As the sun prepares to blaze over South Florida, so too will the fiercest athletes in global track and field when the second leg of the Grand Slam Track Series—The Miami Slam—rockets into action May 2–4.
Following a riveting debut in Kingston, Jamaica, all eyes now turn to the Magic City, where elite Racers and fearless Challengers converge for three pulse-pounding days of pure speed, stamina, and spectacle.
With official start lists now revealed, the match-ups promise a combustible mix of world champions, Olympic medalists, and breakthrough stars. From the hair-trigger explosiveness of the short sprints to the strategic firepower of the distance showdowns, the Miami Slam is locked, loaded, and ready to detonate.
Star swaps set the stage
Last-minute shifts have only heightened the intrigue. Puerto Rican hurdling ace Jasmine Camacho-Quinn and Jamaican 400m standout Rushell Clayton have been scratched, creating golden opportunities for their replacements. In the Women’s 100m Hurdles, Jamaica’s Megan Tapper, a Tokyo Olympic bronze medalist, steps into the fray alongside fellow countrywoman Ackera Nugent, herself one of the most electrifying young hurdlers on the circuit. In the Women’s Long Hurdles, Cassandra Tate of the United States—a World Championship bronze medalist in her own right—joins a high-octane field headlined by the ethereal Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone.
On the men’s side, Kenya’s Amon Kemboi, an 11-time NCAA All-American, steps into the Men’s Long Distance field after Hagos Gebrhiwet’s withdrawal, setting up a dynamic showdown against Grant Fisher and Ronald Kwemoi.
Global stage, electric stakes
From Olympic gold medalists Fred Kerley, Steven Gardiner, and Marileidy Paulino to rising titans like Oblique Seville, Nickisha Pryce, and Masai Russell, Miami is hosting a who’s-who of sprint royalty and distance dynamos. The series’ unique Racer vs. Challenger format continues to upend traditional hierarchy, as underdog Challengers take their shot at unseating the sport’s most luminous names. Each race is more than a contest—it’s a collision of ambition, grit, and history-in-the-making.
The Women’s 400m hurdles showdown between McLaughlin-Levrone and Shamier Little is set to be a technical and emotional masterpiece, while the Men’s 100m—featuring a stacked field led by Kerley, Seville, Hughes, and Bednarek—could rewrite season-best lists.
Broadcast breakthroughs and new voices
Enhancing the fan experience, Chris Chavez joins the broadcast team as studio distance analyst. With Olympic credentials, a George Hirsch Journalism Award, and marathons under his belt, Chavez’s insights will elevate every metric of the long-distance duels.
Broadcast live in 189 countries and territories, the Grand Slam Track Series is quickly becoming a global athletics phenomenon. Fans can visit grandslamtrack.com for event details, results, and streaming options. For those lucky enough to be local, tickets to the Miami Slam—and the upcoming Philadelphia and Los Angeles editions—are now available online.
Grand Slam Track mayhem begins Friday
From Friday’s opening gun to Sunday’s closing surge, every lane will matter, every stride will count, and the finish line will be just the beginning. When the best meet the bold in Miami, track and field won’t just be watched—it will be felt.
