Melissa Jefferson Beats Shericka Jackson, Julien Alfred & Others to Achieve What No Woman Could in 712 Days Melissa Jefferson-Wooden stunned the sprinting world at the 2025 USATF Championships, clocking a blazing 10.65 seconds in the 100m to claim the national title and become the first woman in 712 days to break the 10.70-second barrier. Outpacing Olympic champion Julien Alfred, Shericka Jackson, and a stacked field, Jefferson-Wooden’s personal best tied her with Jackson, Sha’Carri Richardson, and Marion Jones as the fifth-fastest woman ever. Her commanding performance in Eugene, where she led Kayla White (10.84) and Aleia Hobbs (10.92), secured her Tokyo World Championships spot. Jefferson-Wooden’s undefeated 2025 season, including Grand Slam Track sweeps and a Prefontaine Classic win over Alfred, showcased her consistency. “The sky’s the limit,” she said, eyeing Tokyo. Her historic run rekindles the women’s 100m, challenging the sport’s elite. 

Melissa Jefferson Beats Shericka Jackson, Julien Alfred & Others to Achieve What No Woman Could in 712 Days

 

Melissa Jefferson-Wooden stunned the sprinting world at the 2025 USATF Championships, clocking a blazing 10.65 seconds in the 100m to claim the national title and become the first woman in 712 days to break the 10.70-second barrier. Outpacing Olympic champion Julien Alfred, Shericka Jackson, and a stacked field, Jefferson-Wooden’s personal best tied her with Jackson, Sha’Carri Richardson, and Marion Jones as the fifth-fastest woman ever. Her commanding performance in Eugene, where she led Kayla White (10.84) and Aleia Hobbs (10.92), secured her Tokyo World Championships spot. Jefferson-Wooden’s undefeated 2025 season, including Grand Slam Track sweeps and a Prefontaine Classic win over Alfred, showcased her consistency. “The sky’s the limit,” she said, eyeing Tokyo. Her historic run rekindles the women’s 100m, challenging the sport’s elite.

Melissa Jefferson-Wooden has rewritten the narrative of women’s sprinting. At the 2025 USATF Championships in Eugene, Oregon, she delivered a jaw-dropping 10.65-second finish in the 100m final, becoming the first woman in 712 days to break the elusive 10.70-second barrier. In doing so, Jefferson-Wooden not only claimed the national title but also joined an elite club of the fastest women in history, tying for the fifth-fastest time ever with legends like Shericka Jackson, Sha’Carri Richardson, and Marion Jones.

Her performance stunned the track world—not simply for the time, but for the dominance with which she achieved it. Lining up against a world-class field that included Olympic champion Julien Alfred, Jamaican powerhouse Shericka Jackson, and US sprint veterans Aleia Hobbs and Kayla White, Jefferson-Wooden left no doubt about who the new queen of sprinting is.

From the gun, Jefferson-Wooden exploded down the track, maintaining pristine form and superior acceleration. Kayla White, who clocked a strong 10.84 to take second, and Aleia Hobbs, who finished in 10.92, were left chasing her shadow. Even Jackson and Alfred, known for their late surges and top-end speed, could not keep pace.

This race was more than a victory—it was a statement. Jefferson-Wooden’s 10.65 marks a personal best and is the fastest legal time recorded in the women’s 100m since 2023. The 712-day drought of sub-10.70 performances—dating back to the 2023 World Championships—underscored just how rare and significant her run truly is.

Her rise in 2025 has been nothing short of meteoric. Remaining undefeated throughout the season, Jefferson-Wooden swept every major sprint event, including a decisive win at the prestigious Prefontaine Classic, where she once again edged out Julien Alfred. Her consistency and competitiveness have turned her into the breakout star of the year.

“I’ve worked for this moment every day, and to see it come together here, on this stage, is a blessing,” Jefferson-Wooden told reporters post-race. “The sky’s the limit. I’m just getting started.”

The timing of this breakthrough couldn’t be better. With the Tokyo World Championships fast approaching, Jefferson-Wooden is now a clear contender for global gold. Her performance has reignited the women’s 100m conversation, breathing new life into a discipline that had seen a period of stagnation at the very top.

More than just fast, Jefferson-Wooden brings energy, charisma, and a fearless attitude to the track—a combination that recalls the rise of Sha’Carri Richardson just a few seasons ago. But where Richardson made headlines with bold proclamations, Jefferson-Wooden is letting her feet do the talking—and they’re speaking volumes.

With Tokyo on the horizon, sprint fans have reason to be excited. A new era may be dawning, and Melissa Jefferson-Wooden stands at its forefront—faster, sharper, and more determined than ever.