On a rare day that fused historical past with warmth, Grand Slam Observe Philadelphia opened with a bang — and didn’t cease.
Eleven occasions. Eleven facility information. And a cascade of world-class performances that left the group at Franklin Area roaring for extra.
From daring upsets to breakout wins, Day One of many meet delivered the sort of electrical energy that solely this tour can produce — a high-octane reminder that Grand Slam Observe is rewriting the script for international athletics.
Melissa Jefferson-Picket strikes gold with sub-22 breakthrough
Two-time Slam Champion Melissa Jefferson-Picket lit up the observe within the girls’s 200m, notching the largest victory of her profession. Exploding out of the blocks, she by no means surrendered the lead, stopping the clock at a private greatest 21.99 — her first time breaking the elusive 22-second barrier. The efficiency dethroned Olympic champion Gabby Thomas, who completed second in 22.10.
“I’ve been engaged on this ever since Miami,” mentioned Jefferson-Picket, referencing her third-place end on the earlier Slam. “I knew if I wished to win, I needed to get out, get in entrance, and I managed the race and allow them to come get me. And that’s what I did.”
Hurdle shock: Jamal Britt topples Tinch in picture end
The boys’s 110m hurdles led to fireworks as Jamal Britt, racing unsponsored and unbothered, surprised Cordell Tinch — the fourth-fastest man in historical past within the occasion. Britt matched his private better of 13.08 to edge Tinch by a mere two-hundredths of a second.
“With us, something can occur,” mentioned Britt, who has already competed greater than 35 occasions this 12 months. “I might say that is the most effective technology of hurdlers, and I’m pleased that I’m in it.”
Ackera Nugent ends Sydney’s streak in 100m hurdles thriller
In one of many day’s most anticipated showdowns, world champion Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone stepped right down to the 100m hurdles — and was handed her first particular person defeat since June 2023. Ackera Nugent, the defending Slam Champion, held her nerve and claimed victory in 12.44 seconds, edging out Tia Jones (12.60). McLaughlin-Levrone positioned fifth in 12.70 seconds.
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“I needed to flip my pleasure off and simply lock myself into area,” mentioned Nugent, who admitted to being starstruck. “She’s very aggressive it doesn’t matter what she does.”
“It felt actually good, felt enjoyable, felt quick,” McLaughlin-Levrone added. “However I feel the hurdle approach and simply how fast they have been developing on me — I needed to make some changes.”
She returns Sunday for her first skilled 100m flat race.
Anna Cockrell guidelines the 400m hurdles
Making her Grand Slam debut, Olympic silver medalist Anna Cockrell surged from lane eight to take the ladies’s 400m hurdles title in 54.04 seconds. She dominated the race, ending greater than half a second forward of Jasmine Jones (54.65).
“It’s a historic venue,” mentioned Cockrell of Franklin Area. “It’s so enjoyable operating in entrance of a extremely, actually engaged crowd.”
“Kung-Fu Kenny” nonetheless undefeated
Within the males’s 200m, Kenny Bednarek lived as much as his nickname and fame. The undefeated Slam famous person coasted to victory in 19.95 seconds, defeating Zharnel Hughes (20.50) by a large margin and sustaining his good 2025 report.
Alison dos Santos, one other Slam unbeaten, barely held off Trevor Bassitt within the males’s 400m hurdles. Dos Santos clocked 48.11 seconds, with Bassitt only a hair behind in one of many day’s tightest finishes.
Marco Arop continued his Grand Slam dominance within the males’s 800m, cruising to a win in a season-best 1:43.38 minutes. He left challengers Josh Hoey and Hobbs Kessler behind, even discovering time to have fun earlier than crossing the end line.
“I do know I’ve acquired a goal on my again,” mentioned Arop. “I’m going to must step it up tomorrow within the 1500m.”
Paulino good in 400m
Dominican dash queen Marileidy Paulino stayed good on the Slam circuit, profitable the ladies’s 400m in a blazing 49.12 seconds — her quickest of the season. After sweeping Miami’s lengthy dash occasions, Paulino is as soon as once more on observe for a Slam sweep.
“I want the 400 first, after which the 200,” she mentioned. “It clearly reveals. It’s understanding effectively for me.”
Within the males’s 400m, Matthew Hudson-Smith — the reigning Olympic silver medalist — bounced again from a bumpy season to win his first Slam race of the 12 months. Clocking 44.51 seconds, he powered via the ultimate stretch from lane seven.
“You’re operating two races of top of the range, back-to-back,” mentioned Hudson-Smith. “There’s loads of historical past right here so I used to be excited to race right here.”
Girls’s distance races ship historic finishes
The ladies’s 1500m shattered Grand Slam information as Diribe Welteji dipped below the four-minute mark with a time of three:58.04 — holding off Jessica Hull by simply 0.03 seconds.
Within the 3000m, Agnes Ngetich confirmed why she’s the reigning Slam Champion, utilizing a superb last kick to defeat Ejgayehu Taye in 8:43.61 to eight:43.70 minutes. Ngetich now holds consecutive Slam titles within the Girls’s Lengthy Distance division.
“I’ve been engaged on pace,” mentioned Ngetich. “Successful in Miami gave me that power to push and we’re doing that in direction of the ultimate Slam in LA.”
With Day One already etched within the report books, Sunday’s motion guarantees much more drama. McLaughlin-Levrone’s 100m debut, Arop’s quest for the middle-distance double, and the relentless cost towards the Los Angeles finale will preserve followers riveted.
At Franklin Area, historical past isn’t simply being made — it’s being rewritten.
