Melissa Jefferson-Wooden Runs 100-Meter World Lead At Grand Slam Track
Melissa Jefferson-Wooden of the United States wins in the Women's 200 Meters during the Grand Slam ... More Track series at the historic Franklin Field in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States, on May 31, 2025. (Photo by STR/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
Operating on a newly condensed two-day competition schedule, Grand Slam Track brought electric energy and elite racing to the historic Franklin Field in Philadelphia. Almost every race ended in a new stadium record, effectively rewriting the history books and raising the bar for all who wish to compete there in the future.
From Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone running her first-ever professional 100-meter dash to Olympic silver medalist Melissa Jefferson-Wooden dropping a new 100-meter dash world lead, there was something invigorating for every fan to watch.
Here is a guide that recaps some of the most exciting moments from the weekend.
PHILADELPHIA, UNITED STATES JUNE 1: Melissa Jefferson-Wooden of the United States celebrates after ... More she wins in the Women's 100 meters with 10.73 a new World Lead time and her Personal Best, winning the Women's Short Sprint category, on the second day of the third leg of the Grand Slam Track Series, held at the historic Franklin Field in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States, on June 1, 2025. (Photo by Artur Widak/Anadolu via Getty Images)
Olympic bronze medalist Melissa Jefferson-Wooden is currently on a three-Slam winning streak in the short sprints. Even with having to face the fourth fastest woman of all time, Gabby Thomas, Jefferson-Wooden shows she isn't afraid to test her limits for the $100,000 prize.
On day one of Grand Slam, Jefferson-Wooden lined up against Olympic champion Thomas for the second this Slam season in the 200-meter dash. Although Thomas has incredible top-end speed, it wasn't enough to track down Jefferson-Wooden, who ran a 21.99 second personal best. In the mixed zone after the competition, the Olympic silver medalist expressed that part of her plan for the 200-meter dash was to get out as quickly as possible because she knew her competition would be strong and looking to track her down.
'I knew if I wanted to win, I had to get out, get in front, control the race, and let them come get me,' said Jefferson-Wooden.
The now three-time short sprint Slam champion did just that, making her race plan pay off just as intended.
Today in Philadelphia, the Olympic bronze medalist ran a world lead and personal best in the 100-meter dash of 10.73 seconds. From the gun, Jefferson-Wooden had a strong acceleration phase, making her difficult to track down in the later phases of the race. No competitor was near her when she crossed the finish line.
Despite some fans being concerned that she may be peaking with her athletic abilities, Jefferson-Wooden firmly believes she is far from the best version of herself and has way more in the tank. When she spoke with me in the mixed-zone, she expressed that these races are feeling easy.
As it stands, she and Olympic champion Julien Alfred are displaying the most promise to podium in Tokyo so far this season. There is one more Grand Slam Track meet happening this year in Los Angeles on June 28th-29th. If Jefferson-Wooden can pull off earning her fourth Slam title, she will have a strong case for winning Racer of the Year.
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - MAY 31: Ackera Nugent competes against Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone ... More competes in the women's 100m hurdles during Grand Slam Track at Franklin Field at the University of Pennsylvania on May 31, 2025 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Roger Wimmer/)
Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone is a woman of many athletic talents. Outside of being the six-time world record holder in the 400-meter hurdles, McLaughlin-Levrone can also hold her own in the 400-meter dash, 200-meter dash, 100-meter hurdles, and now the 100-meter dash. Although she did not come out as the short hurdle Slam champion, McLaughlin-Levrone was not afraid to push her limits and fight for the title.
As previously mentioned, the Olympic champion decided to compete in the short hurdles at Franklin Field. On the first day, McLaughlin-Levrone ran 12.70 seconds in the 100-meter hurdles, placing fifth to earn four points. Jamaican national record holder Ackera Nugent controlled the race, running 12.44 seconds to break the facility record and earn her first victory of the weekend.
Today, McLaughlin-Levrone stepped even further outside of her comfort zone and raced her first-ever professional 100-meter dash. The last time she ran a 100-meter dash before today was her freshman year at Kentucky, where she ran a wind-aided 11.07 at the Tennessee Relays.
Despite not being the favorite to win the 100-meter dash, the Olympic champion held her own. She did not have the best start, but the final stages of the race were spectacular as she picked off her competitors one by one. Nugent reigned victorious again, running 11.11 seconds to earn her second short hurdle Slam victory of the year. McLaughlin-Levrone ran a strong second, running a new wind-legal personal best of 11.21 seconds.
McLaughlin-Levrone placed second overall in the short hurdles this Slam, taking home $50,000 for her efforts.
After competition, the 400-meter hurdle world record holder mentioned why this weekend was monumental for her testing her mental strength.
'I think the best part was honestly putting myself in an uncomfortable position and seeing how I reacted and handled it,' said McLaughlin-Levrone. 'Being able to go in there against the best of the best and put myself in that position, I'm proud of how I handled it mentally.'
