Another Grand Slam champion in Miami is Sydny McLaughlin.
2025.05.06
Sydney McLaughlin, the world and Olympic 400-meter hurdles champion, once again got a perfect score of 24 points in the long hurdles category at the Grand Slam meeting in Miramar, on the outskirts of Miami, after winning the series’ first meeting last month.
She ran faster this time in both events, winning both by two seconds with a world-best time of 52.07 in the 400-meter hurdles on Saturday (3) and a strong 400-meter run on Sunday (4). At this stage of the season, these are also the quickest times she has ever posted. Sydney McLaughlin is one of the Grand Slam champions in Miami once more.
Andrenette Knight of Jamaica placed second in the 400-meter hurdles (54.08) in the overall category, while Anna Hall, a heptathlon specialist, placed second in the 400-meter flat (51.68).
Marileidy Paulino, another world champion on a single lap of the course, also earned the most points in her class. The Dominican Republic sprinter returned on Sunday to win the 200m in a national record time of 22.30, building on her victory in the 400m on Friday.
Kenny Bednarek, a two-time Olympic silver medallist, also won by 24 points. The American athlete won the 100-meter race on Saturday with a wind-assisted time of 9.79 (2.4 m/s) and the 200-meter race on Sunday with a world-best time of 19.84 (0.2 m/s).
Oblique Seville of Jamaica finished second overall in that category with a score of 9.84 / 20.13, slightly ahead of Zharnel Hughes of Britain (9.87 / 20.13).
Olympic 200m champion Gabby Thomas won her specific event in the women’s short sprints class in 21.95 (1.1 m/s), but Melissa Jefferson-Wooden, who had won the 100m on Friday, was officially declared the category grand slam winner after finishing third in the 200m in 22.15.
One of the most unexpected performances on Saturday came from Jacory Patterson. Running in the outermost lane, the global indoor bronze medallist surged into the lead in the 400-meter home straight to set a world-record time of 43.96, making him only the 26th man in history to break 44 seconds.
After placing second in 44.32, only 0.05 seconds ahead of Olympic silver medallist Matt Hudson-Smith, Jereem Richards took home the grand slam championship in this division.
@CHARITH RAJAPAKSHA
