Can your biggest supporter also be your biggest competition? That’s the tightrope Melissa Jefferson-Wooden walks every day, training alongside Sha’Carri Richardson, one of the most electric names in track and field. But this week in Philadelphia, Melissa made her statement. With a 10.73 in the 100 meters, a world lead and personal best, she didn’t just win; she dominated. And in doing so, she showed the world that she’s not just a teammate… she’s a serious title threat. So then, why is Richardson, with the same coach, running a slower season’s best of 11.47? Does that mean Melissa is getting better coaching? Not at all. In fact, Melissa was quick to shut that down.

Well, we know the Grand Slam Track meet brought fireworks to Franklin Field, a venue already rich in track history. But this year, the athletes rewrote the record books. Melissa arrived riding high on a three-meet winning streak, and she wasn’t about to let up. On Day 1, she faced Gabby Thomas, Olympic champion and the fourth-fastest woman ever, in the 200 meters.

The matchup was hyped. The result? Melissa charged ahead and dropped a 21.99-second personal best, beating Thomas for the second time this Slam season. And with this, Melissa won a total of $300k. But here’s the question that had people buzzing: What’s it like to train with Sha’Carri? The reigning world champ. The global face of women’s sprinting. Isn’t it awkward, being in the same lane — literally and figuratively?

With so much attention on Sha’Carri Richardson, Melissa was asked a tough question: Is it awkward training with someone who’s already the biggest name in the sport, especially when there’s only one top spot? Melissa handled it with confidence. “At the top there is, but there are three spots,” she said. “We do train together. But the goal is, at the end of the day, our coach does a really good job at training us all to be the very best we can be. And then, when it comes to getting on that line, to doing what we need to do, it’s up to us to do that.”

That coach is none other than Dennis Mitchell, former Olympic sprinter and now mastermind of the Star Athletics Track Club in Montverde, Florida. Since 2019, Mitchell has guided Sha’Carri Richardson to stardom, including her 3 golds at the 2023 World Championships and her silver at the 2024 Paris Olympics. While Melissa joined the squad in 2023, she was determined to rise.

Introduced through her agent and Olympian Damu Cherry-Mitchell, Melissa has since broken the 11-second barrier, grabbed Olympic bronze in Paris, and now holds the world’s fastest time this season. Mitchell treats every athlete with equal focus, each one trained to be their absolute best. And as for rivalry with Sha’Carri Richardson? It’s there, but it’s the kind that fuels greatness, not division.

According to Melissa, it all comes down to the relentless, championship-level energy they bring to every single practice. Even on days when motivation is low, someone in the group is always stepping up to keep the standard high. “Either it’s Tee Tee Terry, Sha’Carri, or our other training partner Kayla White or Tenia Marshall… we’re all making sure we hold each other accountable. We’re pushing each other out of our means to do what it is that we need to do.”

Rivalry might light the flame, but this squad? They’re building something bigger. As of now, Melissa might outpace Sha’Carri, looking at her form this season, but they do share the wins as well.

Melissa Jefferson Wooden became a true threat to Sha’Carri Richardson

For Melissa Jefferson-Wooden and Sha’Carri Richardson, competition isn’t just fierce but also a healthy one. At the 2024 Paris Olympics, Sha’Carri took silver in the 100 meters with 10.87, and Melissa wasn’t far behind with bronze at 10.92. It was a huge moment for Team USA, especially since it was the first time since ’96 that two American women shared the podium in the 100m.

Along with Gabby Thomas and Twanisha “TeeTee” Terry, they also helped snag gold in the 4×100 relay. Melissa often talks about how close-knit they are, calling them her “girls” and “sisters,” and says she always has their backs, on and off the track. Now, that’s where things get interesting. Sha’Carri Richardson, who’s been a superstar since 2019 and holds a personal best of 10.65, recently joined the new Athlos league.

Meanwhile, Melissa, fresh off smashing the Grand Slam Track meet with a personal best of 10.73 in the 100m and 21.99 in the 200m, is gearing up to compete there too. With Athlos’ big event coming up in October in New York, both are fired up and ready to keep raising the bar. But the real showdown everyone’s buzzing about is the World Athletics Championships this September.

Melissa’s on a hot streak right now, and if she keeps improving at this pace, she could very well outpace Sha’Carri. The difference? Melissa’s laser focus, her ability to stay calm under pressure, and the confidence that comes from knowing she’s already beaten the clock and some of the best sprinters out there. Both women have incredible stats; Sha’Carri Richardson’s best time this season is 11.47 for the 100m, while Melissa is right there with 10.73 and 21.99, respectively.

But what might give Melissa the edge come September is how she’s been building momentum, fueled by the fierce but supportive training environment they share. Training together means they’re constantly pushing each other to new limits, and this friendly competition could be just what Melissa needs to cross that finish line first at the Worlds. It’s not just about who’s faster today, but who’s ready to break through and claim the top spot when it counts.