PHILADELPHIA, UNITED STATES JUNE 1: Jamal Britt of Great Britain wins in the Men's Short Hurdles ... More category, after finsing second in the Men's 100 meters, on the second day of the third leg of the Grand Slam Track Series, held at the historic Franklin Field in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States, on June 1, 2025. (Photo by Artur Widak/Anadolu via Getty Images)
Grand Slam Track has a goal of making professional track a sport where athletes do not need to rely on shoe sponsorships to continue their dream of competing professionally. Instead, they want to provide opportunities for athletes to showcase their abilities and earn a substantial amount of money for competing against the best of the best.
This weekend, unsponsored hurdler Jamal Britt became the new heartfelt story to come out of the Grand Slam meets. Britt became the short hurdle Slam champion by placing first in the 110-meter hurdles against current world leader Cordell Tinch and Miami Slam winner Trey Cunningham. Adding to his strong hurdle race, Britt placed second behind Cunningham in the 100-meter dash, earning him a total of 20 points.
Britt has always been an elite hurdler. From his time at the University of Iowa to now, Britt has made multiple USATF National Championship finals, only missing world and Olympic teams by only a spot or two.
Despite constantly proving his athletic ability, he sits on a long list of elite track and field athletes without a shoe sponsor.
After competing, I asked him what would be the first thing he'd do with his check. Britt stated the money would go right back into funding his track career. He would use the money for medical treatment, travel, and more. Like Jacory Patterson, Dylan Beard, and Chris Robinson, all unsponsored athletes who've benefited from the large prize money at Grand Slam, this financial victory was monumental for his career.
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - MAY 31: Kenny Bednarek of the United States celebrates after winning ... More the men's 200m on Day 1 of Grand Slam Track- Philadelphia at Franklin Field at the University of Pennsylvania on May 31, 2025 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by)
Just like his training partner Jefferson-Wooden, Kenny Bednarek is on a hot streak with Slam titles this season. Bednarek earned his third short sprint Slam title at Franklin Field, proving why he is a strong contender for male Racer of the Year.
Although the 100-meter dash isn't Bednarek's strongest event, he has proven this season that he is committed to executing dominant races to elevate his overall sprint capabilities. Bednarek ran 9.86 seconds in the 100-meter dash on Saturday, making that a new personal best and world lead.
In the 200-meter dash, Bednarek controlled the race from the gun, making his competitors work hard to catch him coming around the turn. Once he hit the straightaway, no one could catch the two-time Olympic silver medalist. He ran 19.95, giving Franklin Field a new facility record in the 200-meter dash.
Bednarek's sprinting capabilities speak for themselves. He was the only male athlete, along with Noah Lyles, to make Team USA in two sprint events. In Paris, he placed seventh in the 100-meter dash final. He ran 9.88 seconds in Paris, which is only two-hundredths of a second slower than the personal best he ran Saturday. Bednarek also earned his second Olympic silver medal in the 200-meter dash.
The Olympian has been a force to be reckoned with since his time as a collegiate athlete. Bednarek only spent one year at Indian Hills Community College before turning professional after his wind-aided 19.49 second 200-meter dash in 2019.
In the mixed zone, Bednarek stated that he felt he could have run faster in the 100-meter dash today and knows he has a lot more left to give this season. If all goes well, he can podium in Tokyo in both the 100-meter and 200-meter dash, similar to his countryman and three-time world champion, Lyles.
The final Grand Slam Track meet will take place in Los Angeles, California, June 28th-29th. For more information on how to watch or purchase tickets, fans can refer to the Grand Slam Track website for more details.
The stakes will be high as Jefferson-Wooden and Bednarek try to secure their fourth Slam victories. Fans can also expect McLaughlin-Levrone to push the envelope again as she plans to take on 400-meter Olympic gold and silver medalists Marileidy Paulino and Salwa Eid Naser in the long sprints.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Wall Street Journal
13 minutes ago
- Wall Street Journal
The Knicks Just Fired Their Best Coach in Decades. Are They Back to Being the Knicks?
