Gabby Thomas Among First-Ever Grand Slam Track Champions

Day two of Grand Slam Track did not fail to deliver excitement, competition, and unexpected performances. Going into the second day of Grand Slam Track, Gabby Thomas, Kenny Bednarek, Chris Bailey, and Nikki Hiltz led their respective event groups in Slam points. Read more to see who reigned victorious and went home $100,000 richer.

Gabby Thomas Puts Up Strong Fight In The Long Sprints

For the first iteration of Grand Slam Track, Thomas competed in the long sprint category, meaning she would race the 200-meter and 400-meter dash. Thomas is a three-time Olympic champion, holding medals in the 200-meters, 4×100-meter relay, and 4×400-meter relay. Based on her accolades, there is no doubt that she is versatile across the sprints.

In the 200-meter dash yesterday, Thomas easily beat the field, running 22.62 to earn herself 12 points. Behind her were 400-meter Olympic champion Marileidy Paulino and three-time Olympic medalist Dina Asher-Smith, respectively. The 400-meter Olympic silver medalist, Salwa Eid Naser, was fourth.

In order for Paulino or Eid Naser to block Thomas from becoming the long sprint Slam champion, they both would have needed to win the 400-meter race, and Thomas would have needed to place seventh or lower, depending on which one of them got first. With these women having formidable 400-meter performances, there was no clear sign of who would reign victorious.

To make their battle more intense, Paulino had not lost a 400-meter race since 2023, Eid Naser ran the fastest 400-meter time ever run in March this past weekend, and Thomas had a personal best of 49.68.

Eid Naser obliterated the field in the first 50 meters of the race, trying to break the stagger between her and her competitors as quickly as possible. Despite placing fourth in the 200-meters the day before, Eid Naser did not let that stop her from running full speed towards victory. She won the 400-meters in 48.67, which was a half-second faster than Thomas, who placed second, running 49.14, a new personal best. Paulino ended her winning streak, placing third in a time of 49.35.

Although Thomas wasn’t the overall favorite for the 400 meters, she showed she had a competitive heart. The eight points she earned from second place were enough to solidify her Slam victory.

Kenny Bednarek Scores 24 Points To Win The Short Sprints

Kenny Bednarek is an athlete that everyone should have on their watch list. Bednarek holds two Olympic silver medals in the 200-meter dash and was the only other athlete alongside Noah Lyles to qualify for the Team USA Paris Olympic team in the 100-meter and 200-meter dash. He also turned professional after just two years of competing in junior college. Needless to say, Bednarek is a force to be reckoned with.

In the 100-meter dash yesterday, Bednarek ran 10.07, earning 12 points. Team Jamaica Olympian Oblique Seville put pressure on him, and he placed second, running 10.08. Despite the pressure, Bednarek went into day two with a lot of confidence.

Along with Seville and Bednarek in the field were two-time Olympic medalist Fred Kerley, world bronze medalist Zharnel Hughes, world relays champion Courtney Lindsey, world bronze medalist Ackeem Blake, two-time Olympic finalist Joseph Fahnbulleh, and NCAA record holder Terrance Jones.

Kerley took off around the bend in the 200-meters, so much so that the gap he created seemed like a challenge to close. Bednarek played the long game, focused on execution around the curve so he could power home on the straight away. Once he found his next gear, it was difficult for his competitors to stop what was coming next.

Bednarek won the 200-meters in a smooth fashion, running 20.07. He is the only Slam athlete to win both his events this weekend so far.

Tia Jones Joins As A Late Addition, Pulls Off Major Upset In The Short Hurdles

With the absence of racer Cyrena Samba-Mayela, training partner Tia Jones was added as a late addition to the short hurdle field. Although Jones was not expected to compete this weekend, her 100-meter hurdle win this evening should not be a surprise to anybody.

During the indoor season last year, Jones tied the previous 60-meter hurdle world record just several weeks after current world record holder Devynne Charlton broke it for the first time. Unfortunately, her season concluded early as she tore her ACL, leaving her unable to compete at the World Athletics Indoor Championships.

Jones surprisingly found her way back onto the track later that outdoor season, running at the U.S. Olympic Trials. Although she did not qualify for the Paris Olympic team, she did put up an excellent effort. The American record holder opened up her 2025 season in the 100-meter hurdles last weekend at the Texas Relays, running a wind-added 12.57.

In this race, Jones ran 12.63 to take down to take down Olympic champions Masai Russell and Jasmine Camacho-Quinn. She even soared past two-time world champion Danielle Williams. Jones will need to undoubtedly run a personal best in the 100-meters to walk home with $100,000. Her personal best is 12.11, which she ran in 2013. Now, 12 years later, she can show how much she’s improved in the flat 100-meters.

Fans should watch out for Ackera Nugent as she has the fastest 100-meter dash time of the entire field at 11.09. If Nugent wins the 100-meter dash and Jones places fifth or worse, she has a chance at becoming the short hurdle Slam champion.

Emmanuel Wanyonyi Executes Stellar Race Strategy In the 1500-Meters

Emmanuel Wanyonyi, the 800-meter Olympic champion, is an excellent race tactician. His skills were put to the test when he faced off against the entire Paris Olympic 1500-meter podium: Cole Hocker, Josh Kerr, and Yared Nuguse.

In a valiant effort, Wanyonyi was able to hold off all three of these 1500-meter specialists. He placed first, running 3:35.18, an eight-second personal best. Nuguse and Hocker ran 3:35.36 and 3:35.52, respectively. Kerr placed fifth in 3:35.61.

Despite the 1500-meter not being his primary event, Wanyonyi was able to handle each athlete’s race strategy. Hocker led this race from the front, hoping to make the first lap fast to wear his competitors out. By the last 200 meters, Nuguse found his way to the front, fighting to keep his first-place position. The most famous part of Wanyonyi’s racing style is his kick, which he used today to soar past the rest of the field.

Wanyonyi used to be the world record holder in the road mile last year. With that in mind, along with how he ran today, fans can expect a top-tier 800-meter race tomorrow. Joining the aforementioned men in the field will be world silver medalist Neil Gourley, world champion Marco Arop, world champion Bryce Hoppel, and Olympic finalist Mohamed Attaoui.

Diribe Welteji and Matthew Hudson-Smith Earn Slam Champion Titles

Two more Slam titles were handed out today to Diribe Welteji and Matthew Hudson-Smith. Welteji competed in the short-distance group, racing the 800-meter and 1500-meter. Going into day two, American record holder in the mile, Nikki Hiltz, led the group in points. Hiltz dropped a personal best in the 800-meter yesterday, proving to be one of the favorites to earn the large prize.

Welteji wasn’t too far behind Hiltz in the 800-meters yesterday, as they both went 1:58.29 and 1:58.23, respectively. Welteji used this defeat to fuel her 1500-meter win, walking away with 20 total points and $100,000. Hiltz placed third in the 1500-meters, but the six points they earned were enough to place second overall.

Hudson-Smith was crowned the Slam champion in the long sprints. On day one, in the 400-meter dash, he ran 44.65 and placed second behind current world leader and world champion Chris Bailey. Hudson-Smith was able to pull away from the field in the 200-meter dash, which earned him 12 points. Altogether, he racked up 20 points and etched his name in Grand Slam Track history.

The final day of Grand Slam Track takes place tomorrow. A full race schedule and results can be found here. Tomorrow, the new track league will crown its final Slam champions in the women’s short sprints, women’s short hurdles, women’s long hurdles, women’s long distance, men’s long hurdles, men’s long distance, men’s short hurdles, and men’s short distance.