaicans set to compete at the Slam include Megan Tapper (women's short hurdles), Nickeisha Pryce (women's long sprint), Andrenette Knight and Rushell Clayton (women's long hurdles), Bryan Levell (men's short sprint), and Jevaughn Powell (men's long sprint).
Several Racers will be aiming for their third Grand Slam Championship win this weekend: Americans Grant Fisher, Melissa Jefferson-Woodhall and, Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, and Brazilian Alison dos Santos. The latter three are hoping to remain unbeaten, having been perfect in their events so far.
The outstanding McLaughlin-Levrone could taste defeat for the first time as she steps into unfamiliar territory. She will be dropping down in distance to make her professional debut in the 100m hurdles. She will line up against a strong field in the 100m hurdles which includes Jamaicans Nugent, Williams and Tapper, as well as her United States compatriots Tia Jones and Christina Clemons, and Switzerland's Ditaji Kambundji.
So far, athletes from nine countries have celebrated Grand Slam victories - the United States, United Kingdom, Dominican Republic, Brazil, Ethiopia, Kenya, Trinidad and Tobago, France and Jamaica.
Founder and Commissioner of Grand Slam Track, Michael Johnson, is excited about this weekend's lineup.
"We couldn't be more excited to announce the full field of competitors for the Philadelphia Slam," he stated.
"The racing at the Miami Slam was truly world class, and we will have even more energy and entertainment for our third Slam.
"The spectators in the stands at Franklin Field, and all the fans watching from home, are going to see the fastest humans in the world taking our combat-styled racing to the next level," Johnson added.
