Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone and Gabby Thomas Lead Star-Studded Grand Slam Track Meet in Philadelphia – Streaming Live on Peacock This Weekend
Track and field fans are in for a treat this weekend as the Grand Slam Track league, founded by Olympic legend Michael Johnson, rolls into Philadelphia for the penultimate “Slam” of its inaugural season. The action kicks off Saturday, May 31, at 4 p.m. ET and continues Sunday at 3 p.m. ET — all streaming live and exclusively on Peacock.
Two of the sport’s biggest stars — reigning 400m hurdles world record holder and two-time Olympic champion Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone and triple Paris Olympic gold medalist Gabby Thomas — will headline the competition at historic Franklin Field on the campus of the University of Pennsylvania. Known for hosting the iconic Penn Relays and as the oldest operating college football stadium in the U.S., Franklin Field provides a legendary backdrop for what promises to be a weekend of high-octane athletics.
The Grand Slam Track league, launched in 2024, is reimagining the sport with a format that prioritizes head-to-head competition over times. Each event features 48 elite athletes — dubbed Racers — facing off against 48 Challengers across several event groups, including short and long sprints, hurdles, and distances up to 5000 meters. Winners are determined based on combined placement scores from two races per event, with a generous prize purse: $100,000 for first place and $10,000 for eighth.
This weekend’s lineup is stacked with Olympic talent. In addition to McLaughlin-Levrone and Thomas, fans can expect to see Kenny Bednarek (two-time Olympic 200m silver medalist), Cole Hocker (Olympic 1500m gold medalist), Marileidy Paulino of the Dominican Republic (400m Olympic champion), Jess Hull of Australia (1500m silver medalist), Grant Fisher (bronze medalist in both the 5000m and 10,000m), and Brazil’s Alison dos Santos (two-time Olympic 400m hurdles bronze medalist). Three-time world champion Christian Coleman will also compete, adding further firepower to an already electrifying field.
In the ongoing season leaderboard, McLaughlin-Levrone is the only unbeaten female competitor with a perfect 48 points. She’s closely followed by Melissa Jefferson-Wooden, a two-time Paris Olympic medalist, with 42 points. On the men’s side, Bednarek and dos Santos are tied at 48 points, with Bednarek edging ahead thanks to a higher dominance score.
Calling the action this weekend will be 1984 Olympic 1500m silver medalist Steve Cram, joined by Olympians Carrie Tollefson and Anson Henry. On-the-ground insights will be provided by Radzi Chinyanganya and Paris Olympic heptathlete Taliyah Brooks. Pre- and post-event coverage will be hosted by John Anderson, four-time Olympic gold medalist Sanya Richards-Ross, and Chris Chavez, founder of CITIUS MAG.
As the league continues to revolutionize the sport, Grand Slam Track is becoming a can’t-miss showcase of the world’s top track and field talent. After Philadelphia, the final Slam of the season will be held at UCLA’s Drake Stadium in Los Angeles, California. Until then, all eyes will be on Franklin Field this weekend, where the battle for supremacy — and serious prize money — heats up.