The two-time and reigning Olympic champion was in fierce form on Saturday (3 May) in her marquee event, clocking a 52.07, the best of 2025 so far. Gabby Thomas won in the 200m.
Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone competes in the women’s 400m hurdles final at Paris 2024.
USA’s Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone looked in full control at the Grand Slam Track Miami 2025 on Saturday (3 May) evening in her marquee event and second race of the 2025 season, the women’s 400m hurdles.
The two-time Olympic champion and world record holder clocked a 52.07 to open the proceedings on Day 2 of the second of four stops for the new athletics league created by sprinting legend Michael Johnson.
The track superstar eased to victory, with Jamaica’s Andrenette Knight over two seconds back at 54.08 and USA heptathlete Anna Hall surprising for third at 54.48.
McLaughlin-Levrone’s time is a world lead in the 400m hurdles as she looks to go two-from-two on Sunday (4 May) in the 400m after claiming victory last month at the first stop in Kingston, Jamaica.
“For the second race of the year, I’m pretty happy,” McLaughlin-Levrone said after her win. She added, about her technical approach: “I’m just feeling 14 strides [between hurdles] again. Obviously there are things to clean up.”
McLaughlin-Levrone took nearly seven tenths off of her world lead for 2025, having gone 52.76 in Kingston early last month.
“It’s special to compete in the US,” she said. “It just makes sense for us [Americans]. And being able to run for the fans, it’s just so much fun.”
Grand Slam Track is a unique format, with all competitors racing in two events across the three-day Slams. The women’s 400m hurdle competitors will come back Sunday (4 May) for the 400m flat, accruing points for their finishes to try and win each “Slam”.
In the short sprints division, Olympic champion in the 200m Gabby Thomas won her specialty with a 21.95, but for the second Slam in a row it was USA compatriot Melissa Jefferson-Wooden who won in the short sprints overall.
The Paris 2024 bronze medallist in the 100m, Jefferson-Wooden backed up her 100m win on Friday (2 May) with a 22.15 for third in the 200m. Grand Slam Track uses points for finishes in the two respective races in each division, so Jefferson-Wooden collected the USD $100,000 prize money for the win.
After a historic season saw McLaughlin-Levrone lower her 400m hurdles world record not once but twice – the second time to defend her Olympic gold at Paris 2024 (50.37) – the athlete essentially shut down her season although she also helped the US women to gold in the 4x400m relay on the final day of the Games, showing off her prowess across the 400m flat.
Grand Slam Track Miami 2025: Jefferson-Wooden, Nugent win Miami “Slams”
Ackera Nugent joined Jefferson-Wooden as the other female Slam winner in Miami on Saturday. The Jamaican backed up her third place in the 100m hurdles to place first in the 100m flat (11.09) in the short hurdles division.
She beat Masai Russell, the Olympic 100m hurdles champion, by just one point (18 to 17), with Russell finishing fourth in the 100m (11.40). Russell had set an American record and 2025 world lead in the women’s 100m hurdles on Friday with a 12.17.
The women’s short distance (800 and 1500m) saw the 1500m in action on Saturday, with Ethiopian Freweyni Hailu holding off a furious finish by US star Nikki Hiltz, 4:06.96 to 4:07.08.
The short distance is back on Sunday for the 800m, while McLaughlin-Levrone will look to back up her win from Kingston last month with a strong showing in the 400m flat.
Also set for Sunday’s finale are the women’s long sprints (still to run the 200m) and long distance (5000m) events.
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