The Grand Slam Track (GST) Miami Slam, the second stop in the league’s inaugural season, is shaping up to be a must-watch event this weekend at the Ansin Sports Complex in Miramar, Florida. Among the headliners are Olympic champion Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone and Jamaica’s rising star Ackera Nugent, both expected to dominate the women’s hurdle events.
Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone is the undisputed queen of the 400m hurdles. After setting the world record of 50.37 seconds at the 2024 Paris Olympics, she opened her 2025 season at the Kingston Slam with an emphatic win, clocking 52.76 seconds. Her smooth stride pattern and technical precision make her nearly unbeatable when in form. As the GST format requires athletes to compete in two events per meet, McLaughlin-Levrone’s versatility and stamina give her a competitive edge. In Miami, she is favored to take the 400m hurdles again and continue her march toward the GST season crown and a share of the $12.6 million prize pool.
Meanwhile, Ackera Nugent is quickly making a name for herself in the 100m hurdles. The 22-year-old Jamaican set a national record of 12.24 seconds at the Rome Diamond League last year, placing her among the fastest women in the event’s history. At the Kingston Slam, she finished fourth in the 100m hurdles with 12.75 seconds but bounced back with a runner-up finish in the 100m sprint. These performances earned her 13 points and $30,000 in prize money. Now, Nugent looks to climb higher in Miami and potentially upset the current 100m hurdles leader, Tia Jones, who won Kingston in 12.63 seconds.
The GST league, founded by four-time Olympic gold medalist Michael Johnson, has brought a fresh energy to track and field. With a compact schedule, consistent prize money, and top-tier athletes committed to competing at each meet, the league aims to give fans regular access to elite-level competition. McLaughlin-Levrone and Nugent’s presence is part of what makes this format so compelling—stars competing head-to-head multiple times in a season, something traditional athletics circuits rarely deliver.
In Miami, fans can expect a fast track, electric atmosphere, and plenty of fireworks from the women’s hurdle events. McLaughlin-Levrone will look to lower her season-best, while Nugent seeks to convert her raw speed and improving technique into victory. Both athletes represent the present and future of hurdling, and their performances this weekend could shape the narrative for the rest of the GST season.
With top-level talent, large crowds, and a new league format, the Miami Slam is poised to deliver. All eyes will be on Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone and Ackera Nugent as they aim not only for wins but also for dominance in a new era of professional track and field.
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