Grand Slam Track in Philly: Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, Gabby Thomas Set to Run…
Philadelphia is set to light up with star power this weekend as two of the biggest names in American track and field—Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone and Gabby Thomas—headline the Grand Slam Track meet. The meet, scheduled at Franklin Field, is part of a renewed effort to bring top-tier professional track events back to major U.S. cities ahead of the Paris 2024 Olympics.
Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, the reigning Olympic and world champion in the 400m hurdles, is expected to run the open 400 meters, a key part of her Paris preparation. Known for obliterating world records with a mix of grace and power, McLaughlin-Levrone has shifted her early-season focus to flat races to build endurance and speed before transitioning back to the hurdles. This will be her first 400m appearance of the 2025 season, and all eyes will be on the clock as fans speculate whether another record-breaking summer is on the horizon.
Meanwhile, Gabby Thomas, the Olympic bronze medalist in the 200m and one of the fiercest sprinting talents in the U.S., is slated to compete in both the 100m and 200m races. Thomas has opened her 2025 campaign strongly, clocking sub-22-second times in multiple meets and looking sharper with each race. The Philly crowd will get a chance to see her fine-tune her speed work as she builds toward the U.S. Olympic Trials later this summer.
The Grand Slam Track meet is drawing comparisons to Diamond League-style competitions, aiming to blend world-class performances with a high-energy fan experience. Organizers are hoping to attract a new generation of track fans by bringing athletes up close and creating a festival-like environment. The meet will also feature several rising stars and Olympic hopefuls, offering a preview of who may emerge as breakout names in Paris.
In addition to McLaughlin-Levrone and Thomas, top names such as Athing Mu, Noah Lyles, and Christian Coleman are rumored to make appearances, turning the meet into a pseudo-preview of the Olympic Trials. Although full rosters haven’t been confirmed, the buzz is growing rapidly across social media, and ticket sales have surged.
Track and field in the U.S. often takes a back seat between Olympic years, but events like this are helping to reverse that trend. By bringing elite athletes to a historic venue like Franklin Field—home of the iconic Penn Relays—the meet is bridging the gap between grassroots fans and international-caliber talent.
As the 2025 season heats up, performances in Philly will serve as crucial indicators of form. Whether it’s McLaughlin-Levrone’s smooth 400m run or Thomas’ explosive sprint double, the Grand Slam Track meet promises a weekend of unforgettable moments. For fans in the City of Brotherly Love, this is more than just a meet—it’s a front-row seat to the road to Paris.
Be the first to comment