American track and filed sprinter Melissa Jefferson-Wooden arrived at the Grand Slam Track meet in Philadelphia with quiet confidence and left as a name you can no longer ignore.
With a blistering 10.73 seconds in the 100 meters and a stunning 21.99 seconds in the 200. That was both personal bests, Jefferson-Wooden completed a rare and emphatic sprint double. She joined the exclusive club of American women to break 10.8 and 22 seconds in a single weekend. That 10.73? It now sits as the 11th fastest time in U.S. history.
“Did I see myself running 10.73 today? No,” she admitted post-race. “Maybe 10.8. But we’ve been working so hard in training. I’m at a point now where when the times come, I shouldn’t be surprised.”
Before she became a force in professional sprinting, Jefferson-Wooden was just a small-town girl with two scholarship offers and a point to prove. She chose Coastal Carolina, a mid-major program that believed in her before the headlines did. There, her raw speed began to take shape. Setting the stage for her breakthrough.
“I didn’t go to the biggest D1 school. But I landed in a place that believed in me—and that made all the difference.”
Under the guidance of coaches Dennis Mitchell and Sharif Lewis at Star Athletics. Melissa nJefferson-Wooden is proving that pedigree doesn’t matter when talent meets discipline.
The Grand Slam Effect
One major catalyst for her evolution? The Grand Slam Track series, a two-day, athlete-first format that’s fast becoming the sport’s biggest innovation.
“Without Grand Slam, I don’t even know if I’d be in the 200 this year,” she admitted. “It would’ve been tough to get lanes at major meets since I hadn’t run any fast 200s lately. But now? I’ve got a 21.99 next to my name.”
The format has not only showcased her versatility—it’s given her a stage to thrive on.
“It’s propelling me forward. It’s preparing me to be ready when the time comes—whether that’s trials, Worlds, or Paris again.”
Despite her meteoric rise, Melissa Jefferson-Wooden remains grounded—almost shy of the spotlight.
“I like being under the radar,” she laughed. “But my husband keeps telling me I need to get used to being in the spotlight.”
Yet there’s a quiet flame behind her humility. She’s no longer just racing to belong—she’s racing to win. And make no mistake: she believes she can be World Champion.
“Yes, wholeheartedly, yes.”
Her support system runs deep—training partners, coaches, and most of all, her faith.
“We train day in, day out together. Without those girls, I wouldn’t be here right now,” she said of her teammates. “But really, it’s just trusting God, trusting my coaches, and leaning on the people around me.”
