New York, NY — The track world turns its eyes to Philadelphia as Grand Slam Track, the revolutionary professional league created by four-time Olympic champion Michael Johnson, recently unveiled the full roster of 96 Racers and Challengers who will storm the lanes of Franklin Field, May 31–June 1.
The Philadelphia Slam, third stop in the league’s electric inaugural season, promises to be a showstopper—with the largest prize purse in track history on the line and a line-up brimming with international firepower.
“We couldn’t be more excited to announce the full field of competitors for the Philadelphia Slam,” said Commissioner Johnson. “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-style racing to the next level.”
Star power and high stakes
This week’s announcement revealed a who’s who of global track and field, headlined by a new crop of Challengers—elite athletes who will go head-to-head with Grand Slam’s already-signed Racers in a no-holds-barred competition format.
Among the newly announced Challengers are world-renowned names including: Anna Cockrell, Olympic hurdler, Christian Coleman, former 100m world champion, Dina Asher-Smith, British sprint star, Ejgayehu Taye, Ethiopian long-distance ace, Graham Blanks, rising American distance phenom.
They join a global contingent that now represents 22 countries, signaling Grand Slam Track’s explosive international reach.
However, not every star will be on the line in Philadelphia. Racers such as Devon Allen, Masai Russell, Roshawn Clarke, Oblique Seville, and Jasmine Camacho-Quinn will be sidelined due to injury, opening additional lanes for Challenger athletes. Fred Kerley, another signed Racer, will miss the meet due to suspension pending legal proceedings.
The battlelines are drawn
Across Grand Slam Track’s first two epic events in Kingston and Miami, five Racers have already claimed double Slam titles and $200,000 each: Grant Fisher, Melissa Jefferson-Wooden, Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, Kenny Bednarek, and Alison dos Santos.
The league has crowned Grand Slam Track champions from nine nations to date—USA, UK, Dominican Republic, Brazil, Ethiopia, Kenya, Jamaica, Trinidad & Tobago, and France—underscoring its truly global momentum.
Event access and global broadcast
Fans can secure tickets for the Philadelphia Slam via GrandSlamTrack.com. For those watching from afar, the event will be broadcast across 198 countries and territories. Real-time updates and highlights will also be available on all official Grand Slam Track social media platforms at @GrandSlamTrack.
Official race groupings
Here are the official fields for each event category, with Racers and Challengers listed. Newly added names appear in bold.
Men’s Short Sprints: Kenny Bednarek ®, Zharnel Hughes ®, Andre De Grasse ©, Christian Miller ©, Christian Coleman ©, Bryan Levell ©, Udodi Onwuzurike ©, Aaron Brown ©
Women’s Short Sprints: Gabby Thomas ®, Brittany Brown ®, Daryll Neita ®, Melissa Jefferson-Wooden ®, Tamari Davis ©, Thelma Davies ©, Dina Asher-Smith ©, Jadyn Mays ©
Men’s Long Sprints: Matthew Hudson-Smith ®, Muzala Samukonga ®, Steven Gardiner ®, Jereem Richards ®, Jevaughn Powell ©, Alexander Ogando ©, Khaleb McRae ©, Matthew Boling ©
Women’s Long Sprints: Nickisha Pryce ®, Alexis Holmes ®, Marileidy Paulino ®, Salwa Eid Naser ®, Isabella Whittaker ©, Laviai Nielsen ©, Jessika Gbai ©, Sharlene Mawdsley ©
Men’s Short Hurdles: Freddie Crittenden ®, Sasha Zhoya ®, Daniel Roberts ®, Trey Cunningham ©, Jakub Szymański ©, Lorenzo Simonelli ©, Cordell Tinch ©, Jamal Britt ©
Women’s Short Hurdles: Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone ®, Ackera Nugent ®, Danielle Williams ©, Ditaji Kambundji ©, Tia Jones ©, Christina Clemons ©, Tonea Marshall ©, Megan Tapper ©
Men’s Long Hurdles: Alison dos Santos ®, Clément Ducos ®, Caleb Dean ®, Trevor Bassitt ©, Chris Robinson ©, CJ Allen ©, Assinie Wilson ©, Gerald Drummond ©
Women’s Long Hurdles: Shamier Little ®, Rushell Clayton ®, Jasmine Jones ®, Lina Nielsen ©, Dalilah Muhammad ©, Ayomide Folorunso ©, Anna Cockrell ©, Andrenette Knight ©
Men’s Short Distance: Cole Hocker ®, Josh Kerr ®, Yared Nuguse ®, Marco Arop ®, Hobbs Kessler ©, Josh Hoey ©, Elliot Giles ©, Samuel Chapple ©
Women’s Short Distance: Jess Hull ®, Nikki Hiltz ®, Diribe Welteji ®, Mary Moraa ®, Georgia Hunter Bell ©, Nia Akins ©, Abbey Caldwell ©, Addy Wiley ©
Men’s Long Distance: Grant Fisher ®, Ronald Kwemoi ®, Hagos Gebrhiwet ®, Graham Blanks ©, Nico Young ©, Ky Robinson ©, Edwin Kurgat ©, Andrew Coscoran ©
Women’s Long Distance: Nozomi Tanaka ®, Tsige Gebreselama ®, Agnes Ngetich ®, Elise Cranny ®, Ejgayehu Taye ©, Weini Kelati ©, Medina Eisa ©, Josette Andrews ©