Tom Thibodeau has been sacked as head coach of the New York Knicks following a season in which he led this comically forlorn franchise to the edge of the NBA Finals for the first time in a quarter-century. I used to feel happiness for whomever got fired as a Knicks coach—finally, they are free from this cave! Fly away! This time, it's hard not to feel bad for Thibs, a grinding lifer who transformed one of the most thankless jobs in sports. You can look at the team's decision a couple of ways. I'll do the optimistic rendering, naturally followed by the irritated, pessimistic one. This Shows the Knicks are Serious. An optimist may choose to see Thibodeau's ouster as a signal that New York's front office believes the team is close to a championship, and only a few key changes are needed to get them over the hump. Under this theory, relieving Thibodeau—a former head coach in Chicago and Minnesota who was hired by the Knicks for the 2020-21 campaign—is a painful but necessary move. It's painful because Thibodeau was undeniably successful: He built the Knicks into an overachieving unit that finished in third place in the Eastern Conference, and knocked off both Detroit and defending champion Boston in the playoffs. He wrung the best out of imperfect lineups and gave the freedom to Jalen Brunson to become a generational New York superstar. He carved Josh Hart and OG Anunoby into warriors. Thibodeau also coached Karl-Anthony Towns for 18 playoff games without opening a bottle of bourbon on the sideline. Thibodeau isn't for everyone. He's a no-nonsense obsessive who always looks like he can't find his rental car. He isn't going to get a job hosting the 'Today' show, although I would totally watch that. Instead he gave the Knicks an identity to match their city: tough, resilient, hard to kill. His team, Brunson especially, is beloved. Thibs's resistance to change could be maddening, but Madison Square Garden rocked in a way it hadn't since the Ewing/Starks days. As for why his firing is necessary…well, the Knicks must feel they are ready to go up a level, and didn't think Thibodeau was the guy to get them to take the leap. Maybe they've been ready to do it for a while, and then this playoff run made the optics weird. Much has been said about Thibodeau's stubbornness about using rookies and bench players, which led to him milking a ton of minutes from his starters. This led to injury worries, plus some frustrating moments in the playoffs, especially when Thibodeau needed to dust off his bench versus the frantic Indiana Pacers. Moving on from Thibodeau signals a change in approach, which presumably means utilizing the bench more and keeping the team fresher into May and June. But still! They just won 51 regular-season games and went deeper in the playoffs than any Knicks team in eons! They reached the postseason in four of Thibodeau's five seasons! Do you realize how sad this team was not long ago? Do you remember the soul-crushed atmosphere in the Garden, the easy punchlines about ownership and ineptitude? Do you think Kylie Jenner was going out on a date to watch THAT? Absolutely not. Under Thibs, New York found hope again. Do you see how old those Clyde Frazier and Earl Monroe championship banners are in the rafters? They're old enough to still be reading a sports column in a newspaper. Which leads to this natural but nagging worry: This Shows the Knicks are Still the Knicks. This is the fear: that maybe the Knicks maxed it out this season, shocked a Boston team that didn't take them seriously, and might not be as close to a title as they appear. The Celtics aren't looking like a huge threat as long as injured Jayson Tatum is out, but Indiana's clearly arrived, the Cavs should be solid, Detroit's rising, and Orlando might be ready to get serious. (I'm choosing to completely ignore the Western Conference and the loaded Oklahoma City Thunder, which might fire Indiana into the sun when the Finals begin on Thursday.) Maybe the Knicks are being irrational here, dismissing a coach who knew how to win basketball games, and will now do what irrational teams do, which is to find a shiny new replacement who will struggle to match the prior coach's success. The Knicks have historically craved big names, and you can expect some to surface soon. Whoever's hired will say the right things, and hit the right notes, but it doesn't mean anything until next year, when you find out if they can find a way to stop Tyrese Haliburton and Pascal Siakam. Here's the panic: Maybe this spring was as good as it got. Maybe the Knicks are heading backward, moving fast and breaking up a good thing. There will be intense pressure on who comes next—not just as coach, but to supplement Brunson, Towns and the overworked starters. There will be agony if it doesn't work. New York City, a hard-to-please town, got used to losing a lot of basketball games. Tom Thibodeau taught it how to win again. Write to Jason Gay at
Associated Press
14 minutes ago
- Associated Press
AP PHOTOS: Tiger's son, Charlie Woods, in the spotlight
Charlie Woods made his TV debut at age 11 in the PNC Championship, the tournament that pairs major champions with a family member. He has grown and matured since then. He won his first big golf tournament last week and the 16-year-old son of Tiger Woods is getting plenty of attention. ___ This is a photo gallery curated by AP photo editors. ___ AP golf:
CBS News
14 minutes ago
- CBS News
New Penn Med center in Philadelphia aims to help people with Williams syndrome, develop better treatments
A new specialty center opened Tuesday at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia. It's one of the first in the country to help children and adults with Williams syndrome, a rare condition that makes them extra friendly. "This center is going to be life-changing for families," said Jocelyn Krebs, director of the Armellino Center of Excellence for Williams Syndrome. For Krebs, this work is personal. She researched the disorder for decades and then had a child born with the condition, which she calls "an insane coincidence." "Suddenly I went from a scientist who understood Williams syndrome very deeply in one way to a mom trying to figure out, what do you do with a kid that has these various challenges?" Krebs said. The center includes a sensory room with different lights and playful distractions to ease anxiety, which is common for people with Williams syndrome. Krebs' son Rhys has intellectual disabilities, a primary symptom of Williams syndrome. In collaboration with Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, the center will provide comprehensive care and research for adults and children with Williams syndrome, which often comes with severe heart problems and social challenges. "A behavior that is very characteristic of Williams syndrome, sometimes called the cocktail party syndrome because of it … is this incredible friendliness, hypersociability," Krebs said. "And what it really is is just a completely uninhibited social approach." With the right kinds of early intervention, people with Williams are able to thrive. This center will help assure that can happen and look for better treatments and new hope for brighter futures. An estimated 20,000 to 30,000 people in the United States have Williams syndrome, which is diagnosed with genetic testing. Learn more about the center on Penn Medicine's website.
