After dominating the Grand Slam Track (GST) circuit, the 24-year-old sprinter Melissa Jefferson-Wooden stood on the brink of a career-defining moment, only for the season’s final meet in Los Angeles to be abruptly canceled.
With five wins in six races, including multiple high-stakes victories over rival Gabby Thomas, Jefferson-Wooden had become the standout contender for GST’s inaugural Slam Champion title.
But financial headwinds would bring the ambitious new league to a sudden halt. Founder Michael Johnson revealed that staging the LA event at UCLA would have cost more than $2 million, a burden the fledgling circuit couldn’t shoulder without new investment. Low turnout in Kingston, shortened event schedules in Philadelphia, and the strain of a $12.6 million prize pool left GST financially stranded.
Speaking to CBS Sports, Jefferson-Wooden showed grace beyond her years.
“It was kind of a bit of mixed emotions,” she admitted.
“Part of me was obviously sad, but I wasn’t like, ‘Oh my gosh, it’s the end of the world.’ I didn’t go to, ‘Are we ever going to have this again?’ It was just kind of like, ‘OK, if they’re canceling it, it’s for a reason.’”
Rather than dwell on disappointment, she expressed empathy for GST’s leadership, recognizing the inherent challenges in launching a startup league.
“I think a lot of the time people forget, with startups there come challenges,” she noted.
“You have to sit down and evaluate: ‘For the longevity of this, this is probably the best decision for now.’”
Her words mirrored those of league founder Michael Johnson, who had earlier stated, “This is the right decision for the long-term sustainability of the league.”
A Breakout Season Worth Celebrating
Despite the premature end to the season, Jefferson-Wooden left little doubt about her elite status. At the Philadelphia stop, she scorched the track with a 21.99 in the 200m, a personal best.
In the women’s 100m, she clocked an astonishing 10.73, the world’s fastest time this year and the 10th fastest in history.
In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Jefferson-Wooden summed up her GST journey.
“Thank you @GrandSlamTrack for an incredible first year! I can’t wait to see what’s in store for the 2026 season!!! 3xSlam Champion …Won 5 of 6 Races…2 New PBs (We far from finished)…Racer of the Year.”
Looking Ahead to a Bigger Stage
Melissa’s performances at GST didn’t go unnoticed within Team USA’s camp either. According to her coach, Rob, she’s now a central figure in the nation’s world championship campaign, poised to peak at exactly the right time.
Even though the league’s debut season didn’t end as scripted, Melissa Jefferson-Wooden made it clear she doesn’t view the collapse as a failure, but rather a learning curve for the sport’s future.
“Even though to the public eye, it looks really bad sometimes. But in the grand scheme of things, it’s going to work out later on down the line.”
Melissa didn’t just compete at Grand Slam Track, she owned it. And if her GST season is anything to go by, track and field fans haven’t seen the best of her yet.