Melissa Jefferson-Wooden at the 2019 South Carolina State ChampionshipsPhoto by Bart Boatwright
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In High School, Melissa Jefferson-Wooden (MJW) was your run-of-the-mill standout. She ranked twelfth in the nation (over 100m) her senior year in 2019, and now she is gunning for her ninth straight win on the professional circuit.
How did a small-town girl take her dreams to the biggest stage, and how is she the best sprinter in the world this year?
We'll answer that question, but make sure you tune-in to the Brussels Diamond League meeting where MJW will race the 100m against Sha'Carri Richardson, Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce and a few of the sport's big names.
An Above Average High School Career
Jefferson-Wooden won three South Carolina State Championships in her time. Her first two came at the 2016 SCHSL State Championships. She took gold in the 100m and 200m in what was her freshman season. She then had to wait until her senior year to find victory again.
She won the 2019 SCHSL State 100m Title 100m title in 12.03 after a two year lull.
In that time, she jumped between events and even tried a cross country race in 2016. In 2018, she dedicated more time to the long jump and jumped a personal best 5.41m (17-7.5). That year, she finished fourth at the state championships (LJ).
After a strong career at the High School ranks, Jefferson-Wooden made the decision to commit to Coastal Carolina.
Coastal Carolina, Where Dreams Come True?
The switch didn't flip immediately. Her freshman year of college was derailed by the 2020 Covid-19 Pandemic.
She ran well before that, earning a second place finish in the 60m at the 2020 Sun Belt Indoor Conference Championships.
But in 2021, she came alive. She broke 12-seconds for the first time (officially) at the Alan Connie Shamrock Invitational. She unleashed an 11.54 (+2.3) and an 11.41 (+1.8) in the final.
She carried the new-found-speed and ran a personal best 11.22 (+1.0) for the Sun Belt Conference Championship. She qualified for the 2021 NCAA Championship and finished 14th in the 100m and 200m.
Melissa Jefferson-Wooden was making a name for herself.
Her trajectory continued into the next indoor season, in a big way. Using her strong start, Jefferson-Wooden stormed her way to the NCAA Championship, and in her junior year won the 2022 Indoor NCAA 60m Championship in a blazing 7.09.
On the outdoor oval, she ran a collegiate best 10.88 in the 100m (+1.5) and 22.46 (+1.8) in the 200m
She then went professional - signing with Nike and joining Star Athletics.
A Dominant 2025 Season
The 2024 season was remarkable in its own right. Jefferson-Wooden earned Bronze at the Paris Olympic Games in the 100m.
She carried a wave of momentum into 2025.
At the Kingston Grand Slam, she started the season with a sweep in the 100m and 200m. Then, in Miami, she ran a wind-aided 10.75 100m and a 22.15 (+1.1) 200m.
In Philly, she broke 22-seconds for the first time in 2025. She ran 21.99 (+1.1) and 10.73 (+1.4).
At the US Championships, Melissa Jefferson-Wooden found something extra. She soared to a 10.65 in the prelims, the sixth fastest time in US History.
Of course she followed that up with the US Championship Title... and another in the 200m for good measure.
And then last week, in Silesia, she sought an encore. She won that race in 10.66 (+0.1). With any sort of wind, that run could've been in the low 10.6's.
Jefferson-Wooden will now set her sights on Brussels, where is she is slated to race the 100m tomorrow. Can she extend her undefeated 100m season?
US Viewers can tune-in to the Brussels Diamond League meeting LIVE on FloTrack.
What Is The Wanda Diamond League?
The Diamond League is a high-octane, world-class professional track and field series, featuring the top track & field athletes in the world. Think of it as the NBA of track & field, but with fewer dunks and more world records. It started in 2010 and has grown to become one the most exciting and prestigious series in track & field.
The Diamond League features 15 meets with the world's best competing across the globe in places like China, Doha, London, Monaco, Paris, and Eugene, Oregon. It's high stakes, with the athletes chasing points that could give them a shot at the coveted Diamond Trophy at the end of the season.
You can learn more about the Wanda Diamond League HERE.
