“Just literally listening. And listening to my coach. He can do what he wants me to do. I’m reaping the benefits of it.” That was Melissa Jefferson’s calm but confident mantra after steamrolling through the Grand Slam Track event in Miami. Jefferson didn’t just show up. She stole the show, securing her 100m win in 10.75 seconds, outpacing the reigning 200m U.S. champion, Gabby Thomas. Cocking back-to-back wins in the 100m and 200m in Kingston, earning the short sprint Slam title along with a $100,000 prize purse, this wasn’t just a comeback. Melissa Jefferson is here to dominate in the 200 m category as well.

With each explosive start and scorching finish, Jefferson is rewriting the sprint narrative. Her sprint shoes, bold and unapologetic, are a perfect match for her current form. And now that she’s undefeated in her last Grand Slam Track outing, she’s not slowing down, sending a warning shot straight at her biggest rivals. That includes Gabby Thomas. For the first time in this high-stakes series, two reigning Slam champions are set to collide on the same starting line.

Jefferson vs. Thomas. A showdown that fans have been waiting for. NBC Sports director Travis Miller took to X, posting, “Melissa Jefferson-Wooden is loving the Grand Slam Track format after going undefeated in her first three races.” It’s not hard to see why. In a courtside interview following her Kingston sweep, Jefferson was asked how much she’s enjoying this bold new format.

Her face lit up. “I love it. I know for me, my biggest thing going into this year is for me to be able to finish my races.” That single sentence carried weight because finishing wasn’t always a guarantee. Last season, Jefferson was in a different place, battling through injuries and struggling to find her stride. This year, she’s rewriting the script.

“I had to start last year; I just couldn’t seem to finish a race, but I was also coming back from injury,” she admitted. That comeback story now sits at the heart of her resurgence. Her move to Dennis Mitchell’s Star Athletics camp in Florida proved to be a turning point. After struggling to crack 11 seconds in 2023, Jefferson smashed that barrier seven times in 2024 alone, including six straight sub-11 finishes to close the season.

The results? An Olympic bronze medal in the 100m (10.92) and a gold in the Team USA 4x100m relay. And yet, Jefferson’s not done. She’s tapping into an old strength with a fresh mindset. “I’m using the 200 as a means to make me stronger from 100,” she explained. It’s a strategy rooted in versatility, designed for longevity. And dominance. Now, with her undefeated streak intact and the Miami Grand Slam next on deck, Jefferson’s focus is crystal clear.

“And then also I want to take the 200 a little seriously now.” That’s not a warning. That’s a promise. Her brief break from the sport after the Paris Olympics, capped with a heartfelt post, “To all my supporters, thank you, thank you, thank you. See you all, good folks, in 2025,” wasn’t a retreat. It was a reset. The injuries, the setbacks, the rehab days when she could barely run. They all built this moment.

Michael Johnson’s Grand Slam Track heads to Miami with big names

The Grand Slam Track, a brainchild of four-time Olympic gold medalist Michael Johnson, has erupted onto the global athletics scene with electric energy. And Kingston was just the beginning. With powerhouse names like Gabby Thomas, Kenny Bednarek, and Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone setting the bar high in the opener, the league has already proven it’s no ordinary circuit.

Now, all eyes turn to the Ansin Sports Complex in Miami, set to host the next round from May 2–4. And Johnson has promised something special. Johnson has been dropping teasers for weeks, hinting that Miami will bring both familiar faces and a new wave of challenges. “In Miami, you’ll see some different challenges than in Philadelphia and L.A. But you’ll see some of those same challenges here,” he said.

The message is unmistakable. Nobody’s spot is safe, and every sprint could rewrite the standings. As anticipation builds and elite sprinters begin to zero in on their marks, Miami’s heat won’t just come from the weather. This next stop on the Grand Slam tour promises shakeups, rivalries, and possibly a few surprises that could redefine the leaderboard. In the midst of all this, Melissa Jefferson remains a focal point.

Though she walked away with a win in Kingston, her Miami performance was bittersweet. The 100m final lit up as Jefferson blasted out of lane 4 in white and blue, instantly seizing the lead with only Tamari Davis in tow. “It’s going to be Jefferson Wooden who’s going to take this one,” the commentator shouted as Jefferson hit the tape. The volume spiked even higher moments later.

“What is going on in Miami? 10.75.” It should have placed her as the sixth fastest American in history, ahead of Evelyn Ashford’s 10.76 from 1984. But the wind had other plans. With a tailwind of 2.4 m/s just above the legal limit of 2.0, the result was ruled ineligible for record purposes. The celebration faded, and Jefferson’s official best remains 10.80, ranking her 13th among American sprinters.

Still, the fire’s only getting hotter. The 200m is next, and if her words were any indication. “So you all just watch out. Okay, I’m coming, I’m coming.” Miami might just be her next statement.