Melissa Jefferson (sprinter)

Last updated

Melissa Jefferson
OLY [ citation needed ]
Melissa Jefferson.jpg
Jefferson in the 4 × 100 m at the 2024 World Athletics Relays
Personal information
Born (2001-02-21) February 21, 2001 (age 24)
Georgetown, South Carolina, U.S. [1]
Sport
CountryFlag of the United States (23px).png  United States
SportTrack and field
Event(s) 60 metres
100 metres
200 metres
College team Coastal Carolina Chanticleers
Achievements and titles
Personal best(s)60m: 7.09 (2022)
100m: 10.80 (2024)
Medal record
Women's athletics
Representing the Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States
Olympic Games
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg 2024 Paris 4×100 m relay
Bronze medal icon (B initial).svg2024 Paris 100 m
World Championships
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg 2022 Eugene 4×100 m relay
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg 2023 Budapest 4×100 m relay
World Relays
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg 2024 Nassau 4×100 m relay

Melissa Jefferson-Wooden (born February 21, 2001) is an American track and field sprinter. She won the bronze medal at the 2024 Summer Olympics in the 100 metres. [2]

Contents

Career

Jefferson competed at Coastal Carolina University and won the NCAA Indoor 60m Championship in 2022. [3] She went on to win the 100 metres at the 2022 USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships to qualify for the 2022 World Athletics Championships held in Eugene, Oregon. Jefferson reached the final and finished eighth. [4] [5] She went onto win gold as part of the 4 x 100 metres relay team. [6]

She was also a member of the US team which won the 4 x 100m relay at the 2023 World Athletics Championships held in Budapest. [7] [8]

In 2024, Jefferson was a member of the USA team which won the 4 x 100m relay at the 2024 World Athletics Relays in Nassau, Bahamas. [9] [10] She won the 100m at the LA Grand Prix meet in May. [11] In June, she finished second in the 100 metres at the U.S. Olympic trials in Eugene, Oregon, in a new personal best of 10.80 seconds. [12] At the Paris Olympics, Jefferson won a bronze medal in the 100 m with a time of 10.90 s. [13] She won gold as part of the 4x100 m relay team. [14]

In September 2024, it was announced that Jefferson had signed up for the inaugural season of the Michael Johnson founded Grand Slam Track. [15]

Jefferson (right) and her training partner, Twanisha Terry (left), at the 2024 US Olympic Trials. 2024 United States Olympic trials (track and field) (53815283224).jpg
Jefferson (right) and her training partner, Twanisha Terry (left), at the 2024 US Olympic Trials.

International Championships

Representing the Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States
YearCompetitionVenuePositionEventTimeNotes
2022 World Championships Eugene, Oregon, USA100m8th11.03
World Championships Eugene, Oregon, USA 4x100 m relay 1st41.14
2023 World Championships Budapest, Hungary 4x100 m relay 1st41.44ran Heat only
2024 World Relays Nassau, Bahamas 4x100 m relay 1st41.85
Olympic Games Paris, France 100 m 3rd10.92
4x100 m relay 1st41.78

National Championships

YearCompetitionPlaceEventPositionTimeNotes
2021 NCAA Division I Championships Eugene, Oregon 100msf1 : 7th11.41
NCAA Division I Championships Eugene, Oregon 200msf1 : 6th23.46
2022 NCAA Div. I Indoor Championships Birmingham, AL60m1st7.09PB
NCAA Division I Championships Eugene, Oregon 100m8th11.24
NCAA Division I Championships Eugene, Oregon 200m9th22.90
USATF Championships Eugene, Oregon 100m1st10.69w+2.9 m/s
2023 USATF Championships Eugene, Oregon 100m5th11.07+0.7 m/s
2024 U.S. Olympic Trials Eugene, Oregon 100m2nd10.80+0.8 m/s PB

References

  1. ↑ Williams, Tiara (May 18, 2022). "Real Talk with Rising Star Melissa Jefferson". Track & Field Fan Hub. Retrieved July 11, 2024.
  2. ↑ "Melissa JEFFERSON | Profile | World Athletics". worldathletics.org.
  3. ↑ Dunn, Brandon (March 12, 2022). "Melissa Jefferson Takes Gold in 60-Meter Dash at NCAA Championships". WPDE. Retrieved June 29, 2022.
  4. ↑ "Jefferson Advances to Semifinals at 2022 World Athletics Championships". Coastal Carolina University Athletics. July 16, 2022.
  5. ↑ "America's new sprint queen Melissa Jefferson ready to take on Jamaican stars". The Independent. June 25, 2022.
  6. ↑ Phillips, Mitch (July 23, 2022). "Slick U.S. women shock Jamaican superstars to win sprint relay". Reuters . Retrieved July 24, 2022.
  7. ↑ Gault, Jonathan (August 7, 2023). "USATF Announces 2023 World Championship Roster". letsrun.com. Retrieved August 8, 2023.
  8. ↑ "4 x 100 Metres Relay Women - Round 1" (PDF). World Athletics. August 25, 2023. Retrieved December 17, 2024.
  9. ↑ "USA TRACK & FIELD ANNOUNCES FULL TEAM FOR WORLD ATHLETICS RELAYS BAHAMAS 24". USATF. April 17, 2024. Retrieved April 18, 2024.
  10. ↑ Whittington, Jess (May 6, 2024). "Championship record falls as USA wins 4x100m finals at WRE Bahamas 24". World Athletics. Retrieved December 16, 2024.
  11. ↑ "Benjamin and McLaughlin-Levrone impress in Los Angeles". World Athletics. May 19, 2024. Retrieved May 20, 2024.
  12. ↑ Henderson, Jason (June 23, 2024). "Sha'Carri Richardson wins US Olympic trials 100m in 10.71". Athletics Weekly. Retrieved June 23, 2024.
  13. ↑ "Melissa Jefferson Wins Bronze Medal in 100m at Paris Olympics". Coastal Carolina University. August 3, 2024. Retrieved December 16, 2024.
  14. ↑ Shinde, Janhavi (August 21, 2024). ""Still processing everything" - Melissa Jefferson reflects on her successful campaign at Paris Olympics". Sportskeeda. Retrieved December 16, 2024.
  15. ↑ "Olympic medalist Melissa Jefferson joins Grand Slam Track". Inside the Games. Retrieved December 20, 2024.
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