Bednarek and Jefferson Wooden Blaze to World Leads on Grand Slam Track Philadelphia Finale
The final day of the Grand Slam Track meet in Philadelphia lit up Franklin Field on Sunday, June 1 with spectacular performances, headlined by world-leading marks in both 100m finals. Kenny Bednarek clocked a sensational 9.86 to remain undefeated through six events, while Melissa Jefferson Wooden stormed to a lifetime best and world lead of 10.73. The Sunday session also crowned new Grand Slam champions, with standout wins by Marco Arop, Josh Kerr, Diribe Welteji, Nico Young, and Jasmine Jones in their respective disciplines.
Men’s 100 metres (Short Sprint):
Double Olympic silver medallist Kenny Bednarek continued his dominant run, winning his sixth straight Grand Slam race in a lifetime best and Grand Slam Track record of 9.86, equalling the world lead. Jamaica’s Bryan Levell surprised with a runner-up finish in 10.02, ahead of Zharnel Hughes (10.05) and Christian Coleman (10.12). Bednarek secured the overall short sprint title, with Hughes and Levell rounding out the standings.
Kenny Bednarek: “We still got a lot more to go. We’re not even peaked yet. I’m just giving you a taste.”
Women’s 100 metres (Short Sprint):
Olympic bronze medallist Melissa Jefferson Wooden exploded to a world-leading 10.73 (+1.4 m/s), shattering her previous PB and claiming her third Grand Slam title of the season. Jefferson had previously won the 200m on Saturday in 21.99. Tamari Davis took second in 11.03, followed by Theima Davies (11.14) and Gabby Thomas (11.16). Jefferson also won the overall title, ahead of Davis and Thomas.
Melissa Jefferson Wooden: “I’m learning so many new things about myself... this is all coming together.”
Women’s 200 metres (Long Sprint):
Reigning Olympic and world 400m champion Marileidy Paulino took the women’s 200m in 22.46 (+1.6 m/s), adding to her 400m win from Saturday. NCAA indoor champion Isabella Whittaker clocked 22.82 for second, edging Jessika Gbai (22.85) and Selwa Naser (22.90). Paulino earned her second Grand Slam title of the year.
Men’s 400 metres (Long Sprint):
Trevor Bassitt won the men’s 400m in 45.47, beating Chris Robinson (45.62) and Alison dos Santos (45.63), who lost his first Grand Slam race of the season. Bassitt, who had placed second in the 400m hurdles on Saturday, took the overall Grand Slam title.
Men’s 200 metres (Long Sprint):
Dominican Republic’s Alexander Ogando ran 20.13 to edge Miami winner Jereem Richards (20.34). Matthew Hudson-Smith, fifth in 20.70, did just enough to claim the overall long sprint title, adding to his Grand Slam win in Kingston.
Men’s 1500 metres (Short Distance):
World champion Josh Kerr set a Grand Slam and stadium record with a season’s best of 3:34.44, narrowly defeating Olympic champion Cole Hocker (3:34.51) and Hobbs Kessler (3:34.91). Marco Arop, Saturday’s 800m winner, ran a PB of 3:35.38 to finish fourth and secure the overall title by just one point over Kerr.
Women’s 800 metres (Short Distance):
Ethiopia’s Diribe Welteji won in a stadium record 1:58.94, holding off Britain’s Georgia Bell Hunter (1:58.99) and Australia’s Jessica Hull (1:59.63). Welteji claimed her second Grand Slam title, topping the standings ahead of Hull and Bell.
Men’s 100 metres (Short Hurdles):
World silver medallist Trey Cunningham won the straight 100m in 10.36 into a -1.9 m/s headwind, ahead of Jamal Britt (10.50) and Lorenzo Simonelli (10.55). Britt, Saturday’s 110m hurdles winner, secured the Grand Slam title. Cunningham and Cordell Tinch (PB 10.57) rounded out the podium standings.
Women’s 100 metres (Short Hurdles):
Jamaica’s Ackera Nugent followed up her Saturday hurdles win with victory in the straight 100m (11.11, +0.1 m/s), earning her second Grand Slam title. Olympic champion Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone ran a PB of 11.21 for second, and Ditaji Kambundji set a PB of 11.41 in third.
Men’s 3000 metres (Long Distance):
Nico Young prevailed in a tactical 3000m, clocking 8:01.03 to defeat Sam Gilman (8:01.70) and Ky Robinson (8:01.92). The victory secured Young the long distance Grand Slam title.
Women’s 400 metres (Long Sprint):
Lina Nielsen took the win in 52.60, narrowly beating Jasmine Jones (52.73), who returned to the distance for the first time since 2018. Jones, who placed second in the 400m hurdles on Saturday, claimed the overall Grand Slam title. Olympic silver medallist Anna Cockrell, Saturday’s hurdles winner, placed sixth in 53.35 and finished second overall, ahead of Nielsen.
