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Jamaicans to provide acid test for McLaughlin-Levrone
May 30, 2025
The penultimate series in the Grand Slam Track will be held over two days, starting tomorrow inside the Franklin Field Stadium in Philadelphia at 3:39 p.m. Jamaica time, with the women's 400m hurdles set to kick things off.
One event that will definitely attract a lot of attention is the women's short hurdles, which will be the final event on tomorrow's opening day of competition, where they will contest the 100m hurdles.
The United States' Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone -- one of three athletes yet to taste defeat and who has accumulated a maximum of US$200,000 so far -- will be hoping to stretch her unbeaten run, but she will be under severe pressure to do so.
After dominating the long hurdles group, 400m hurdles, and flat 400m so far, she will now be attacking the short hurdles (100m hurdles) and the flat 100m, where she'll have the Jamaican duo of Danielle Williams and Ackera Nugent to contend with.
Both were successful in Kingston and Miami, respectively, walking away with US$100,000 each.
Williams actually missed the Miami leg of the Grand Slam and will be eager to get back on top, while Nugent, who seemed to pick up a slight niggle at the Atlanta Adidas meet two weeks ago, will be hoping to return to full fitness and make her presence felt once again.
The talented McLaughlin-Levrone could find the 100m hurdles much to her liking tomorrow but, come Sunday, she could find the flat 100m a major obstacle in keeping her unbeaten run.
Both Williams and Nugent have shown a liking for the event after winning in Kingston and Miami.
So this will definitely be an acid test for the American as she attacks the flat 100m for the first time in her professional career.
While Williams and Nugent are favoured, their countrywoman, Megan Tapper, along with the United States trio of Tia Jones, Tonea Marshall and Christine Clemmons, should make it even more difficult for the talented McLaughlin-Levrone.
After winning the US$100,000 prize in Kingston -- where she competed in the long sprint group and won the 200m, and coming second in the 400m, the United States' Gabby Thomas, who switched to the short sprint group in Miami, will be eager to get back on top.
Thomas will be looking to get the better of her countrywoman, Melissa Jefferson, who has been perfect so far, winning US$200,000.
Thomas had to settle for second overall in Miami, but will be highly motivated and could hand Jefferson her first defeat of the Slam.
With the absence of McLaughlin-Levrone in the women's long hurdles, this could open the door for the Jamaican pair of Andrenette Knight and the returning Rushell Clayton -- back from injury after missing the Miami series -- to dominate.
However, an interesting entry is American Anna Cockrell, who will make her debut in the Slam series and could be the one to go all the way in both the 400m and 400m hurdles.
While Oblique Seville and Roshawn Clarke will miss the meet because of injuries, other Jamaicans scheduled to compete over the two days include Nickeisha Pryce, in the long sprint; Bryan Levell, in the men's short sprint; Jevaughn Powell in the men's long sprint; and Assinie Wilson, in the men's long sprint.
