Bednarek, Arop, and Paulino Impress on Opening Day of Grand Slam Track in Philadelphia
.jpg/bednarek%20(1)__800x450.jpg)
The first day of the Grand Slam Track meeting at the historic Franklin Field Stadium in Philadelphia delivered thrilling performances and record-breaking races across the board. With Olympic and world champions in action, the event saw five stadium records, two Grand Slam Track records, and a barrage of seasonal bests. Kenny Bednarek blazed to 19.95 in the men’s 200m, Marco Arop set a new Grand Slam mark in the 800m with 1:43.38, and Marileidy Paulino stormed to a 49.12 in the women’s 400m. As the competition heads into its final day, the stakes remain high with big cash prizes awaiting Sunday’s winners.
Men’s 200 metres (Short Sprint):
Double Olympic silver medallist Kenny Bednarek stormed to victory in the 200 metres with a time of 19.95, comfortably ahead of British star Zharnel Hughes and Canada’s Aaron Brown, who both clocked 20.50 for second and third place respectively.
Men’s 400 metres (Long Sprint):
Matthew Hudson-Smith, the Olympic silver medallist, was the only man to break the 45-second barrier, cruising to victory in 44.51. Khaleb McRea charged late for second in 45.04, edging out 2022 World Indoor champion Jereem Richards (45.05). With the win, Hudson-Smith clinched the Grand Slam Track title in the Long Sprint category.
Men’s 800 metres (Short Distance):
World champion Marco Arop of Canada lit up the track with a Grand Slam Track record and seasonal best of 1:43.38. He split 52.04 for the first lap before closing in 51.34. Josh Hoey was second in 1:44.41, while Olympic 1500m bronze medallist Yared Nuguse claimed third in 1:45.36. 1500m world champion Josh Kerr (1:45.80) and Olympic gold medallist Cole Hocker (1:45.81) rounded out the top six.
Men’s 110 metres Hurdles (Short Hurdles):
In one of the biggest surprises of the night, Jamal Britt captured the 110m hurdles in a stadium record of 13.08, just ahead of world leader Cordell Tinch (13.10). Trey Cunningham, winner of the Miami Grand Slam, took third in 13.18. European champion Lorenzo Simonelli was fifth in 13.55 in his second race of the season.
Men’s 400 metres Hurdles (Long Hurdles):
2022 world champion Alison Dos Santos extended his Grand Slam Track unbeaten streak to three with a commanding win in 48.11—a new Franklin Field record. Trevor Bassitt was a strong second in a seasonal best of 48.25 (7th fastest time in the world this year), while Chris Robinson finished third in 48.76.
Women’s 200 metres (Short Sprint):
Melissa Jefferson, Olympic bronze medallist in the 100m, broke the 22-second barrier for the first time with a personal best of 21.99—the third fastest time in the world this season. Olympic champion Gabby Thomas was runner-up in 22.10, followed by Tamari Davis (22.59) and 2019 world champion Dina Asher-Smith (22.65).
Women’s 400 metres (Long Sprint):
Olympic champion Marileidy Paulino delivered a dominant run in 49.12, setting a stadium record and moving to second on the 2024 world list. Salwa Eid Naser initially crossed second in 49.47 after leading at 300m but was later disqualified for lane infringement. Nickisha Pryce claimed second in 50.04, with NCAA indoor champion Isabella Whittaker clocking a PB of 50.16 in third.
Women’s 1500 metres (Short Distance):
Ethiopia’s Diribe Welteji stole the show in the 1500m, clocking 3:58.04 to equal the world lead and set both a Grand Slam and stadium record. Jessica Hull finished a close second in 3:58.36, with Nikki Hiltz (4:00.54) and Britain’s Georgia Bell (4:00.85, European lead) just behind.
Women’s 3000 metres (Long Distance):
Kenya’s Agnes Ngetich edged Ethiopia’s Ejgayehu Taye in a thrilling sprint finish, winning in a stadium record of 8:43.61. Ngetich sealed the win with a blazing final lap of 61 seconds, just ahead of Taye’s 8:43.70.
Women’s 100 metres Hurdles (Short Hurdles):
Jamaica’s Ackera Nugent, winner in Miami, continued her winning streak with a 12.44 performance into a -0.4 m/s headwind. She was followed by Tia Jones (12.60), Megan Tapper (12.66), and Tonea Marshall (12.68). Olympic champion Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone posted her second-fastest career time with 12.70 in fifth, while Switzerland’s Ditaji Kambundji ran 12.79 for sixth.
Women’s 400 metres Hurdles (Long Hurdles):
Anna Cockrell, the Olympic silver medallist, took the win from the outside lane in 54.04, setting a new stadium record. Jasmine Jones finished second in 54.65, followed by Jamaica’s Andrenette Knight (54.86) and former world champion Dalilah Muhammad (54.88).
