June 1, 2025
Track legend Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, known globally for redefining the 400m hurdles, took her fans by surprise this weekend by entering two short sprint events at the Philadelphia leg of the 2025 Grand Slam Track series. Known for her graceful power over the one-lap hurdles, McLaughlin-Levrone showed she can sprint and hurdle with the best of them — even outside her comfort zone.
🧱 DAY 1 – May 31: Testing the Waters in the 100m Hurdles
For only the fifth time since 2014, Sydney stepped onto the blocks for the 100m hurdles — a highly technical, explosive event. Despite not being her specialty, she held her own in a star-studded field.
🕒 Time: 12.70 seconds
🏁 Final Placement: 5th place
🥇 Winner: Ackera Nugent – 12.44s
> “It’s a blessing to even be out here trying something new,” she said. “I wanted to test myself and see how far I’ve come.”
The top four finishers were all seasoned hurdlers, but McLaughlin-Levrone’s effort was far from experimental — it was elite. Her technique showed promise, and the crowd roared as she crossed the line in stride with the pack.
⚡ DAY 2 – June 1: Pure Speed in the 100m Sprint
The very next day, she returned to compete in the flat 100m sprint — a test of sheer acceleration and top-end speed. Despite never being known as a short sprinter, Sydney stunned the field by powering to a second-place finish.
🕒 Time: 11.21 seconds
🥇 Winner: Ackera Nugent – 11.11s
📊 Final Placement: 2nd place
> “It was exciting to feel that kind of speed,” McLaughlin-Levrone said afterward. “It’s something I don’t usually get to tap into in the 400 hurdles.”
🥈 Series Standings & $50,000 Finish
Combining her 5th-place finish in the hurdles and 2nd-place in the sprint, Sydney earned 12 points, placing her as first runner-up in the women’s short hurdles group overall.
💰 Prize: $50,000
🏆 Group Winner: Ackera Nugent (16 points)
Not bad for someone trying out shorter events on one of the sport’s biggest stages